Allowing for plenty of time to drive the sometimes-windy local roads, we welcome you to River's Bend Resort at 8:00 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.

Once everyone has arrived, we'll take a 25-minute shuttle ride to the put-in point where your boats and the rest of your O.A.R.S. crew await us. 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 morning starts off with a bang in Meatgrinder rapids! Beautiful river scenes stretch out around you, with redtail hawks soaring overhead and the occasional river otter swimming near shore. Exciting rapids like Racehorse Bend, Maya, and the famous Troublemaker Falls await you and yours on this enjoyable Chili Bar run!

After floating by the historic town of Coloma, where gold was originally discovered in 1848, get ready to top your trip off with a satisfying BBQ lunch (optional) at our River's Bend campground. You have now returned to where your day started, and we encourage you to stick around awhile, panning for gold, playing some volleyball or horseshoes and savoring your time along the river. Eat lunch with your guide and relive the day's adventures!

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 trust you'll want to join us for lunch (if not, the trip arrival time is 12:00 PM), and we'll point you toward our picnic area. Along with enjoying your made-to-order 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 Rapid 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 our 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!

The fun in the sun ends as you approach Folsom Reservoir and your take-out at Salmon Falls Bridge. At 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. After enjoying a cold soda or juice from the cooler, you'll be returned to River's Bend Resort and your car at approximately 5:00 PM

We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and always flexible schedule. Every trip is different depending upon the group, other trips on the water and sometimes the weather. The following is a sample of what your trip might be like:

Allowing for plenty of time to drive the occasional windy local roads, we welcome you to River's Bend Resort at 8:00 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.

Once everyone has arrived, we'll take a 25-minute shuttle ride to your put-in point, where your boats and the rest of your O.A.R.S. crew await us. 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 morning starts off with a bang in Meatgrinder rapids! Beautiful river scenes stretch out around you, with redtail hawks soaring overhead and the occasional river otter swimming near shore. Exciting rapids like Racehorse Bend, Maya and the famous Troublemaker Falls await you and yours on this enjoyable Chili Bar run!

After floating by the historic town of Coloma, where gold was originally discovered in 1848, get ready for a satisfying, deluxe BBQ lunch at our River's Bend campground. You have now returned to where your day started, but the fun has only begun: 10 more miles await you! Along with enjoying your made-to-order lunch, we invite you to play some volleyball or horseshoes, pan for gold or throw a Frisbee around under the trees. After our meal, we're back on the river and put in at River's Bend.

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!

The fun in the sun ends as you approach Folsom Reservoir and your take-out at Salmon Falls Bridge. At 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. After enjoying a cold soda or juice from the cooler, you'll be returned to River's Bend Resort and your car around 5:00 PM