1 Day River Rafting Trip

Prices Starting At

$149 Adults (14+)

TRIP OVERVIEW

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. There are a several memorable rapids on this run, the first being “Tunnel Chute”. This a man made chute & tunnel were created by miners during the Gold Rush Era. They dynamited creating the narrow chute with steep rocky walls and the tunnel after. After you round the corner and get your first (and brief) glimpse of “the Chute” all you see is whitewater and the steep walls as you This leads to a big 6-foot drop and then through a 90-foot long rock tunnel! All this just 2.5 miles from put-in.

Meet us at the brewery! We are the only outfitter to meet at Crooked Lane Brewing – home of the “River Daze” brew (see more info below)! Meet us in Auburn, CA at the brewery in the afternoon for a half day of rafting.

Numerous Class 3-4 rapids follow this in the first 6 miles, such as Last Chance, Submarine Hole and Kanaka. The pace is mellower for the next 7 miles, allowing time to appreciate the solitude and beauty of the lush, forested canyon. The incredibly clean & clear Sierra mountain water originates from the snow pack on the back side of Palisades Tahoe & Alpine Meadows. You may get a glimpse of some wild-life and the river is host to rainbow and brown trout. We stop for a generous river side lunch (which many are surprised how good it is!). While your guides prepare the food, you will have time to swim and hike around.

After lunch we re-launch and below the entrance to Canyon Creek the Class 4 adrenaline rush kicks back in with the Ruck-a-Chucky rapids. Upper Ruck-A-Chucky (AKA Chunder) is the first in this series. Next is the formidable Ruck-A-Chucky Falls which is a Class 5-6 boulder slalom and a mandatory portage for clients – sorry no dollar amount can change that. We hike you up above the rapid and you can watch your brave & talented crew guide the boats down the 20′ drop through a sieve of huge boulders. Below the rapid your guide will bring the raft back over to you to get back in for the Lower Ruck-a-Chucky (AKA Cleavage) Rapid that immediately follows and is a fun “surf” spot. We make our way thru a 2 mile gorge laced with numerous Class 3-4 rapids such as Parallel Parking and Catapult (AKA 101 Airborne). Take out is at the Drivers Flat Road (old Greenwood Bridge) access point where our vans are waiting. The gear is loaded, with some assistance from the guests and we head back up the hill to Crooked Lane.

Overnight camping is available at our South Fork American River campground, for a full overnight experience with meals join us for a 2 day Rafting & Camping Trip!

About Crooked Lane Brewing Company

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…

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Exciting Whitewater: perfect for the experienced paddler, as well as the very adventuresome first-time rafter
  • The famous Class IV+ Tunnel Chute: an exciting adrenaline rush whitewater ride
  • Legendary Gold Rush River with visible mining sites along the riverbank
  • A delightful riverside lunch as we relax and enjoy the quiet of the day
  • Great guides: skilled and ready to provide a safe and fun outdoor adventure
  • Exciting wildlife and spectacular mountain vista views
  • A full day of fun, relaxation and excitement in a beautiful river canyon

River Map

Trip Itinerary

We are the ONLY rafting company that meets at the Crooked Lane Brewing Company. Upon return from your rafting trip, selected photos from your Middle Fork American River rafting trip are shown on a TV screen at the Brewery. Enjoy one of their hand crafted brews(not required!) while viewing your photos.

  • 8:00am Meet in Auburn, California at the Crooked Lane Brewing Company (Restrooms’ available inside before you depart)
  • We board our river van soon after and head for the river, the shuttle to the put in is about 1 hour. The drive itself isn’t bad as we travel over the Foresthill Bridge spanning the North Fork American River, 730 feet below! It is one of the 4th  tallest bridge in the United States!
  • At the put in location you will receive your river gear including a paddle, a helmet, and a life jacket. Your guides will go over some safety information and once on river practice paddling skills with our guides…the first (and biggest) Class 4+ Tunnel Chute rapid is coming soon! Followed by several more Class 4 rapids like Kanaka Fall.

We stop mid-day for a riverside deli lunch for about an hour.

 

  • Back on river we encounter more Class 4 white water like Chunder and Parallel Parking Rapids to finish the day’s run.
  • Our shuttle vehicle will greet us at the Drivers Flat Take out while we (with some guest assistance) load the gear onto the vans.
  • We will pass back over the Foresthill Bridge on the way back to Crooked Lane at the end of the day, this shuttle is about 30 minutes.
  • 4:00pm you are usually back and enjoying your photos!

There are food trucks usually at the Brewery from 3:00pm on, Crooked Lane is a family friendly indoor/outdoor facility.

Traveling to the

Meet at Crooked Lane Brewery

536 Grass Valley Hwy
Auburn, CA 95603

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.

What Does Tributary Provide

Included with Rafting

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