South Fork / North Fork of the American River Rafting Combo
Whitewater Rafting in California with O.A.R.S
Highlights
- Sharpen paddling skills on fun Class II rapids like Barking Dog and Current Divider
- Calm pools in-between rapids beckon the adventurous to jump in the river and cool off
- Challenge some of the most exciting whitewater on the South Fork, including Fowler's Rock and Satan's Cesspool
- At River's Bend, enjoy hors d'oeuvres and cold drinks before a scrumptious evening meal
Full Description
The South Fork, which runs through a beautiful river corridor of rolling, wooded hills and rocky gorges, is one of the most popular rafting runs in California! Paddle through nonstop whitewater as snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada thunders with a vengeance through the towering canyon of the North Fork -- a beautiful gorge with 2000-foot cliffs, blankets of green grass, colorful wildflowers and black oak and pine forests.
Combine rafting the South Fork American River with our North Fork American rafting trip for a one-of-a-kind California rafting adventure!
The gently sloping golden hills, deep green woodlands, rocky gorges and early-season wildflowers deliver an American River rafting trip that serves as an ideal training ground for rafters moving up in paddling dexterity. The South Fork American River is California's most popular rafting destination with fun, easy-to-handle Class II-III whitewater rapids, gold rush history and beautiful wilderness scenery. The North Fork American River is the only un-dammed fork of the American River and provides incredibly scenic Class IV excitement as snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada thunders with a vengeance through the towering American River canyon, a beautiful gorge with 2000-foot cliffs. Surrounded by blankets of green grass, colorful wildflowers and black oak and pine forests, this is a "do not miss" in early-season California rafting adventures!
Includes:
- Skilled professional guide service
- 1 night catered camping
- Meals from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 2, with limited beer & wine at dinner
- High-quality inflatable rafts and related river equipment including paddle and helmet, splash jacket and personal flotation device
- All transfers
Excludes:
- Pre- and post-trip accommodations and meals
- Tents, sleeping bags and pads (these items may be rented from O.A.R.S.)
- Wetsuits
- Items of personal nature
- Insurance of any kind
- Gratuities
Day by Day Itinerary
Allowing for plenty of time to drive the sometimes windy local roads, we welcome you to River's Bend Resort at 11:00 AM. From the parking lot at the bottom of the hill, please follow our signs to O.A.R.S.' River Store, where we will check you in. The short walk along the trail takes you upstream and introduces you to the sights and sounds of the river.
We'll point you toward our picnic area, where you can dig into our deluxe BBQ lunch. We invite you to play some volleyball or horseshoes, pan for gold or throw a Frisbee around under the trees. At noon, your guides will present a thorough river orientation and safety talk, and then your adventure begins. After practicing your paddle-strokes with your guide, your day begins with Highway Rapids and plenty of opportunities to go swimming. Beautiful river scenes stretch out around you, with redtail hawks soaring overhead and the occasional river otter frolicking nearby.
Several miles of Class II rapids allow you to warm-up before your rafts enter the ever-exciting Gorge.
The South Fork's Gorge begins at the base of the Lollipop Tree, where the canyon walls constrict the flow of the river and help create a half-dozen enjoyable Class III rapids. Such memorable torrents as Fowler's Rock, Satan's Cesspool and Hospital Bar are sure to get the whole family's pulse racing. Be sure to smile for the photographers' cameras! Rolling waves, boulder gardens and thrilling drops keep you busy paddling as you plunge through rapid after rapid as we reach flat water and Salmon Falls Bridge, your first day draws to a close. From the take- out point, there is a short, steep hill from the river's edge to where your shuttle vehicles wait for you. Although your guides very much appreciate any help in carrying the rafts and other equipment up to the vehicles, it is not required or even encouraged if you are not in good physical condition. Be sure to enjoy a cold soda or juice from the cooler!
Reaching your campsite at River's Bend, you'll leave the boats behind for one of the highlights of your trip-evening in camp. Soon you'll be enjoying pleasing hors d'oeuvres and a cold drink- delicious as these treats are, they always taste better after a day on the river! Take a swim or a shower, join a game of volleyball or horseshoes, or sit back with that novel you've wanted to finish as your guides prepare dinner. The evening meal is served between 6:00 and 7:00 PM, and you'll see that your guides aren't only talented in their whitewater skill-their delicious barbecued steak and chicken, Mediterranean pasta or Dutch oven lasagna are always a big hit.
We rise in the morning to fresh coffee and a hearty breakfast, eager to begin a new day on the North Fork American. You may follow the guides in your own vehicle up to Auburn, where there is a place to park your car or you may ride with them in their van. If you choose to ride with the guides, you will need to go back to River's Bend Resort after the trip to pick up your car. Before we travel a half of a mile, the much-anticipated stretch of Class IV whitewater begins as we enter the Chamberlain Falls Gorge. Slaughter's Sluice is a lengthy series of boulder-choked rapids that leads to one of the river's most formidable challenges: Chamberlain Falls, a crashing 8-foot drop. Zig-Zag, Achilles Heal, and Bogus Thunder are among the continuous steep drops and boulder slaloms that we negotiate. After several miles of aggressive paddling through tumultuous whitewater, we near the end of the Class IV section-but not before facing Staircase, the river's most infamous rapid and our right of passage as conquerors of the North Fork.
Lunchtime comes and we pull off the water for a delicious picnic. (Please note that lunch may be served prior to or after the trip, depending on your launch time.) Knowing that a morning of hard paddling inspires a very hearty appetite, we make sure that our lunches are always abundant and satisfying. Lounge on the side of the river with a deli sandwich piled high with fresh cold cuts, cheese and veggies or perhaps tasty taco salad, plus icy lemonade, water or soda, fresh fruit and cookies. After feasting and relaxing on shore, we resume our journey.
Back on the water, we find ourselves floating through an absolutely breathtaking exhibit of the Sierra Nevada's striking scenery. 2,000-foot canyon walls tower around us, creating an intimate gorge of polished granite, clear water, spring-green grasses, deep woods and brightly colored wildflowers. As we reach our take-out point on Upper Lake Clementine, our river trip draws to a close. An O.A.R.S. shuttle will be waiting to give us a 30-minute ride back to Auburn and our vehicles. For those who rode with the guides, you will be returned to your vehicle at River's Bend Resort.
About The Operator:
O.A.R.S
Headquarters:
Angels Camp, CA
O.A.R.S. was the first exclusively oar-powered rafting company permitted to operate trips on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Through our four decades in the adventure travel industry, we have become the largest and most diverse family of river-based adventure travel companies in North America, operating on over 1230 miles of rivers in the continental U.S. In addition to our signature Grand Canyon trips, we offer adventure vacations in Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming, as well as in British Columbia, Chile, Galapagos, Fiji, Baja and Peru. The heart and soul of O.A.R.S.-from president and founder George Wente to the more than 300 dedicated guides and employees on our team-is that we are all genuinely invested in every passenger, every trip and every lifetime memory.
Our Staff
We consider our O.A.R.S. outdoor adventure guides to be among the best in the industry! Some began their river-guiding careers more than 30 years ago; others were born into it. They are entertainers, historians, geologists, botanists, chefs, medics, anthropologists, event planners, authors, photographers, wilderness pathfinders, and they are the single most complimented component of our organization. Our guides are also professional, playful and ever mindful of your wants and needs, and their enthusiasm for the natural world is contagious. Learn about our guides through reading their detailed biographies, experience and interests.
Our Adventure Consultants and our year-round office staff who provide you with all the trip-specific tips, trip planning assistance and adventure travel trip logistical support have more than 100 years of combined experience in the adventure travel industry, as well as close to 1000 river trips between them.
Your O.A.R.S. Adventure Vacation
You concentrate on fun. We brew the coffee, cook the meals, pump the boats, provide the gear, plan the day, find the best camp spot, and we strive to fill each day with excitement, discovery and the attention to detail you deserve. O.A.R.S. provides the best average guide-to-guest ratio in the adventure travel business (1:4).
You do only what you feel like doing. Want to paddle a ‘ducky' or admire the view from the bow of a boat; go on a day hike or stay in camp and read; save room for dessert or have two pieces of seared salmon? Every day is yours to do with as you please.
Camaraderie
Is there any other experience more conducive to creating new, lasting friendships and deepening family bonds than an O.A.R.S. adventure? Our outdoor trips are wonderful equalizers, bringing together like-minded people from diverse backgrounds. Time and again we hear from guests about their joy of having met kindred spirits and new traveling companions. Parents bask in their child's newly-gained confidence in the natural world. Gone are electronic distractions, commutes and deadlines, leaving guests with uninterrupted time to relax, snuggle under the stars, savor a sunset and swap tales around the campfire.
When you join an O.A.R.S. adventure travel trip, you're not just a customer-you are a friend, a member of the crew and an extension of our family-owned and operated company. We'll answer your questions, feed you well, show you a good time and share with you our passion for the world's waterways.
Our Pledge
Outdoor adventure vacations are our specialty, and we work hard to provide our guests with the best travel experience of their lives. If part of your trip under our control wasn't everything you expected, we will work with you to make it right.
Responsible Travel
Environmental stewardship is nothing new to O.A.R.S. We've been at it for four decades. In partnership with our guests, we have contributed more than $3 million in donations and fees toward the preservation of the environment and to environmental and wildlife conservation initiatives. For a detailed account of our environmentally responsible practices, check out our Responsible Travel page.
Don't Just Take Our Word for It
O.A.R.S. has been routinely recognized by adventure industry experts, media and our guests for our commitment to excellence and innovation in travel. In both 2008 and 2009, National Geographic Adventure magazine selected O.A.R.S. as "The Best River & Sea Outfitter on Earth" based on their criteria including education, sustainability, quality of service, spirit of adventure and references. Since 2007, Condé Nast Traveler's Wendy Perrin has recognized our Reservations Manager, Mindy Gleason, as the "Top Travel Specialist" in the River Rafting category for her unique ability to offer O.A.R.S. travelers "the best blend of expertise, access, and good value." Additionally, year after year magazines such as National Geographic Traveler, Outside, Men's Journal and Sunset along with NBC, CNBC, Forbes Traveler and SmarterTravel.com have all recognized O.A.R.S. for serving up some of the "Best Trips on the Planet."