Quick Details
Enjoy A Two-Part Adventure Rafting on the South Fork American River in CA!
River: South Fork of the American River
Section: Gorge Run
Duration: Half-Day Experience
River Miles: 12 River Miles
Whitewater Class: Class II-III+ (Adventurous Beginner/ Intermediate)
Raft Sizes: 13’, 14’ & 16’ rafts are used: On the South Fork of the American River, our rafts can take up to 6-8 guests, plus a guide.
Guided Tours: Professional river guide in each raft providing instructions throughout the journey
Highlights:
Best beginner rafting from North Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, Central California, and the Bay Area- A leisurely start with a slow build-up of Class II rapids, with an exciting finish
- Perfect introductory and first-time river trip
- Large waves, splashes, and plenty of swimming opportunities
- Fun for the whole family
- Centrally located in California (2 hours from the Bay Area)
Where We Meet:
- Pilot Hill, California: 4531 Salmon Falls Rd, Pilot Hill Ca, 95664
- Vehicles left at our office for the day; load into our marked van for a short 10-minute drive to the river. Amenities Include parking, restrooms, changing rooms
Approximately 1 hour from Sacramento. 2 hours from the Bay Area, 1.5 hrs from North Lake Tahoe
What To Expect:
After Making a Reservation:
- Confirmation email including trip details, online waivers, driving directions
- Prepare for the trip by visiting our
Day of the Tour: Arriving at Meeting Location:
- Check-in at Pilot Hill Office at set meeting time: Check confirmation email
- Board a rafting bus for a short 10-minute drive to the river
- Gear up with PFD, paddle, helmet, wetsuit/splash jacket if needed
- Quick orientation on river safety and paddling instructions
- Launch into the South Fork of the American River for an exhilarating rafting experience
What to Expect on the South Fork American River Gorge Run:
- Beginner/Intermediate whitewater rafting suitable for all adventure levels
- 12 miles of whitewater excitement
- Historical significance with the river playing a key role in the 1848 California Gold Rush
- Scenic river rafting journey through the Coloma-Lotus Valley with Class II rapids and mellow swimming holes to swim in.
- Fun Filled Class II and III rapids enter the lower exciting Gorge with escalating rapids such as “Foulers Rock”, “Satans Cesspool”, and “Hospital Bar”
- Extraordinary adventure for all with beautiful foothill scenery and rich historical context
- Jet ski tow-out at Folsom Reservoir
Availability:
- Runs every day, typically from May to mid-September (dependent on river flow)
- All availability can be seen online; call for reservations
Why Choose Tahoe Whitewater Tours?
- Experienced river guides prioritizing safety and guest services
- Over 30 years of history on rivers, showcasing the beauty of the South Fork of the American River
South Fork of the American River Gorge Run
Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime on our beginner-friendly guided whitewater river rafting adventure on the popular South Fork of the American River. A trip perfect for those seeking a day filled with thrills and excitement! Traverse the historic South Fork of the American River as it winds through the picturesque Coloma-Lotus Valley, setting the stage for one of the most sought-after whitewater stretches in the United States. Brace yourself for 12 miles of pure river fun, beginning with a leisurely first hour that provides the perfect backdrop to learn the essentials of whitewater rafting. Dive into large tranquil pools offering ample swimming opportunities. As the afternoon unfolds, the river gains speed upon entering the lower gorge, hosting the most thrilling rapids of the journey. Become part of a professional rafting team, expertly guided by our experienced crew, as walls of water surround you, echoing with laughter and cries of joy. The grand finale awaits at Folsom Reservoir, where an exhilarating tow-out from a jet ski adds the perfect ending to this epic day. Ideal for first-time river runners, the Gorge Run promises a mellow start, beginner/intermediate rapids, and thrilling waves toward the end – a recipe for creating unforgettable memories on the South Fork American River!
Located centrally in California, it’s the best and easiest whitewater rafting adventure to locate, perfect for a day trip from San Francisco or any major city in the state. Book your guided whitewater river tour now!
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Type of trip: Adventurous Beginner/ Intermediate rafting
This section is Class II-III+ Meaning Adventurous Beginner/ Intermediate rapids, Family Friendly, perfect for first-time river rafters with some exciting moments in the Class III’s. We refer to this section as an adventurous beginner due to the big splashy waves and technical maneuvering in some of the bigger whitewater rapids.
The run starts off easy and slowly as the river meanders through the Coloma Lotus Valley. Class II whitewater is intermixed with long, flat swimming areas perfect to cool off in on a hot summer day. As the river enters the lower “Gorge,” The rapids build in succession, beginning with “Fowlers Rock” and continuing into “Satan’s Cesspool” and “Hospital Bar” as the major rapids to conquer throughout the second half.
On this section of the river
- Everyone is given paddles and asked to participate.
- Everyone should be in good physical shape.
- No experience is necessary.
- Learn about the river classifications and differences between Class I through Class VI at this link
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Guided Whitewater Rafting Tour
All of our tours are guided with a river guide in the back of the raft, guiding you and your group throughout the day. The guide will be showing you how to sit in the raft, hold the paddle and teach you proper paddling techniques. The guide will be giving paddling commands and interacting with paddle strokes while navigating the raft through the river and turbulent sections.
Our goal is to have professional and customer-oriented guides trained to give you a wonderful river experience.
If you guide did a wonderful job and you had a fun experience tipping is an acceptable form of showing appreciation to your guide at the end of the tour.
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13’, 14’, & 16’ self-bailing river rafts are used
- On the South Fork of the American River, our rafts can take 6- 8 guests + a guide.
- The Gorge Run on the South Fork American River allows for many different raft sizes. We can fit groups of 4 in our 13’ers and groups of up to 8 in our 16’ rafts.
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- Half Day Experience
- 12 River Miles
- Roughly 3 hours of river rafting
- Roughly 4 hours total time commitment from arrival to our office to saying farewell
- Trip Timeline:
- Arrival and check in, Transportation to river put in site, Gear ourselves up with rafting gear, Safety talk/ river instruction, Hop into rafts for day, Load back into vehicles, Drive back to meeting location. Say farewell.
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(PM) Afternoon Trip- Check the Confirmation email for a specific meeting time
For our tours we ask ours guest be available to check in for the tour between the above time frames. It is important to arrive on time as our tours need to follow a strict time frame. The Bus will leave the office roughly 15 minutes after check in times to keep the days schedule.
Make sure before leaving home to double check drive time and directions to ensure arrival on time. Road construction and slow traffic are common during the summer months and can affect road conditions.
Notify the office if you believe you are behind schedule for the trip.
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4531 Salmon Falls Rd, Pilot Hill CA, 95664
Our American River Rafting Office is located in Pilot Hill, California, just off Hwy 49 between Auburn and Placerville, CA. At our American River Office, you’ll find safe secure parking, clean restrooms, changing rooms, and shaded picnic tables to relax.
Rough Drive Times to office location:
- 1 hr 30 minutes from North Lake Tahoe on I-80
- 1 hr 45 minutes from South Lake Tahoe on Hwy 50
- 50 minutes from Sacramento
- 2 hours from the Bay Area
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7 years old
Due to the nature of whitewater rafting trips we require kids are age 7 years old or above. At this age kids are good listeners and able to follow guide instructions.
Whitewater rafting, like any outdoor adventure activity, has inherent risks. Unintentional swimming can be common during any type of rafting experience. We ask that all participants be able to listen to and understand instructions and directions given by river guides and staff. For this reason, our minimum age for Class III rapids is 7 years old.
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- Once a reservation is made, you will receive a confirmation email sent to you for your reservation. Details of your group size date, river, section, meeting time, and location will be apart of your confirmation email. For any changes or adjustments to your tour, refer to your confirmation email, date and name made with the reservation.
- Online waivers will be available to sign and share with other group members from the confirmation email. We ask guests to fill out waivers online ahead of time prior to arrival.
- A link to our will be attached to the confirmation email, which links back to our website for a detailed pack list, as well as other pertinent information for your tour. Reference the for information on getting ready for your river rafting day with us.
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What to wear
Getting ready for a whitewater rafting trip is similar to getting ready for a day at the beach. Everything that goes on the river will get wet so dress in clothing that you’d be comfortable swimming in.
Quick List:
- Bathing Suit or shorts
- Sun shirt or layer to protect from the sun
- Baseball hat
- Sunglasses (retention strap if expensive)
- Sunscreen
- reusable water bottle with a hard loop that can securely attach to the raft
- Most Important Shoes are required that will not come off, such as strap-on sandals, water shoes, booties, and old tennis shoes.
Flip-flops or slip-on shoes are not allowed for rafting. If you go for an unintentional swim, you will lose your flip-flops immediately. If you end up on shore or in a random place, you need to have good footwear to get back to the rafts or to be able to walk along the shoreline.
For a more detailed packing list on items to consider wearing and packing for the trip: visit our which includes a detailed pack list.
Things to Leave at Home
While on the river, Everything gets wet, has the possibility to fall out of pockets and be lost in the river. We ask everyone to leave cellphones, wallets, Car keys and valuables home, at our office location or locked away.
Gear and Equipment we provide
On every one of our whitewater rafting adventures, we pass out the following equipment to each guest:
- Helmets
- PFDs (personal flotation devices), also known as life jackets
- Paddle
During spring and cold weather trips, we also provide at no additional cost:
- Wetsuits
- Fleece base layers
- Splash Jackets
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- For river rafting the South Fork of the American River, we will meet at our American River office
- There is ample parking for vehicles here for the day.
- Personal items should be locked in your personal vehicle throughout the day. Wallets, Cell phones, and Car Keys can also be kept in our river office while out for your rafting adventure!
- Restrooms are available at our meeting location as well available at the river put-in location.
- From here, we board our rafting bus for a short 10-minute drive to the river. This same bus will bring you back to your vehicles at the completion of the tour.
- PFDs, Paddles, helmets, and, when appropriate, wetsuits, splash jackets, and fleece will be passed out and appropriately fitted.
- The River Guides will give a quick river orientation safety talk and paddle talk to inform you about river hazards, do’s and don’ts, and instructions in paddling will be given prior to setting off on the trip.
- We push off and enjoy a beautiful day river rafting the South Fork of the American River.
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This Beginner/ Intermediate whitewater river rafting trip is suitable for anyone looking for a fun day as action awaits on this historical trip through one of California’s most popular waterways! The South Fork of the American River cuts through the heart of the Coloma-Lotus Valley, a beautiful setting to start one of the most popular stretches of whitewater in the United States. Our Gorge Run offers 12 miles of river fun and excitement. The first hour of this trip is fairly easy, creating a perfect setting to learn all the basics of whitewater rafting. Large tranquil pools allow for ample swimming opportunities as the river leaders through the first half of the day. In the second half of the trip, the river picks up speed as it enters the lower gorge. Most rapids on the trip are located in this lower section. By this point your guides have trained you and your crew to be a professional rafting team ready for anything. Rapids continually build, and walls of water douse from all sides as laughter and cries of joy are heard between the wild waters. One after another the rapids continue until finishing in Folsom Reservoir, where a tow out from a jet ski awaits. The South Fork American River- Gorge Run is a perfect trip for first-time river runners because of its mellow start, beginner and intermediate rapids, and large waves toward the end. An enjoyable day awaits you to come and discover this popular river.
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Every day when available!
The South Fork of the American River rafting trips are available EVERYDAY all summer long! We typically begin our season May 1st and run till mid September river flow depending.
All availability can be seen on our calendar. Please feel free to book online or call us anytime, 1-530-587-5777, to reserve your space.
On low water years, some midweek days may not be available due to scheduled water releases.
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The water that forms the South Fork of the American River, providing the perfect conditions for rafting on the Chile Bar and Gorge sections, originates in the high alpine peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains surrounding South Lake Tahoe. During the winter, these mountains accumulate a substantial snowpack.
In the spring, the melting snow trickles down the mountainsides, gradually merging into small creeks and streams. These waterways converge to form the South Fork of the American River. As the river flows parallel to Highway 50, it absorbs additional water from tributaries like the Silver Fork and South Silver rivers.
Along its journey, the river’s flow is managed by several reservoirs designed for water storage and hydroelectric power. Notable reservoirs include Ice House Reservoir, Slab Creek Reservoir, and Chile Bar Reservoir. The water that feeds the Chile Bar and Gorge sections is released directly from the Chile Bar Reservoir. These releases occur daily, providing recreational flow for river rafters. On some days, the river may flow for only a few hours as the dam releases and then shuts off the water supply.
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Our River Guides
Our guides are the best in the business, focusing on safety and guest service as a top priority. All are extremely knowledgeable about the area’s geology, ecology, and history and just love being on the river. Many with experience on rivers all over the country and across the globe, we’ll know you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do and each will certainly help to make your day on the river the best possible.
Our History on the South Fork American River
Our story on the Truckee River began in 1994 when Mike Miltner, owner of Tahoe Whitewater Tours, purchased the first permits to begin commercial rafting on the South Fork American River. Through the years we have taken many down the river, honing our skills and business into what it is today. Join us on the river and allow us to show you a great day on the South Fork of the American River.