W.E.T. River Trips was established in 1978 in Sacramento, CA, USA
Many of you have asked and wondered how to determine your American River rafting abilities. When someone calls, we usually ask for their lifestyle information, such as "What type of outdoor experiences have you had?" or "What kind of outdoor sports are you involved in?"
This helps us to advise you of your skills. A perfect trip on the 21 mile, Class III-III+ South Fork American River will challenge you and give you a taste and thrill of whitewater rafting.
At the Chili Bar put-in, we challenge hardy beginners to surf the Chili Bar Hole. The inflatable boat dances to the waves of the rapids testing your balance and strength. There is more to come. Below is Meatgrinder Rapid (don't you love these names?) A long rapid with a wrap rock on the right and a good pour-over in the center right of the river. At high flows this rapid becomes Class IV and will really challenge the veteran paddler or kayaker. Around the corner is Race Horse Bend. Paddlers are asked to paddle hard so that the guide can swing to the left and line up the boat through the slot of the rapid. There is a nasty rock that has been known to rip boats at this rapid. (Another reason to paddle with seasoned guides!) 
More paddling takes you through a beautiful section of American River rafting Class II-III rapids until you get to Triple Threat Rapid. Three big standing waves ride like a roller coaster as we stop here for lunch. As we munch our lunch, we enjoy this entertaining display as boats negotiate the three waves.
After lunch, we move towards the big rapid of the day at Troublemaker Rapid. The rapid is deceptive because it doesn't really look like a tough rapid. The waves move you towards the shore while you must make a right turn quickly and enter the slot to the left of the big boulder! Many boats miss the slot and bounce and careen off the boulder giving those on shore quite a delightful show. We eddy out to the right and watch the rest of the boats go through.
We usually float back into Camp Lotus around 3:30PM for the end of the 1-day trip or to camp and dinner on the 2-day trip. The next day for the 2-day begins at the campground after a hearty breakfast.
The Gorge run starts mellow and soon takes you into the bigger rapids right after lunch. Large standing waves compliment the narrowing gorge and inspires paddlers as they bounce through the rapids. Hospital Bar and Satan's Cesspool are the big rapids on this end of the this river. Hospital Bar is a crazy, twisting rapid which can corkscrew the boat dumping people out for a wild, washing-machine-dunk. With smaller children, the guides will bounce through this rapid conservatively barely getting you wet. (Guides will run conservatively with timid beginners or children...we want you to come back!) As we approach Satan's Cesspool, the paddlers are usually quite aggressive by now. Hoops and hollers accompany this rapid as a sharp left 
negotiates the rapid.
Towards the end, when Folsom Lake is low, many other rapids pop out on the river such as Surprise and others. Surprise Rapid is a great big standing wave which everyone wants to hit square or else you can flip if the water is high. The guides love this rapid and sometimes will try to high side the boat for more excitement or thrills. Again, this is only when the paddlers are hardy, aggressive individuals.
The take-out is a bit of a climb, so we advise daily walking to get you into shape. (You all should be walking anyway...healthy lifestyles make for better paddlers.) South Fork American River rafting paddlers enjoy Class III rapids with friends & family! Yipee & Yahoo! Introduce yourself to this whitewater rafting trip this year.
If you need help determining which river you, your friends, your company or family should travel on, please call our office and discuss your needs and limitations. This information will help us to provide you with the best trip possible. W.E.T. takes pride in every trip and cares for every type of person.
We recommend athletic beginners or intermediates on this run. To start, begin with a One-Day Chili Bar run and then go on a Two-Day rafting package for a great outdoor rafting adventure.
Call for info 1.888.723.8938
Respect all rivers...and they will respect you back!
The South Fork American River is one of the most popular runs for the Bay Area folks. Just a quick 3 hours to the meeting site takes you on a river rafting adventure that will thrill beginners, intermediates and veterans.
Go high water in the Spring with your hardcore rafting friends. Raft this river in the hot Summer months with beginners and family or go in the low water Fall months for wildlife and soulful reflection.
Call us for updates on this river. We will advise you honestly and as accurately as possible!
W.E.T. also provides on request, helmets for children on Class II-III rivers. Just ask for children's safety helmets for the Class III runs on the Southfork American river. (Please note that all Class IV & above runs require helmets on everyone!)
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1.888.RAFTWET 1.888.723.8938
Copyright 1995-2005
update: May 16, 2005
PO Box 160024
Sacramento, CA 95816
Toll Free: 1.888.723.8938
Adminstrative: 916.451.3241
email: <wet@raftwet.com>
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