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  • Choose Your Trip

    Let's go Rafting!

    We offer a wide variety of California Whitewater Rafting trips. We suggest choosing by location, duration, or difficulty.  Need A little more help making your choice?

    LET'S GET STARTED

    Choose By TRip Area

    • Gold Country
    • Norcal / Oregon
    • Sacramento
    • San Fransisco Bay Area
    • SoCal / Los Angeles
    • Tahoe/Reno
    • Yosemite

    Choose By DIFFICULTY

    Low Spice Beginner Trips (Class II)
    Medium Spice INtermediate Trips (Class III)
    Full Spice Advanced Trips (Class IV)
    Too Hot Advanced Trips (Class V)

    CHOOSE BY LENGTH

    Single Day Trips Great for first timers!
    2 Day Trips Make it an overnighter!
    Half-Day Trips Fast n' Fun!
    Multi-Day Trips The ultimate experience
  • Rafting Prices

    RAFT TRIP PRICING

    We offer a wide variety of rafting trip pricing that can fit any budget! From half-day quick runs to multi-day overnight adventures, we’re looking forward to getting you on the water.

    CHECK OUT OUR PRICING

    GROUP DISCOUNTS

    We offer the following group discounts for our California white water rafting adventures. You can also check out some of our most popular group rafting trips:

    • 5% off with 6-11 people
    • 10% off with 12-17 people
    • 15% off with 18-23 people
    • 20% off with 24-29 people
    • 25% off with 30+ people
    Learn More

    FAMILY RAFTING SPECIALS

    20-50% off Overnight vacations on selected weekday summer dates. Options for American River, Klamath, Carson and more!

    Learn More
  • Camping

    RIVERSIDE CAMPING!

    Spice up your rafting adventure with an overnight stay at one of our riverside campgrounds.

    We offer a host of camping options including glamping, tent and RV campsites as well as group sites!

    Explore our Campgrounds

    SOUTH FORK CAMP

    • GLAMPING
    • TENTS
    • RVS
    • GROUPS

    Our home campground in historic Coloma, California. Glamping, Tent Camping and RV's welcome!

    Learn More

    Klamath Wilderness

    • TENTS
    • GROUPS

    Coming Summer 2021. Our newest wilderness rafting basecamp for our upper and lower klamath river trip guests.

    Learn More

    YUBA WILDERNESS

    • TENTS

    Rafting the Yuba? Bring your own tent and gear and sleep beneath the tall pines of Tahoe national forest.

    Learn More
  • Photos

    GET YOUR PHOTOS!

    Did you have an awesome trip? Our action photography partners have your pics ready to go, choose by provider.

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  • Resources

    RAFTING RESOURCES

    COVID-19 PREPARATIONS

    Our plans to provide you with a safe, fun adventure

    WHAT TO BRING

    Joing us for rafting, camping, or both? Check out our gear guide.

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    This season, skip the stuff...
    gift the gift of rafting.

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    Keep up with the news on our official blog.

    Contact us.

    • 800-672-3846
    • marketing@whitewatertours.com
    • 6500 CA-49 Lotus, CA 95651
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Lower Middle Fork American River RAFTING TRIPS

Auburn, CA /

Level: Beginner /

Class 2

  • Minimum Age: 4
  • Trip Length: 7 miles, 1-2 days
  • Season: Summer
  • Elevation: 750'
  • Trip Pricing: Starting at $99
View Trips
  • View Map
  • Area Info

for first-time california rafters, families with young kids, and youth groups

The Lower Middle Fork American River rafting trips offer a beautiful, wilderness setting located in the Gold Country near Sacramento. This trip is perfect for young kids ages 4 and up as well as more timid children for safe rafting trips available all summer long. It is also a great trip for family groups who want to include multiple generations to experience rafting with the grand parents or less able bodied. Inflatable kayaks can be rented for some additional challenges for teens and adults.

The Lower Middle Fork American raft trip is mellower, less traveled, and more relaxed than the nearby South Fork American River. We originally started rafting this river section to introduce our own children to rafting, and now we hope to share it with you too! Our guides are knowledgeable of the flora, fauna and wildlife on this river and are happy to share with you as we float down the river.

Logistics of the trip make it less accessible, therefore few outfitters offer this raft trip. Group sizes are usually small.

Add camping to your white water rafting vacation! Located at our South Fork American River Campground in Lotus, CA.

  • Riverside Camping

 

Rafting Trips On The Lower Middle Fork American River

Lower Middle Fork American River- 1/2 Day Rafting Trip

Auburn, CA /
Half Day
Low Spice: Beginner (Class II)
starting at
$99
- TRIP DETAILS -
Meeting Location

SpringHill Suites
13535 Bowman Rd
Auburn, CA 95603

Located off I-80 near Sacramento, between San Francisco & Lake Tahoe

Area Information

Hotels, Motels / Bed & Breakfast

Auburn:

  • SpringHill Suites – Our meeting location for these trips. A Marriot hotel with views of the mountains, rooms for families & a pool! They are a preferred partner with Raft California & offer a discounted rate (click the link to view prices/availability)
  • Placer County Visitors Bureau

Cabins / Vacation Rentals

Foresthill: about 20 mins NW of Auburn, wonderful small town with restaurants, bars, and grocery store.

  • Mountain Shadows – (888) 674-4933 A beautiful house with room for up to 20 people on 1.5 acres with breathtaking views overlooking the Middle Fork American River canyon. Culinary kitchen, heated outdoor pool, wi-fi friendly sound system and more! Great for groups, families, and weddings – dog and horse friendly! Listed on VRBO with 5 star reviews. Pick up for your rafting trip possible.
  • Miners Camp – Centrally located in the historic town of Foresthill, CA. There are 10 recently remodeled modern units sleeping up to 42 people. Listed on VRBO and managed by the same wonderful people who run Mountain Shadows!

Camping & RV Parks

Camping available with Raft California at our South Fork American Riverside Campground!

Our camp features views of the river, facilities, Canvas Tent Rentals & a fun environment for families and groups.

Auburn:

  • Auburn Gold Country RV Park – 3550 KOA Way, Auburn, CA 95602. (530) 885-0990. Tent, RV sites, cabins, pool & spa.

Restaurants

  • Crooked Lane Brewing Company – Award winning Craft Beers & Daily Food Truck!
  • Bagel Junction – Coffee, bagels, smoothies, sandwiches & more. Locally / Family owned.
  • Auburn Thai Garden – Amazing authentic Thai food.

Visitor Information

  • The Auburn State Recreation Area – Camping, trails, fishing & swimming. Additional recreation, accommodations & sightseeing are available in Grass Valley/Nevada City just 24 miles N. of Auburn via Hwy. 49, or in North Lake Tahoe 80 miles E. of Auburn via I-80
  • Placer County Visitors Center – 13411 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603. (866) 752-2371 or (530) 887-2111.
  • Protect American River Canyons – Dedicated to the protection and conservation of the natural, recreational, cultural, and historical resources of the North and Middle Forks of the American River and its canyons for all to responsibly care for and enjoy.
  • Auburn Chamber of Commerce – (530) 885-5616

Transportation

  • Auburn Transit – City of Auburn Public Works operates Auburn Transit. Auburn Transit is a deviated fixed route service that operates within the City of Auburn and portions of unincorporated Placer County.

For local transportation within the Auburn area (ie: to/from hotel and meeting location)

  • Sierra Taxi – (530) 885-2227. Local Taxi service.
  • Gold Cab & Limo Service – (530)-885-1111 / (916)-500-9891. Local taxi and airport services.

For Transportation to/from Sacramento International Airport:

  • Super Shuttle
  • Sacramento Airport Ground Transportation

Fishing / Biking & Hiking

Great fishing location that hosts beautifully-colored wild rainbow trout (native, not stocked) and German browns. Some of the best locations are pretty inaccessible except for serious hikers, but readily accessible on a multi-day rafting trip.

  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife Regulations
  • Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead (SARSS) – Committed to return salmon and steelhead to the entire length of the Auburn Ravine.

Great trails around, including the 100 mile Western States

  • ASRA Canyon Keepers – PDF’s of many local trails
  • Top Ten Trails of the Auburn State Recreation Area
  • Placer County Hiking and Nature Trails
  • Fawnridge Winery – 5560 Fawnridge Road, Auburn, CA 95602. Award winning wines. Tasting Hours: Friday-Sunday  11am-5pm

There are several Lakes in the area where you can take a SUP board or kayak for the day – even some you can paddle in for overnight beach camping!

Surrounding Lakes/Reservoirs:

  • Lake Clementine Auburn, CA
  • Rollins Lake, Colfax, CA
  • Sugar Pine Reservoir, Foresthill, CA