1 Day River Rafting Trip

Choose Your River

Prices Starting At

$149 Adults (14+)

TRIP OVERVIEW

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 heading 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 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!

Middle Fork American River rafting 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.

About Crooked Lane Brewing

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 Brewing 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. Now available! Pick up the newly brewed, newly canned, newly rebranded collaborative beer River Daze Hazy IPA at their Auburn brewery, where we meet for several of our American River rafting trips.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Navigate exhilarating Class III rapids like Last Chance and Submarine Hole before testing your skills on the formidable Class IV Ruck-a-Chucky and Kanaka rapids.
  • Experience the renowned Tunnel Chute, a man-made marvel from the Gold Rush, with a 90-foot rock tunnel and a 6-foot drop.
  • Fed by snowmelt all summer long, with rafting available from June to September.
  • Rafting through one of the deepest river canyons in California, with walls over 2,000 feet tall
  • Choose from one- or two-day trips with the chance to camp along the river, either in a wilderness camp or at our outpost on the South Fork American River.

River Map

Trip Itinerary

We’ll begin our adventure at Crooked Lane Brewing Company in Auburn, California. After an orientation and packing session, we’ll head to our put-in. Along the way, we’ll cross the Foresthill Bridge over the North Fork American River, 730 feet below. It’s the fourth tallest bridge in the United States! Then, we’ll get on the river for a full day of whitewater adventure.

Meet at 8:00 AM at Crooked Lane Brewing Company: Our adventure begins in Auburn, California! We are the only rafting company to meet at the brewery. We’ll go over our trip preparations and orientation and then head to put in. 

Full Day of River Excitement: We’ll help you gear up at the put in and go over some safety information and on-river paddling practice. Then, our adventure begins! Enjoy a day on the beautiful, exciting Middle Fork American River, tackling rapids like Tunnel Chute and Kanaka right off the bat. 

Riverside Lunch: We’ll stop around midday for a riverside deli lunch. Enjoy swimming and exploring the riverside while your guides prepare your meal. 

 

More Rafting: Back on the river, we’ll navigate more Class IV and Class III rapids and portage around the infamous Ruck-A-Chucky Falls. After a full day, we’ll head back to Crooked Lane Brewing. 

Adventure Wrap-Up and Camping Option: Back at the brewery, enjoy a River Daze Hazy IPA. At the end, we’ll either say goodbye until next time as you head home, or you can continue your adventure with a night of camping at our spacious private campground on the nearby South Fork American River. 

Traveling to the

Where to Meet

Meet at Crooked Lane Brewing Co

536 Grass Valley Hwy
Auburn, CA 95603

Flying In

The closest airport to Auburn is the Sacramento International Airport. From there, it is a 40-minute drive to Crooked Lane Brewing Company. You can also fly into Reno, Nevada, and then drive 1 hour and 30 minutes to Auburn, California.

What is the drive time?

From Auburn, California

Where To Stay

Camping

  • Tributary Campground – Lotus, CA
    Many of our multi-day American River trips include camping at our private campground, located directly on the South Fork of the American River. Extend your trip and camp with us at our private riverside campground before or after your rafting adventure.
  • Consumnes River Ranch – Plymouth, CA
    One of our preferred partners! This is an amazing private property on the Consumnes River with tent camping, glamping cabins, stone barn for weddings and more.

 

Hotel Options

What Should I Bring

  • Required Items
    • Re-usable 20oz or more water bottle
    • Shoes (no flip flops)
  • Suggested Items
    • Sunglasses (with a strap)
    • Baseball hat
  • Do Not Bring
    • Cell Phones
    • Wallets
    • Expensive jewelry

 

Click here for a full detailed list of what to wear and what to bring.

Rafting shuttle services and fees included. For more information on trip shuttles click here.

What Does Tributary Provide

Included with Rafting

  • PFD (Personal floatation device / aka life jacket)
  • Paddle
  • Helmet
  • Professional raft guide for each raft
  • Lunch