South Fork American River - PM Gorge Rafting Trip (Class 2-3+)
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Fun afternoon half day trip
Great for families & groups!
Camping available!
Explore the Marshall Gold Discovery Park
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Gear includes raft, PFD (Personal Floatation Device/Life Jacket), Paddle & Helmet
Gratuities
What To Expect
This is the perfect afternoon run featuring Class 2-3+ rapids like Satan’s Cesspool, Hospital Bar and Recovery Room. We meet you at our South Fork American River Campground right off historic Highway 49 in Lotus, California. There is a camp store on site in case you need any last minute items. We will launch from our campsite, and will collect your keys prior to getting on the river. Personal gear can be left in your vehicles. We will practice a few paddling skills before tackling our first rapid right at camp, a fun Class 2 called Current Divider. There are several Class 2-2+ rapids to follow before we enter the Gorge. The river will narrow and we will travel a bit faster as we paddle thru the Class 3 white water. At the end of the day, we end up in Folsom Lake where our shuttle awaits. We will bring you back to camp after a fun filled afternoon.
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South Fork American River - PM Gorge Rafting Trip (Class 2-3+)
Reviews
13 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Exciting Rafting Trip
179lynnek,
Jun 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great guides. He really knew how to navigate the river and the many rapids. We both felt very safe. We hope to go again soon on an overnight trip.
Outstanding experience
Johnmorey,
May 17, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jason our guide was wonderful so knowledgeable. Our 2 day trip was full of excitement the tents were clean and comfortable . The food was so unexpected Irish's mashed potatoes outstanding. Looking forward to the next trip. Thank you everyone for the GREAT weekend
Jeremiah made for a perfect experience
adamfU3756ZM,
May 16, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was easily one of the best rafting experiences ever made possible by this incredible outfitter. We had the fortune to ride with Jeremiah, who will be a memorable guide for life. We will raft together again and it’s because the guy just gets it. The precision on the water and with his team plus the banter and good fun makes for a perfect experience and it’s clear why these guys are the only great option for riding the American River. Couldn’t be happier and thank you guys for such a fun day
Sunny october trip
BlandineValinFremont,
Oct 4, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our family and friends (we were a 18 people group) had so much fun! Our 6 years old daughter was smiling all the way of this 3.30 hours trip. Some splashes were not expected and that's what makes rafting so entertaining. There are few spots where you can swim, pretty refreshing and enjoyable! Our river guide Chris was remarkably professional, friendly and passionate. We slept at the campsite next to the rafting basement, so appreciable!
AWESOME!
heatheroW4967CK,
Sep 7, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00All I can say is AWESOME! I planned a trip for my husband and kids (17, 14, 13 and 7). It was a last minute thing and I was surprised they still had space. My husband and kids had a blast! It was their first time ever doing this and they were so impressed! Their guide was Blake. He made it so much fun for them that they still talk about parts of the trip. I think I have heard all the details so much I feel like I was there too. I was worried that my younger one would be scared if she was to fall out but Blake kept them safe and was clear with the rules. My family said he was a lot of fun! He was full of jokes and just made the whole thing a blast especially for their first time! They loved it and Blake so much when I ask if they had to choose between this and Disney (we are a big Disney family) they said the choice was hard! This is saying a lot for our family! We definitely will be back again! When I mentioned to my husband that maybe we should try other rivers tours he said no that we will continue with this one and we are to request Blake. This says a lot coming from him! :) Thanks for making this a successful trip for my family! The pictures are priceless as well! Amazing! This was the perfect break that my family needed with all this Covid stuff! All the rules were followed to make them feel safe! Well for sure be doing this again!
Awesome Super Fun Experience
784hiralp,
Aug 30, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were a group a 6 and most of us had never been on a river before, let alone rafted... but we had an amazing experience! It was a super fun day and our guide Nick really made sure we had a great time. He explained things extremely well and made us feel very comfortable. Raft California provides helmets which was important to us as first timers as some of the other companies did not provide helmets. Also the raft has a rope on the side of the raft that is incredibly helpful to help feel secure and was explained to us as an important piece of safety equipment (we agreed). Not all of the other raft companies out in the river had that on their raft. The staff in the office was super friendly and awesome answering all of our questions, managing our booking etc. And again, can't say enough about our guide Nick who really made our experience more memorable. Thank you Raft California! We'll be returning in the future.
First Time...in a Long Time
747hieuv,
Aug 10, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00NATE was our rafting guide. HE IS GREAT WITH FAMILIES & KIDS. We had tons of Fun. RAFT CALIFORNIA is a great company. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM. Our 1/2 day trip was about 3.5 hrs long. Worth it...we will be back.
Awesome Experience
T6714IU,
Aug 6, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00John was our guide, and he was Excellent. He was so wonderful and we felt safe with him. Highly recommended
It's All About Memories
mgappa,
Jul 24, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Family vacation to Tahoe so we booked a rafting trip on the South Fork. Raft California did a great job and our guide Baldo was amazing. As he got comfortable with our abilities, he pushed more fun features in the water. He was a great balance between fun and safety. The Gorge was a beautiful place to raft and there are some really fun rapids, perfect for the novice/intermediate rafter. Raft California did not take any shortcuts regarding COVID and they followed all the rules. We were so happy to have this time with our family despite all that is going on, it is all about the memories you create! Don't forget to request Baldo, he shows a good time.
Great introduction to white water rafting
matthewwI94WE,
Jul 21, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Two 10 year olds and two dad just enjoyed an incredible two day "boys trip" rafting the South Fork of the American River. This was the boys' first whitewater rafting experience, and it was a terrific introduction. They're hooked! Our guide, Brooke, was fantastic and made the adventure so fun and memorable for all of us. The entire staff were very cool and helpful (and excellent chefs!). The campground and facilities are really nice and perfectly suited for large gathering, which we plan to do in the future with the rest of our family. The staff were very good about Covid-19 precautions and we felt safe the whole time. It does get hot, and don't forget to bring your camping stove for the first night (no open flames allowed) if you want to make your dinner at the campground. See you on the river!
From $110.00
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