South Fork American River Rafting -
Map & Directions
Meeting Location for South Fork American River Rafting:
Rivers Bend Resort, located at 6400 State Highway 49, Lotus CA 95651.
GPS Co-ordinates provided by client: N 38º 49.415' W 120º 56.221'. PLEASE NOTE THAT GPS DIRECTIONS ARE OFTEN INCORRECT AND WE HAVE MANY CLIENTS WHO USE GPS AND GET REALLY LOST. Please use our map in conjunction with any other mapping device/method you use, and try and stay aware of exactly where you. Cell phone reception is also not always available in these rural areas. We cannot be responsible for you getting lost and missing your trip.
At the entrance to Rivers Bend Resort from HWY 49, there is a sign for Tributary, ARR, and River & Rock Adventures and a sign with the address. Make an immediate right down the first driveway and park in the large gravel parking area. Space is limited, so please be considerate in parking your vehicle. Unless you are late, you should proceed on the trail towards the camping areas. The Tributary camp is clearly marked and is the third on the right. Our staff will normally be there to greet about 10 mins before the meeting time you were provided, so just hang out by the river if you are early.
For camping the night before a trip (reservations are required), you may arrive any time after 5:00 pm. There is no check in point, though we do try and have staff available at the expected arrival time. You may setup in any location in our camp, but please be considerate in your use of the space and be aware of quiet time after 10:00 pm. .
South Fork American River rafting from South Lake Tahoe:
Take Highway 50 west towards Sacramento to Placerville (approx. 65 miles from So Lake Tahoe/State line) and take Highway 49 exit north towards Coloma/Auburn. Follow directions below from Placerville.
From Hwy 49, heading north (from Yosemite): Take Highway 49 north through Placerville and continue on Hwy 49 towards Coloma and Auburn. Follow directions below from Placerville.
From Placerville: Follow Hwy. 49 past the Marshall Gold Historic State Park in Coloma and across the bridge over the river. Continue on Hwy 49 north towards Auburn, and after 2+ miles turn left into Rivers Bend Resort.
From Roseville/Rocklin: Take I80 east towards Reno to Auburn and take Hwy. 49 exit south. Then follow directions below from Auburn.
From North Lake Tahoe/Reno: Take I80 west towards Sacramento/San Francisco to Auburn and take Hwy. 49 exit south towards Placerville. Then follow directions below from Auburn.
From Auburn: Take Hwy. 49 heading south towards Placerville. Carefully follow signs for Hwy 49 south through the town of Auburn. The road drops sharply down the American River Canyon, and after a few miles reaches the bottom of the canyon, and Hwy. 49 turns sharp right across a bridge over the river. Hwy 49 winds back up the canyon, and continues through the small village of Cool. Exactly 8.2 miles from the four-way stoplight in Cool, turn right into Rivers Bend Resort.
From Sacramento/Bay Area: Take Highway 50 East from Sacramento towards S. Lake Tahoe and take the Ponderosa Rd/Shingle Springs exit #37. Turn left at stop sign onto Ponderosa Road and cross over Highway 50. Make an immediate right on North Shingle Road (sign to Coloma). After approx. 4.5 miles, there is a slight left and you are now on Lotus Road. Follow Lotus Road for 7 miles, through village of Lotus to Highway 49. Turn left on Hwy. 49, across the bridge over the river. Follow Hwy 49 north from bridge towards Auburn, and after 2+ miles turn left into Rivers Bend Resort (watch out for power lines crossing highway). If you see Mother Lode Camp you have gone too far.
California White Water Rafting - The South Fork American River:
