Family Rafting Trips and Vacations with W.E.T. River Trips
American River White Water Rafting is just three hours northeast of San Francisco, 1 hour from Sacramento or 1-1/2 hours from Lake Tahoe! Ideal rafting trips for families with children ages 8 through 17 years old. The most popular whitewater trips encompass Class 3 to Class 4+ rapids. For those of you who are traveling in Central and Northern California, combine the one day rafting trip with an El Dorado County fun family activity or home of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay Area sights, activities and lodging. Out-of-state visitors can fly into Sacramento International Airport, the state capitol of California. Click here for Sacramento family activities, sights and attractions. The American River whitewater is appropriate for ages 8 years and older. Ideal for group rafting, family reunions and special events. See below for 1-day, 2-day and Combo packages. Call toll free 1.888.723.8938 for more info.
Calendar for Rafting Dates: Click on the calendars for more dates and schedules. Family trips are available 7-days a week. See current rafting discounts for midweek savings.
All trips operate Mon through Sunday; Super Family Savings on Mon, Tues & Thurs (see below for Wacky Wed)
- Chili Bar run - 10.5 miles with lunch
Meet at Camp Lotus at 9:00 AM. Recommended for athletic beginners, novices and intermediates on the most popular river in the West. Surf the Chili Bar hole, home of the kayak rodeo! Troublemaker rapid is the big rapid of the day along with Meatgrinder, Race Horse Bend, Triple Threat (3 Class 3 rapids in a row) and Ol' Scarey. - Gorge run - Gorge run 11 miles with lunch
We meet at our base camp at Camp Lotus at 10:00. Recommended for beginners, novices and familes with younger children. Start with gentle class 2 rapids to acclimate the family. After lunch, we arrive into the Gorge section with rapids called Fowler's Rock, Haystack Canyon, Satan's Cesspool and Suprise Rapid!
- Camping & Dinner Packages - Add camping and dinner package to any one day trip!
After a one day trip, join us for camping and dinner. Camping on the river includes tents, shower facilities, bathrooms and vehicle access. See our menus for a preview of your lunch and dinner. Just add $30 per person to any one day package.
- Two Day River Trip - 21 miles with camping on river shore and 2 lunches, breakfast and dinner
You have a choice of a vehicle access package or our highly recommended wilderness trip. The vehicle access package has camping at Camp Lotus (see above) or you can reserve the wilderness trip where camping is at BLM lands on the river. (No vehicle access or showers on the wilderness trips.)
- Two Day Combo Package - 30 mi; 2 rivers in 2 days!
Combine the South Fork American with the Middle Fork American for double the fun! We advise athletic families. We base camp at Camp Lotus and we take care of the shuttling between rivers. In the early spring, you can do 3 rivers in 3 days (50 miles) for an ultimate combo rafting package! Min age is 14 years old for Middle Fork/South Fork Combo; Min age is 16 years old for Middle Fork/North Fork Combo.
- See current rafting discounts. Also see current South Fork American calendar dates.
All trips operate Mon through Sunday; Super Family Savings on Tues, Wed & Thurs (see below for Wacky Wed)
- One Day Trip - 19 miles with lunch
Meet behind Raley's Grocery store in Auburn, California. Recommeded for athletic beginners to intermediates. Tunnel Chute rapid is an unsual rapid created by early argonauts. No other rapid compares with this adrenaline rush! Minimum age is 14 years old. - One Day trip w/ camp package - 19 miles with lunch, camping and dinner
Add $30 per person for the camping and dinner package. We base camp at Camp Lotus on the river. Includes tents.
- Two Day Wilderness Trip - 19 miles with camping, 2 lunches, breakfast and dinner
Slow down to river time! Camp in a wilderness river corridor in one of the deepest canyons in the state of California. Ideal for the wilderness outdoor lover. Families become intimate and bond together on this river rafting adventure. 30 lbs per person limitation for personal gear. Min age is 12 years old. Call for questions and details for your family trip. 1.888.723.8938.
- Three Day Wilderness Trip - 24 miles with 2 nights camping, 3 lunches, 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners
A great acclimation for the longer river trips out here in the West. Prepare your family on this rafting trip for the longer trips on the Klamath River, Rogue and Grand Canyon Colorado. Includes side-hikes and fishing. 30 lbs per person limitation for personal gear. Check Middle Fork American calendar for dates. - Two Day Combo Package - combine this river with any American River package. Call for specials 1.888.723.8938.
- Special Rates Mon, Wed & Fri - one day; $109 per person
- Special Rates Tues & Thurs - one day; $99 per person
- Special Rates 2-day wilderness - $275 per person
All trips on Wednesdays are discounted; Call our office for details 1.888.723.8938
Wacky Wednesdays on the South Fork American will not be available this year.
Middle Fork American can use Wacky Wednesday from now until September.
- One Day Middle Fork American River Trip with lunch only $109 per person
- Two Day Combo Package only $210 per person
- Two Day South Fork only $175 per person on ANY Mon start
- Special Rates include every 6th person free
- Special Rates for non-profit youth groups; call 1.888.723.8938
Teen Rafting Trips - Birthdays, special events - ages 12 through 17 yrs
Special teen trips available most Tues, Wed, & Thurs; Call our office for custom rafting trips
- May rafting trips - possible higher flows; recommended for athletic teens over 12 years old
- June rafting trips - ideal for special events, end-of-school trips and birthdays; recommended for 12 and up
- July, Aug - hot summer months; recommended for families, teen and youth groups; pre-teen and teen groups
- September - ideal for end-of-summer events; team-building, teen and youth groups; pre-teen and teens
- Wilderness Trips - team building for youth, family bonding, at-risk teens, non-profit programs
- Teen Trips - customize a special birthday or event for your teen and their friends; camping or lodging available; minimum group size is 10 teens with 2 adult chaperones; call 1.888.723.8938 for details.
- Special Rates One Day Saturday South Fork Chili Bar or Gorge - $109 per teen
- Special Rates One Day Sunday South Fork Chili Bar or Gorge - $99 per teen
- Special Rates Tues & Thur - $99 per teen on One Day South Fork or One Day Middle Fork American!
Active Seniors - Family Reunion, special events - June through Sept
All dates below are weekends only; midweek trips are available from Monday through Friday
Family-bonding with all the members of your family require special river trips. Multi-generations go rafting on the river during our long season. If you have questions about your health or activity levels, please discuss your limitations with your personal physician. We'll help you with your questions and recommend the right river for your abilities.
Rafting Resources and Information for your Family Trips
For more information for planning your family rafting trip, please see below:
W.E.T. River Trips was established in 1978 in California, USA. Please call us for any further questions on our family rafting trips. Our toll free number is 1.888.723.8938 for phone reservations. If you are ready to buy your trip, just visit our online store at RAFTWET-store.com for immediate purchase. Email confirmation is sent with driving directions, suggestions on what to wear and other travel tips.
Price Information:: see our current Discounts or visit our online store ::
For more information on California rafting and California whitewater, please visit our website at RAFTWET.com. W.E.T. River Trips was established in 1978 in Sacramento, California, USA on Planet Earth! Visit our rafting blogs for up-to-date information and news. American River rafting trips are available from mid-March through September. For more rafting resources visit our information pages. If you can't find the info, just call us at 1.888.RAFTWET or 1.888.723.8938 toll free! Visit our online store at RAFTWET-store.com for immediate purchases and savings. Write to: W.E.T. River Trips, PO Box 160024, Sacramento, CA 95816 on Planet Earth! Reservations: 1.888.723.8938 Mon - Sat 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM PST.
