South Fork 2-Day

Combine two action-packed days of white water fun on the South Fork American River with two nights of elevated riverside camping for the ultimate California camp-and-raft adventure package.

Experience all 21 miles of the South Fork American River on this quintessential California whitewater rafting adventure, perfect for families and groups looking for a hassle-free getaway in the heart of California’s gold country.

Arrive at our private campground the night before and ease into riverside living at its best–go for a swim, play camp games, or simply kick back with a cold beverage and take in the beauty of the surrounding area as you settle into vacation mode. Please note, dinner is not provided the first night, you will need to eat before you arrive or grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant. The following morning, we’ll serve you a hearty breakfast so you don’t have to worry about anything other than gearing up for the river. The real fun begins as you tackle the Gorge section of the South Fork, experiencing fun and splashy rapids such as Barking Dog, Scissors, and Satan’s Cesspool. After an epic day on the water, you’ll return to camp for an evening under the stars and a delectable dinner prepared by our staff. The adventure continues the next day after breakfast when you take on the Chili Bar section of the river and famous rapids such as Meatgrinder and Troublemaker. Back at camp, we’ll celebrate with a delicious burger lunch before you make your way home.

A quick drive from the Bay Area and Sacramento, this American River camping and rafting package on the South Fork is perfect for first-timers and anyone looking to experience the majesty of California’s great outdoors. It’s a rejuvenating experience that will leave you hungry for more, so don’t be surprised if you decide to come back year after year.

DATES & PRICES

May – September 2025: Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays (other departure days may be available for groups of 12+)

For the best experience, we’ve limited seats each day. Weekend trips often sell out, so book now!

Most Days - $249**
Memorial Day Weekend - $289*
Saturdays, June 21 – August 9 - $289*
Labor Day Weekend - $289*

**$212 when you book online at least 24 hours in advance
*246 when you book online at least 24 hours in advance

NO HIDDEN FEES

Group discounts available!

TRIP DETAILS

Included in Your Trip Cost

Skilled, professional guide service
Full access to campground amenities including hot showers and flush toilets for two nights (cabin tent and river tent rentals required at an additional charge)
Meals from breakfast on Day 1 through lunch on Day 2
High-quality inflatable rafts and related river equipment including paddle, helmet, personal flotation device, and wetsuits and splash tops (included on early and late season trips, cold weather trips, and by advance request)
Transfers from the meeting place to the river and back to our campground

Not Included in Your Trip Cost

Cabin Tent or River Tent Rental(s)
Sleeping bags/bed linens or pillows
Transportation to and from our meeting location at the EarthTrek Camp
River access fees
Pre- and post-trip accommodations and meals
Wetsuit booties or shoes of any kind
Insurance of any kind, including a travel protection plan
Gratuities

This trip includes all meals from breakfast the first morning of your river trip to lunch after the river trip on the second day. Dinner is not provided the night you arrive. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs that we’ll need to consider in planning your trip. With advance notice, we can typically accommodate vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free/etc. options.

Breakfast – Our warm breakfasts typically feature classic options like pancakes, scrambled eggs, or a make-your-own breakfast burrito bar with all the fixings. Pork sausage, and fruit, as well as a selection of cold cereals, oatmeal, and bagels, are also provided along with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and milk/fruit juices.

Lunch – Picnic lunches on the river are often an abundant spread of cold cuts, cheeses, veggies, and breads, or perhaps a fresh Caesar salad wrap or tasty taco salad for roll-your-own burritos. Fruit, cookies, cold water, and lemonade are also provided.

Dinner – Our dinner menu varies depending on the size of groups and other factors but may feature a BBQ entrée like tri-trip or teriyaki chicken with a green salad, and several sides like oven-roasted mini garlic potatoes, stir-fry vegetables, or similar. Water, lemonade, and occasionally iced tea are available.

Pre-Trip Requirements

Physical Requirements: Your outdoor adventure will be an active participatory trip. Please inform us of any physical limitations you may have as soon as possible. If you exceed 260 pounds, please give us a call. Make sure you are exercising frequently in the months leading up to your trip and can meet our Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Whitewater Orientation: To increase your safety, we expect everyone to watch our Whitewater Orientation video before joining us.
Trip Forms: Each participant will need to complete the required trip forms online and submit them no later than 30 days prior to your trip, or immediately if booking within 30 days.

Average Air & Water Temperatures

Air (Day) °F Air (Night) °F Water °F

June 85-100 58-70 58

July 90-102 65-78 62

Aug 85-95 61-65 65

Sept 65-85 57-61 65

CANCELLATION POLICY

Reservations and Payments

Full payment is required at the time of booking.

Payments can be made by check, money order, eCheck, wire transfer, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. Prices are in US Dollars, and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Payment of the deposit establishes your acceptance of our complete Terms and Conditions. Individual departures and trip capacity are strictly limited by the managing agency. Your payment is fully refundable for 48 hours, less a 3% processing fee, after making a reservation when you reserve a trip 7 days or more prior to departure.

Cancellations and Refunds

Canceling your trip after your deposit is processed will incur cancellation fees because OARS has absorbed costs on your behalf and will turn others away who would like to book the spaces we’re holding for you. If you must cancel your reservation after the rescission period described above, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the schedule below.

Payments for glamping tents at the American River Outpost and cabin tents at EarthTrek are refundable if canceled at least 7 calendar days prior to scheduled arrival; cancellations made 6 days or less prior to scheduled arrival are non-refundable.

We regret that we cannot make exceptions to the cancellation policy for any reason, including foul weather, poor air quality, wildfire activity, acts of terrorism, civil unrest, or personal emergencies. For these reasons, we strongly urge you to consider purchasing a travel protection plan.

Canceled Trips

OARS reserves the right to cancel any trip due to insufficient registration or other factors that make the trip impractical to operate. In such instances, we will inform you at least 7 days prior to departure. Do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until you have verified with OARS that your trip is confirmed.

If a trip must be canceled or postponed due to force majeure (factors outside the control of OARS), OARS will provide full credit for payments made toward future travel, or a refund less a $30/person service fee and any non-refundable payments made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers. OARS will make good faith efforts to recover deposits made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers; however, we cannot guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made. OARS is not responsible for expenses incurred by participants in preparation for a canceled trip.

Transfers

If you need to move your reservation to a different trip during the same year, or to a credit account for the following year, there is a $15/person fee up until 30 days prior to departure for a one-time transfer of your payment. If we are 29-7 days prior to your trip departure, there is a $50/person fee to transfer to another trip, within the same year or to a credit account for the following year. If we are 6 days or less prior to departure, 50% of your trip cost can be credited to another trip within the same year only.