Middle Fork American
River Rafting Trips

Sample Itinerary

• Meet in early morning in Foresthill
• Sign-in, shuttle, instruction
• Class III-IV rapids
• Snack, Class II rapids
• Riverside lunch
• Class II rapids
• Class IV Chunder Rapid, portage Ruck-a-Chucky
• Class III-IV rapids
• Take-out, shuttle
• Trip ends late afternoon

The river begins immediately with boisterous Class III Panic Alley Rapid. For the next two miles, you'll encounter rapid after rapid until we reach Class IV Tunnel Chute Rapid--a frothing 80-foot chute which ends with a six-foot drop just before it empties into a 90-foot tunnel! But the river has just begun. Not until six miles downstream from put-in does the whitewater begin to mellow after the tumultuous Class IV Kanaka Rapid. At this point you'll have time to relax as we float through a calming Class II section. You'll stop to have a freshly prepared deli lunch along the way.

After lunch, you'll encounter more easy water before getting to Class IV Chunder Rapid--a five-foot drop that will make you gasp. Immediately after Chunder, you'll watch your guides portage the boats around a Class VI 30-foot waterfall called Ruck-a-Chucky. Then it's back in the boats for a swift succession of five burly Class III-IV rapids before we reach our take-out.

The itinerary above may be altered due to a range of variables, including river flow levels, water release schedules, time of year, and other factors. Contact us if you have any questions.

Sample Itinerary

DAY ONE

• Meet mid-morning in Foresthill
• Sign-in, pack personal gear
• Shuttle, instruction
• Class III-IV rapids
• Riverside lunch
• Class II rapids, optional kayaking
• Set up camp, relax
• Dinner, campfire (fire season permitting), dessert, revelry!
• Fall asleep under the stars

DAY TWO

• Coffee, lounging, breakfast
• Break camp, load gear rafts
• Class II rapids, optional kayaking
• Optional side hike, lunch
• Class IV Chunder Rapid, portage Ruck-a-Chucky
• Class III-IV rapids
• Take-out, shuttle
• Trip ends mid-afternoon to late afternoon

In 2 days you'll paddle the same distance of our 1-Day trip but with more time to explore the beautiful wilderness of the 2000-foot deep Middle Fork canyon. All of your personal gear is carried by luggage rafts into a remote beach camp. After an action-packed morning of Class III-IV whitewater, we'll relax through a peaceful Class II section of the river. Here you'll have the opportunity to command your own inflatable kayak through the riffles and rapids and we'll also break for a riverside lunch.

Midway through this section, we'll set up our camp for the evening on a remote stellar stretch of beach. Now is the time for complete relaxation. You can fish, wade in a calm pool, read a book, or just fall asleep under a shady oak. We'll wake you in time for hors d'oeuvres and a freshly prepared meal. Later we'll sit by a fire, laugh and tell stories about our runs through the day's rapids. That night you'll sleep under the stars tucked snuggly inside your sleeping bag.

The next day, coffee and a hearty breakfast get us prepared for another day of exhilarating paddling. More Class II whitewater (and more opportunities for kayaking) before we stop to hike up a captivating side stream and break for lunch. Back in the boats, we tackle Chunder Rapid and then your guides will portage your boat around a Class VI 30-foot waterfall. Our 2-Day journey ends with an explosive succession of five Class III-IV rapids before we float into take-out.

The itinerary above may be altered due to a range of variables, including river flow levels, water release schedules, time of year, and other factors. Contact us if you have any questions.

Sample Itinerary

DAY ONE

• Meet mid-morning in Foresthill
• Sign-in, pack personal gear
• Shuttle, instruction
• Class III-IV rapids
• Optional cave hike
• Riverside lunch
• Class II rapids, optional kayaking
• Set up beach camp, relax
• Dinner, campfire (fire season permitting), dessert, revelry!
• Fall asleep under the stars

DAY TWO

• Coffee, lounging, breakfast
• Break camp, load gear rafts
• Class II rapids, optional kayaking
• Optional side creek hike, lunch
• Class II rapids, optional kayaking and inner tubing
• Set up beach camp, relax
• Dinner, campfire (fire season permitting), dessert, revelry!
• Fall asleep under the stars

DAY THREE

• Coffee, lounging, breakfast
• Time relaxing at a remote beach camp
• Break camp, load gear rafts
• Class II rapids, optional kayaking and inner tubing
• Optional side creek hike, lunch
• Class IV Chunder Rapid, portage Ruck-a-Chucky
• Class III-IV rapids
• Take-out, shuttle
• Trip ends mid-afternoon to late afternoon

It is hard to ever get too much of a good thing. This is certainly true inside this 2000’ deep wilderness canyon and on the Middle Fork of the American River. While 1-Day and 2-Day trips are worthwhile adventures, 3-Day trips are the best way to enjoy this California gem if you want to experience all it has to offer.

This special place is located only 17 miles from Auburn and Hwy 80, but it makes you feel like you are thousands of miles away from civilization and the daily grind. The canyon provides amazing scenery around every turn and side creeks with swimming holes and waterfalls to explore and enjoy.

This is a true expedition style trip because we carry everything into the wilderness area on luggage rafts and stop at beautiful remote beaches to camp along the way. Because we are not in a rush to finish the 16-mile journey, we have time to linger, relax, spend time with family and friends, stargaze, and participate in fun extracurricular activities like kayaking and inner tubing.

Three days on the Middle Fork of the American River will energize the soul for weeks, months, and even years.

The itinerary above may be altered due to a range of variables, including river flow levels, water release schedules, time of year, and other factors. Contact us if you have any questions.