Whitewater River RaftingNews & Blog

Middle Fork American River Rafting

Opening weekend on the Middle Fork American River

The scheduled releases from Oxbow Dam in Foresthill, CA provide raftable flows on the Middle Fork American River. These flows guarantee enough water for our white water rafting trip all summer long. This wilderness canyon provides 2 sections for commercial whitewater as well as many sections for private boaters of all skill levels.

Class 4 Whitewater action

The upper section features many Class 4 rapids over an 18 mile stretch of wilderness canyon. This section makes for a fantastic full day adventure meeting at the Crooked Lane Brewing co in the morning. We shuttle you out to our put in location where the Oxbow powerhouse is releasing gallons of water every second. Lunch is served mid-river on a more mellow section of river where guests can swim and cool off while guides prepare your riverside meal. 2 days of Class 4 rafting  and wilderness camping is another great way to experience this majestic river. We have extra time to explore the side creeks including waterfalls and hikes. We take all the gear out on the river with us and your guides will be your chefs for the duration. The 2 day Middle Fork American River trip is by far one of our staff favorite trips.
Class 4 Middle Fork American River Trip Info
Middle Fork American River Deals

Guest Video of the Class 4 Middle Fork American River Trip from Memorial Day Weekend!

family friendly trips  

The downstream Class 2 wilderness section provides family fun for afternoon trips on selected days. Suitable for ages 4+ these are a fun way for kids to spend an afternoon swimming, playing, and exploring nature.

Class 2 Lower Middle Fork American River Trip Info

Come Rafting on the Middle Fork American River with Tributary Whitewater Tours  

As one of the original outfitters on the Middle Fork American River, Tributary Whitewater Tours, knows this river the best. We are family owned and operated, we know how important it is to offer trips for young adventurous kids. The options on the Middle Fork American are fun for all ages. 

Protect American River Canyons  

PARC (Protect American River Canyons) is a non-profit organization, run and operated by local outdoor and nature enthusiasts, is essential to outdoor recreation in the American River Canyon. Be sure to check them out and follow them on social. Volunteer opportunities also exist and we offer discounts for PARC members.  

MORE NEWS FROM THE RIVER

Get In Touch
530.626.7385
Tributary Whitewater
Incredible River Experiences

We launch trips on many different rivers in California, Oregon and Idaho. For questions give our main office a call – we would love to talk with you about our trips and rivers.

Contact Us
Whitewater specials, news & river trip updates

Subscribe to our newsletter to all the latest news from the river, info about our specials and more!

Follow us
Facebook Instagram Youtube Tiktok Twitter
the Rivers we run

Our vision is to create a sustainable and equitable reality where our rivers are enjoyed and protected, a place where families and friends can be inspired and challenged.

Tributary Whitewater Tours has been running rivers since we were first founded in 1978. Since we opened 40+ years ago we have expanded to include Adventure Connection, Mariah Wilderness Expeditions, High Desert River Outfitters, Canyon Outfitters and are the parent company of Raft California and Raft Oregon. While some things have changed over the years, Tributary remains a family-run small business with the same passion for the river and the mission of leading others to experience it.

 © 2024, Tributary Whitewater LLC, All Rights Reserved

Tributary Whitewater Tours is a permitted outfitter under the National Forest Service, the CA Dept. of Parks & Recreation, Nevada County, El Dorado County and Bureau of Land Management. Tributary Whitewater Tours is an Equal Opportunity Service Provider.