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Located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Foothills at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds, is The Golden Road Gathering. Brought to you by the founders of Hangtown Halloween, this music festival will be full of entertainment, including 30+ bands in the funk, rock, soul, & groove genres. It’s fun for the whole family. Pair this 3 day event with some recreation by signing up for a whitewater rafting trip with WET RIVER TRIPS. Conveniently, a shuttle will pick you up at the gates of the festival and take you on an exhilarating class 3 whitewater rafting experience. The start of this river trip is just a 15 minute drive from the festival gates and is approximately 3 hours long. Then, you and your friends will get dropped off back at the gates just in time for some groovin’ and shakin’.
The South Fork is a beginner to intermediate Class 3 white water rafting river, perfect for anyone from ages 7 to 100+ to experience the joy of white water rafting. With periods of relaxation floating down the river interspersed with moments of sheer exhilaration as you take on fun-filled rapids, the South Fork American River is a perfect river tour to bring together any group with just the right level of excitement!
We offer 9 different rafting experiences, ranging from half-day to multi-day river trips, covering 10 to 21 miles, on the South Fork of the American River plus the ability to customize your experience. Or you can combine any of our South Fork white water rafting trips with a Middle Fork, North Fork American or North Yuba river trip for a truly thrilling, unique and memorable multi-day white water adventure.
With all of these options, a rafting trip with WET River Trips on the South Fork American River is ideal for families, friends, corporate groups, scouts, church groups, school groups, bachelor and bachelorette parties.
Rafting season on the South Fork American River starts April 1 and goes until October 1. Thanks to the Federal contracts that the dams on the South Fork operate under, we are guaranteed recreational flows for white water rafting trips no matter if California is in a severe drought or we have an abundance of snowpack.
The South Fork is typically slightly higher and runs a little stronger in the spring (depending on the amount of snow we have received over the winter) than in the summer. The different flows, combined with the amazing wildflower displays and less crowds make spring rafting on the South Fork of the American an unbelievable experience for those looking for a slightly more exciting white water adventure.
The guaranteed releases from the dams give us great recreational water levels all summer long. These river levels make for exciting and fun rapids that you will enjoy getting splashed in during the hot summer months. The most popular times for white water rafting trips on the South Fork American River are Saturdays from mid-July to mid-August. Those dates can sell out quickly, so we recommend you book your trip early if you want to come on one of those Saturdays. If you want a truly unique, unencumbered, full experience we recommend you book your river trip for a mid-week (or even Sundays) date.
South Fork – 2 Day Wilderness Enjoy a wilderness experience accessible for ages 7 and up. Join us for 2 days of rafting and one
One day is just never enough to truly enjoy what rafting has to offer. Join us on this two day trip and let us take care of all the details! Two days of camping, meals, and adventure.
Lower (Gorge) Express Ready yourself as the canyon narrows into a granite gorge where you will plunge through thrilling Class 3 rapids like Satan’s Cesspool,
South Fork Full River Lunch Included! The perfect trip for those looking to see all 21+ miles of the South Fork of the American River.
Great for those short on time! Surf a hole at ChilI Bar Hole and enjoy our favorite rapids, including Meatgrinder, Triple Threat and Trouble Maker, the river’s most challenging and exciting rapid. These rapids are followed by a relaxing float through Marshall Gold Discovery State Park in Coloma.
Float along the South Fork’s Class 2 section and take in scenic views of golden rolling foothills, before the canyon narrows into a granite gorge where you will plunge through thrilling Class 3 rapids like Satan’s Cesspool, Bouncing Rock and Hospital Bar, to name a few. A customer favorite, this trip is perfect for any size and type of group.
Our most popular day trip boasts rapids right from the start. Surf a hole at ChilI Bar Hole and enjoy favorite rapids, including Meatgrinder, Triple Threat and Trouble Maker, the river’s most challenging and exciting rapid. These rapids are followed by a relaxing float through Marshall Gold Discovery State Park in Coloma.
One of the amazing things you will experience while camping along the river is the light show in the sky. Getting away from the city and suburbs, and the light pollution they bring, the night sky explodes with the fireworks of the stars.
A collection of various whitewater rafting photos over the years at WET River Trips.
We have a tradition here at WET River Trips that I strongly recommend all businesses incorporate. At the end of every season we go on a multi-day rafting trip. Not only is it a great team building trip, it also gives us the opportunity to reconnect with each other and why we do what we d
Everyone has done Vegas. Take a different route for your upcoming bachelor party.
South Fork Trips Meet at: 5461 Bassi Rd, Lotus, CA 95651
Water flows in the South Fork American River result from releases from hydroelectric facilities located upstream. Such water releases are not subject to the control of El Dorado County or rafting companies operating under Permits from the County of El Dorado.
Transportation for trips operated under California Public Utility Commission TCP# 0038955