Our 1-day whitewater rafting trip on the Middle Fork American River starts and ends in Auburn, California. We’ll meet at Crooked Lane Brewing— home of the ‘River Daze’ hazy IPA, before taking a shuttle van upriver to our put-in spot. There are a several memorable rapids on this run, including the famous “Tunnel Chute”. The 18-mile section of the Middle Fork American River that we’ll raft starts off strong, with 6 miles of Class III and Class IV rapids, including Last Chance, Submarine Hole, Kanaka, and the incredible Tunnel Chute which is a big 6-foot drop that leads you through a 90-foot long rock tunnel! After a thrilling start, we’ll ease back the pace a bit so you can enjoy the beauty of the lush, forested canyon and hopefully spot some wildlife. We’ll stop for a delicious riverside lunch, and you can enjoy swimming from the beach or some riverside exploration as the guides prepare your meal.
After lunch, we’ll get back on the river and test our mettle on the tricky Class IV Ruck-A-Chucky rapids (also known as Chunder) before portaging around Ruck-A-Chucky Falls (a mandatory portage for all clients). We’ll hike above the rapids so you can watch your brave and talented river crew guide the boats down the 20-foot drop and through a gauntlet of huge boulders. Below the rapid, you’ll hop back into the boat to tackle the rest of the river!
At the end of the day, we’ll meet our shuttle van at the take-out on Drivers Flat Road, load up the gear, and head back to Crooked Lane Brewing. Enjoy a well-deserved cold beer and then head home, or make a weekend out of it and spend the night at our incredible South Fork American River campground!
The Middle Fork American River is set in a beautiful, rugged wilderness canyon in the Gold Country foothills. It has a very remote feel despite being close to Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. It is a challenging, advanced river with numerous Class IV rapids. It’s suitable for kids ages 14 and up, and all guests must be able to swim.
Crooked Lane Brewing is a family owned craft brewery in the heart of Auburn, CA. They offer an expansive selection of beers, ranging from Blonde Ale and American Red Ale to Kolsch, IPAs, Imperial Porter, Doppelbock, among others. Their events calendar is packed each month with Trivia Nights, Food Truck Events, Bingo Nights, Stand Up Comedy and Live Music. Recently, they’ve expanded their offerings with the introduction of an on-site kitchen, allowing visitors to pair their favorite brews with delicious meals. For those who prefer to enjoy Crooked Lane at home, the brewery provides pre-order and pickup services, as well as online purchasing options with delivery across California. Partnership Brew – River Daze! We’ve teamed up with Crooked Lane Brewing to create a beer to pair with your rafting trip! Celebrate the rafting season with a crushable hazy IPA. More details on the spring release coming soon…About Crooked Lane Brewing Company
