Call or Text!
Visit our photo partners
You will meet us at 9:30 AM at the private Camp Lotus campground, where you’ll meet your guide. After client check in is complete, we shuttle you up the river canyon to the starting point of our trip. There you are outfitted with everything you need to enjoy your trip, including paddles, life jackets and helmets.
After a safety talk, you will be well prepared to enjoy some of the most fun rapids and beautiful views the American River has to offer. Along the way, we’ll stop for a gourmet deli lunch served at the riverside. Then continue on to complete the South Fork of the American River.
You will be returned to your starting point between 4:30 and 5:30 PM. There, you will have the opportunity to purchase photos of your adventure, and utilize Camp Lotus’s showers and other amenities. Should you wish to camp at Camp Lotus the night prior to or after your rafting trip, simply book online or call us ahead of time.
The great thing about the South Fork American River is it’s the perfect river for novice rafters or if you are more adventurous W.E.T. has the guides with the experience and training to provide a more exciting trip.
The South Fork of the American River is the most popular whitewater river trips in California and one of the most popular in the world. Just 45 minutes east of Sacramento and 1 hour west of Lake Tahoe, this class 3 beginner to intermediate 21 mile river has over 30 exciting rapids that are perfect for everyone from 7 to 100, and for families to bachelor/bachelorette parties. Winding through the golden foothills in the heart of the Sierra Nevadas, every rapid ends in a calm pool giving you a chance to celebrate, laugh and relax before your next thrill. In addition to the exhilarating rapids the South Fork American River cuts right through the historic town of Coloma california where gold was first discovered giving rise to the golden state. This river offers the perfect mix of thrilling rapids interspersed with calm stretches giving you the opportunity to bask in the gorgeous scenery of the oak filled foothills and each other’s company. This dam controlled river has the added benefit of providing guaranteed ideal rafting flow from March into October even in the driest of years.
When you choose W.E.T. River Trips to guide you along your adventure, the South Fork American River provides you the opportunity to learn new paddling skills in a safe environment or make the seemingly simpler rapids the thrill of a lifetime. That’s because as the premier rafting company our experienced, local guides have the ability to provide the experience you are looking for. Whether you want to get your feet wet in whitewater while staying in the raft or want a more exciting trip where you very well find yourself in the river more than once. Either way you are guaranteed to have the experience of a lifetime. We here at W.E.T. river trips have made the decision not to become the biggest rafting company so that we can have the flexibility to provide you with your desired experience. Since safety is always our primary concern we have retained the most experienced, trained and skilled local guides to provide you with this experience.
5461 Bassi Rd, Lotus, CA 95651
The meeting place for this trip is our private campground partner, Camp Lotus. Please take the time to download and print directions as cell phone service can be spotty.
Drive Times:
Sacramento Area: Approximately 45 mins
San Francisco: Approximately 2 hours
We here at W.E.T. river trips have made the decision not to become the biggest rafting company so that we can have the flexibility to provide you with your desired experience. Since safety is always our primary concern we have retained the most experienced, trained and skilled local guides to provide you with this experience.
EXCELLENT Based on 336 reviews Posted on Google Will EtlingJune 8, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Issac and Muriel took my family on a half day South Fork trip - we had an incredible time, my kids loved their introduction to rafting, we learned about local history and so much more. Highly recommend WET!Posted on Google Jennifer MeisterJune 6, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our river guide Wyatt was incredibly skilled and lots of fun!! Would highly recommend Wyatt. Really hope we can raft with him again!! We had the best experience on the South Fork American River!Posted on Google Pete HoffmannJune 3, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Rafted the Middle Fork of the American River and had a great time with the Wet Rafting Company. All the guides and the owner Chad were easy to work with. The guides were very knowledgeable and skilled, able to provide a fun exciting day trip to a bunch of novice rafters who will be back for more.Posted on Google b8thrwrJune 1, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. *Guide school review* Want an amazing week!! The entire crew was so helpful and so knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend attending the guide school program to anyone, even just for fun. Its like summer camp for adults! The knowledge, and confidence on the river, and friendships I walked away with after this week were priceless! Big thanks to the WET crew!Posted on Google Carie ThompsonJune 1, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Guide school I had so much fun at guide school. The students were all ages and abilities and the instructors were terrific! Great instruction, great food and camping, and wonderful people!Posted on Google Ryan WallMay 30, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was absolutely best guide training I ever attended!! Great people to teach a well rounded aspect of all ventures on the river while teaching you the top of the line safety measures.. I recommend this school training class for all ages. Get out enjoy nature and live your life!!!Posted on Google Kristine AngererMay 27, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. So much FUN! Issac was our guide. He was awesome! Very knowledgeable and super funny. Definitely made the trip better! Can't wait to go again!!!Posted on Google Corina TyagiMay 26, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an amazing river rafting trip with WET River Trips! Our guide was super friendly, funny, and very knowledgeable about the river, which made the whole experience even better. The gourmet lunch was delicious, and the Oreo treats were such a fun surprise. Everything was well organized, exciting, and memorable. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great rafting adventure!Posted on Google Nolan BrekleMay 26, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Best white water experience of all time!! If you want to have a blast, request Nate as your guide! Maximum fun and skill as a guide! All of the guides are super knowledgeable and great people. It will be the best day of your life. Book nowwwwPosted on Google Robinson LeeMay 26, 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great experience! As a first-timer, I enjoyed it a lot. Jo was a great leader who made the trip even more enjoyable. Highly recommended! Go there, enjoy the trip, respect the rules, and listen to your guide!Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more