Watch & Experience the Tom Sawyer Float: The Perfect River Trip for Younger Kids
The Easy Section of the South Fork of the American River that flows through the Coloma-Lotus Valley is the ideal river trip for families with children aged 5 to 7 years old. The gentle Class 1-2 rapids and the relaxing pools in between provide fun and excitement for the youngsters, older siblings, and parents alike.
Delightful way to spend a day on the water as a family
Little kids and water – the perfect summer combo right? But there are minimum ages for whitewater rafting trips. What’s a tiny rafter to do? If you’re just knee-high to a grasshopper and kindergarten is your reality, not a distant memory, you’re not certainly headed to the Middle Fork, and even the South Fork’s Class 3 rapids are out of reach.
Enter the Tom Sawyer Float Trip to save the summer! Running through the Coloma-Lotus Valley, this gentle introduction to rafting was developed for families with young kids – our minimum age guideline is 5 years old. This part of the South Fork is in between the Class 3 whitewater runs of the Upper “Chili Bar” and the Lower “Gorge” sections of the river. As it meanders through the valley, the river has only gentle Class 2 rapids. Splashy riffles give the wee ones a taste of excitement, and there are long stretches of lazy water . . . time for water fights, blackberry picking, joke-telling and paddling inflatable kayaks for the more adventurous among you. Lunch is served at our River Center under tall shady oaks, and all the cooking and clean-up is taken care of by our river guides – no work for mom and dad!
Take a Tom Sawyer Float Trip!
This could be you! Perfect for families with young kids, this easygoing float mixes calm waters with fun little riffles to keep things exciting. Soak in the scenery, splash through gentle waves, and enjoy a carefree day on the river together!
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Jack Armstrong
Jack grew up 35 minutes from AO headquarters, and is the grandson of our founder, George. His education includes a film degree and art studies from Biola University, as well as lots of experience breaking camera gear outside. After graduating college, he started an outdoors/action sports focused production company and is largely responsible for our video, photo, and social media content. Jack’s favorite trip is the Cal-Salmon, because of the river’s awe-inspiring beauty and the sweet rapids. When he’s not rafting or playing with cameras, Jack can be found skiing, surfing, visiting art galleries, or eating tacos.
