Whitewater rafting in the Gold Country is available April-September and provides some of the best whitewater in the western USA. The Gold Country (aka Mother Lode country) is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada running from Yosemite north through Placerville, Auburn, Nevada City and Downieville via Highway 49. Gold Country rafting trips include the three forks of the American River and the North Fork Yuba River. These rivers provide something for everyone, from mild to wild, from kids from 4 yrs to some of the toughest whitewater to be found.

See below for the location of river trips near some of the towns in the Gold Country area, or check out Choosing your American River Rafting trip or Rafting on the North Fork Yuba River (for more adventurous options).

Rafting near Placerville & Coloma-Lotus:

The South Fork of the American River runs for over 21 miles through the beautiful gold and green foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It is accessible near Placerville, in the Coloma and Lotus areas and ends in Folsom Lake. It serves as an introduction for many beginners and rafting trip options include just a couple of hours to multi-day camping trips where all meals are provided. The South Fork American River provides some of the most reliable rafting in California, still running at full flows even into September, when other river rafting options have dried up.

Rafting near Auburn & Colfax:

The Middle Fork American River’s secluded wilderness runs for 25 miles, getting its water from the mountain snow melt on the west side of Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe National Forest. The river flows south east into the Auburn State Recreation Area, past Foresthill towards Auburn. Rafting trips are available from ½ day on the Lower Middle Fork class 2 section (suitable for kids as young as 4) to 2 days on the class 4 Middle Fork or 3 days for all 25 miles. The Middle Fork American River provides reliable river rafting well into September. Combine with the South Fork American (25 mins south) or North Fork American (below, 20 mins east) for even longer trips.

The North Fork American River begins in the Granite Chief Wilderness between the ski areas of Sugar Bowl and Squaw Valley. The North Fork American flows freely through steep gorges on the Tahoe National Forest and into Lake Clementine in Auburn. The Chamberlain Falls Run is a class 4 run with challenging boulder slalom rapids, previous experience is required. Add a day on the North Fork Yuba River (between Camptonville and Downieville, about 2 hours from Sacramento) to your North Fork American for a class 4-5 multi-day rafting and camping adventure.

Rafting near Nevada City & Grass Valley:

The American River (see Placerville and Auburn above) and the North Yuba River (see Downieville below) are located within an hour of Grass Valley and Nevada City, so provide plenty of options for the visitor. These towns provide additional great choices for accommodations, wineries, and restaurants.

Rafting near Downieville & Sierra City:

The North Fork Yuba River has Class 4 and 5 rafting options for the very adventurous beginner rafter to expert only on 35 miles of river. As only 3 permits are issued by the Tahoe National Forest for commercial rafting trips, this ensures a unique rafting experience on the North Fork Yuba River in a rustic, quiet and less traveled part of the Gold Country. The season depends on snow pack, with May and early June being the most reliable, but trips can be available into July in a big snow pack year. The meeting location is between Camptonville and Downieville, less than 1 hr from Nevada City.

Planning a rafting trip in the Gold Country:

Whitewater rafting trips in the Gold Country can be combined with other many other activities to make a great get away for many occasions. The area information page for each of the rivers provides links to visitor information for accommodations, camping, wineries, mountain biking, hiking, restaurants and other places of interest.

Consider a Gold Country rafting trip for the following:

• A romantic weekend for a couple, with a stay in a Victorian bed & breakfast inn, wine tasting and plentiful restaurants with world class cuisine.
• A family vacation with camping and additional activities for kids including caving and biking and/or historic Gold Rush sites galore.
• Active singles seeking some real adventure rafting, with other possible activities like mountain biking and hiking.
• A quick get away from the Bay Area or Sacramento for just a few hours or for a few days.

A rafting trip in the Gold Country is also easily accessible for trips to the Lake Tahoe area (12 hrs), Sacramento (1-2 hrs), San Francisco/Bay Area (3-4 hrs) and Yosemite (from 3 hrs).