530.626.7385

More South Fork American River Trips

South Fork American River – ½ Day AM Chili Bar Rafting Trip

Lotus, CA /

/

  • Trip Time: 8:00am - 1:00pm
  • Trip Length: 11 miles
  • Meals: Not included
  • Camping: Available
  • Min. Age 7 years
PRICES STARTING AT
Weekdays
  • $99 – adults (ages 14+)
  • $89 – kids (ages 7-13)

 

Weekends
  • $119 – adults (ages 14+)
  • $109 – kids (ages 7-13)

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DEALS

Fun Half Day Morning Trip!

The morning Chili Bar white water rafting trip on the South Fork American River is a favorite for first timers and return rafters! This is suitable for non-swimmers at regular summer flows. Kids are welcome, we suggest a min. age of 8 years old and up for first time rafters.

The action starts right off the bat with challenging rapids like Meatgrinder and Triple Threat. The fun continues for 7 miles ending with the big Class 3+ Troublemaker. Immediately following we float thru the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park, a historic park designating the location of the first gold discovered in the rivers, igniting the California Gold Rush!

We continue down at a mellower rate with some fun Class 2 rapids like Old Scary and Barking Dog. The trip ends back at the same camp where we met you.

This is a popular trip for folks traveling to/from the Lake Tahoe & Reno areas.

Trip Information

  • Best California River for first-time rafters as well as experienced paddlers, families with kids, groups of friends, and company team-building outings
  • A wonderful day of rafting with lunch along the riverbank
  • Our luxury riverside camp has a nice camp store, which provides last-minute items that you may have forgotten including t-shirts, shorts and other sportswear
  • Experienced guides: skilled and ready to provide a safe and fun outdoor adventure
  • A great day of excitement, fun and relaxation in a beautiful river canyon

Get ready for a great day on the river! At 8:00 a.m. we gather for orientation and safety information before heading for the river where you will receive your paddle and your life jacket. We launch our boats, practice paddling skills with our guides, and head for great rapids such as Meatgrinder, Race Horse Bend, Triple Threat, and Troublemaker.

Our trip concludes back at camp around 1:00pm. You are welcome to bring a picnic lunch with you and enjoy that at our riverside camp, we have lots of picnic tables!

You will head home with fond farewells and full of memories from a great river trip experience.

Put in: @ Chili Bar (the top)

Take Out: Tributary Campground (mid river, just after Barking Dog Rapid II)

  • Kids ages 7-8 and up
  • non-swimmers
  • great for groups

Included with this trip:

  • PFD (Personal floatation device / aka life jacket)
  • Paddle
  • Helmet
  • Professional raft guide for each raft
  • Shuttle to the put in (trip ends at our camp where your vehicles are parked)

Required Items:

  • Re-usable 20oz or more water bottle (filled with ice water)
  • shoes (no flip flops)

 

Suggested Items:

  • sunglasses (with a strap)
  • baseball hat
  • Cell Phone (at your risk, it will sink)

 

DO NOT BRING:

  • Wallets
  • Expensive jewelry
  • Pets

Camping:

  • Tributary Campground – Lotus, CA
    Camp with us @ our private riverside campground. This is the same location for our river trips and overnight trips with meals and camping included are also available on certain dates.
  • 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:

Directions

Meeting Location:

Tributary Whitewater – American River Outpost
6500 Highway 49
Lotus, CA 95651

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.

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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.

 © 2022, 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.
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