The most popular river in the western United States has more consistent rapids than most rivers in California. Flowing through the original Gold Rush discovery site in Coloma, the South Fork American River is a paddler's dream river. Lots of rapids will challenge even the veteran rafter. This section is very popular with group rafting trips such as corporate team building, youth groups and family rafting programs. W.E.T. has family rafting trips during the week with special savings.
The South Fork has one of the longest river rafting seasons in California. We start in mid-March and welcome the high waters in the Spring of April and May where rafters can challenge themselves on more difficult rapids. The bulk of our season occurs from May through September where controlled flows will delight all users. You can do a one day, a two day, combo package or even a wilderness trip. Minimum age is 8 years old in the regular season; 12 and up during high flows.
The infamous Tunnel Chute run on the Middle Fork American River is equally popular, but requires a more athletic user. Dam control offers consistent flows almost every day during the April through September season. In a deep isolated canyon, this river is a wilderness trip unmatched by other experiences. Part of the Auburn Recreation Area managed by California State Parks, W.E.T. River Trips is an official white water rafting concessionaire. Tunnel Chute rapid is an unusual formation caused by argonauts who carved out and diverted the river when they were mining gold from the streambed. The rapid ends in a tunnel hence the name. A major portage around Rucka-Chucky rapid highlights the end of this river trip where you can view the awesome waterfall from above. We recommend 14 years and up.
Middle Fork is an ideal river for the 2-day wilderness trip. We highly recommend this trip for those of you who plan on extended river trips on the Klamath River, Rogue or Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Check our what to bring rafting for wilderness trips. Slow down to river time and join us on this beautiful stretch on this white water river.
The North Fork American River whitewater section is the most beautiful pristine playground of the American River. Coined the NoFo, the rapids are technical and demanding. From start to finish, experienced paddlers will negotiate rapids such as Chamberlain Falls, Bogus Thunder and Staircase; difficult Class IV rapids for aggressive paddlers only. There are no dams on this section of whitewater, so we depend on Mother Nature's snowpack and rainfall for flows. From mid-March through early June, this river will manage to capture the most athletic users. We recommend ages 16 and up.
The North Fork American is an ideal trip to combine with the South Fork in early spring. Run two rivers in two days for this exciting white water rafting package. Check out the special college student discounts!
Note: spring rafting requires gear and W.E.T. River Trips provides wetsuits, splash jackets, helmets and of course, lifejackets. See our what-to-wear page for more details. California rafting is optimum during early spring.
Established 1978 in Sacramento, California. Running American River rafting & whitewater rivers throughout California. Permitted by United States Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, California State Parks, El Dorado County & other governing agencies. Members of California Outdoors, America Outdoors, Friends of the River, American River Conservancy, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce, El Dorado County Visitors Bureau, Coloma-Lotus Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau and other American River rafting, California whitewater rafting and California river rafting organizations throughout the state of California and the country of the USA.