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The meeting time for the North Fork American Half-Day trip is 12:00 pm. You will meet the WET shuttle van and your North Fork river guides for the day behind the Raley’s shopping center in Auburn, California. From there, we have a short 25-minute ride in the van to our put-in location at the Iowa Hill Rd. Bridge.
North Fork American River rafting trips start off with a bang! Starting at Iowa Hill Bridge you will take on nearly continuous, non-stop, technical class 4-5 white water rapids. Along the way you can enjoy the breathtaking spring wildflowers, lush green foliage and abundant wildlife found in the deep magical wilderness canyon of the Wild and Scenic North Fork American River. The last few miles of your north fork adventure offer a chance to catch your breath, relax and enjoy the awe-inspiring scenery of the canyon as the pace of the river slows down. At the end of the trip you will have a true sense of accomplishment. This white water rafting trip is a true participatory experience. You will see & feel how what you do on your raft & with your paddle make a big difference navigating some of the best class 4+ rapids in California.
Once your time on the water is complete you will load into the WET van and return to the Raley’s parking lot after a short drive.
Only 3 hours from San Francisco, 45 minutes from Sacramento and 1 hour from Lake Tahoe. The North Fork American River is the classic California white water adventure. With its steep drops, technical rapids and rushing falls this intermediate/advanced rafting trip is perfect for adventurous first timers and those who have rafted before but want even more excitement, adventure, seclusion and beauty.
The North Fork of the American River will make you feel like you have entered into your own private wonderland as you travel on a ribbon of crystal clear water through a narrow granite canyon, covered in lush green vegetation highlighted with spring flowers. Part of the beauty is its free-flowing nature. Undammed, this is truly a pristine river that is normally runnable from March through May.
Don’t miss your chance to experience this true wilderness river canyon with some of the most technical rapids in California. Fortunately for you, when you choose WET River Trips you will be provided the best and most experienced river guides to navigate you along your adventure, their sole job is to ensure that you have a safe and memorable trip. But don’t be mistaken, the North Fork is an all hands on deck trip. Everyone will be fitted with all the necessary rafting equipment (paddle, life jacket, wetsuit, splash jacket and helmet) and trained how to successfully paddle in order to safely maneuver the rafts through this technically exciting river.
The North Fork trip begins by meeting at Raley’s Shopping Center in Auburn. After meeting your highly trained and experienced river guides we load into our shuttle vans to head to the river put in. Once there you will be geared up with your rafting equipment before receiving a safety and paddling orientation. Then it is time for the whitewater adventure to begin. The Wild and Scenic North Fork American River is full of whitewater action. Starting off with 7 miles of back to back Class 4+ rapids, you and your guide will skillfully maneuver around boulders, crash through giant waves and drop the 7 foot Chamberlain Falls.
13384 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603
The meeting place for this trip is directly behind the Raleys on Lincoln Way in Auburn. Please drive and park behind the Raley’s where our guides will meet you.
Drive Times:
Sacramento Area: Approximately 45 mins
San Francisco: Approximately 2 hours
The whitewater excitement doesn’t stop there, the action continues with rapids like Bogus Thunder, Grand Slalom, Staircase and Nose Stand just to name a few. After that, you will play in numerous Class 3 rapids, giving you a chance to truly appreciate the beauty of the Sierra Nevadas as we laugh and reminisce about the morning’s excitement. Ending at Upper Lake Clementine, you will be greeted by cold refreshing beverages before we shuttle you back to your cars in our shuttle vans.
This is our guides’ favorite river trip. After you have experienced it for yourselves you will know why, taking away the memories for a lifetime.
Don’t forget to add the Video Package to your reservation so you can relive your adventure and share it with friends.
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