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    American River Confluence

    4.2 (11 reviews)

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    Katharine S.

    I am an experienced hiker, but new to hiking around greater Sacramento. A friend posted a great Instagram photo from here, so I suggested that my fiance and his family meet us here to hike. It is easy to find: exit 80 at Elm, get onto 49, and follow 49 until you pass the park station on the left. One can either park there or descend further and park along the road by the park kiosk. Have accurate cash ($10) to place in the provided envelopes so that one doesn't get a ticket. We saw a park ranger placing warnings and tickets on parked cars on the Saturday afternoon that we visited. I didn't do too much research beforehand, so we winged it and chose a trail leading up to the woods from the ranger kiosk. It led us up up up on a trail that would eventually lead us to the Foresthill Rd bridge. My vampire fiance and in-laws appreciated the shade, of which there is none on the Clementine Trail on the other side of the river. We also walked down along the water, which was so rushing, and along the Stone Wall Trail. The nice park ranger gave me a free Auburn State Recreational Map at the kiosk, and I see now how extensive the park is. There were so many people using it when we visited, which made my heart happy. I hope to come here again soon! Why four stars? Because kiosks that accept credit cards are needed. Who has cash these days?

    Natalia K.

    Great hike, and very beautiful. Great for beginners, since the main trail is relatively flat. However, paying the $10 fee almost ruined it for me. The drive is a bit windy getting there, so watch out for slow drivers!

    Hike/run
    Vladimir K.

    Trails/River/forest is just a perfect combination for enjoying life & get some quiet time away from city life. Love to hike/run & simply enjoy personal or time with friends. Best to come morning, day, or evening, make sure you are out before dark. If you decide to go alone, expect to see wild life.

    Erika W.

    Whooosawwwww.... that's the best word I have for this place. From the moment you hit Auburn and turn to go to the bridge/overpass- the beauty is purely overwhelming. Mountain ranges, the river- just amazing! Okay- the situ: You can park all along the road, but you do have to pay at the pay station so just know that you will have to walk back to your car so the closer the better. The price is $10. Have exact cash. Upon starting our trek- i saw that the Lake Clementine trail also starts there, but we opted for the Confluence this time. Love that trail though. So we went to get our hike on and we got about 2 miles in, well maybe not that far, but far enough. It was hot as fish grease so we opted to take the plunge down the hill and retreat in the river! YES!!!! The water was perfectly cold and moving ever so gracefully. I am a water bug so we found a spot where we could walk and wade in the river without risking our lives. It was perfect!! There are many spots to set up a tent, have a picnic (bring chairs) or just find a nice cove and just chill. The trail is very narrow so I wouldn't take young kiddos and it is mostly in the sun so be prepared. The beauty is, relief is always steps away so it's totally worth it!

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    Review Highlights - American River Confluence

    Plus if you hike in the Summer, it's "hot as fish grease" as my Yelper bud Erika W stated in her review.

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    American River Canyon Overlook Park - Mushroom

    American River Canyon Overlook Park

    (11 reviews)

    If you can handle straight down and straight up hiking, trail running, or horseback riding with…read morecliff drop-offs, this Bud's for you! Head down the paved road to the river. Someone else said it's 3 miles round trip but my Strava says 3.2 miles up from the river with 800' gain. :shrug Check out Alltrails app for more input and routes. If you stick to the pavement route, the path is very wide, two cars width and more at times. So no fears of steep drop-offs. Beyond the river, it's single track. On the dirt routes going down to the river, it's very technical and steep. Though I've never been on it, I know about K2/Cardiac Hill. LOL! If you want to explore the Western States trail that's used by Tevis Cup and Western States Endurance Race (both 100 mile endurance races one on horse one on foot), then head down the dirt trail off the horse side. If you travel a little more than 3 miles down this path you'll encounter a waterfall if there's still flowing water. Cross in the water or on the bridge (horses ok either way). But again, this trail isn't for the faint of heart when it comes to horses and their riders. Be mindful it may be too much for you or your horse. Horse side has a large watering hole that had water in it in early April 2023 (while some locations fear the horse sicknesses and have shut off water). There's also tying rails. And plenty of room to maneuver a rig. Paved side has a building with restrooms. The restroom is accessed by the paved lot but is on the side nearest the dirt lot/horse trailer parking. I don't recall it having soap or towels or hand dryers in April 2023. C'mon 'rona, give us soap even if it's the sandpaper powder! Be aware that some days there are major events and you may not be able to park there. I suppose you can call City of Auburn or just be prepared to go somewhere different such as railroad park. Major events include: Tevis Cup, Western States Endurance Race, and American River Endurance Race.

    Beautiful large park. Costs $7 to enter/park, and there's a strict close time to leave at sundown…read more Highly recommend for biking, but not so much for casual walking with kids. This place is huge and has a decent amount of hills and flat areas.

    Clementine Lake Loop or Culvert Loop - Goth butterfly

    Clementine Lake Loop or Culvert Loop

    (23 reviews)

    I am a beginning hiker and I went here on a whim because of parking being an issue. I do have to…read moresay that this hike is stunning and not bad for a beginner like me! If you are hiking in this Auburn area, I do highly recommend that you arrive EARLY for the parking situation. This place gets pretty busy. I believe this is because this area is trending on TikTok for beautiful hikes. We had to circle over and over again and only got parking because a car full of people next to us had the decency to move over a bit to fit two Jeeps with 5 humans and 1 big dog! Back to the hike...this was so nice by the water. There were many places I enjoyed resting to just take in all the nature. For some reason I found hiking to the dam more difficult that walking back to the parking spot. I think it was because it was new for me and I wasn't used to it. This hike was not too bad especially when it comes to inclines and steepness levels. Definitely check out Clementine Lake Loop because it is beautiful and doable.

    Have now done this hike/loop a few times now and it's definitely worth the drive and parking…read morefiasco. The trail is about 4 miles long and takes just a couple hours to do at a slow/medium pace. The trail is pretty wide, there were people with their dogs, a few little kids, and lots of groups enjoying the beautiful day. The majority of the trail is shady and covered by beautiful trees, some spots are under the direct sun so bring a hat or sunnies. You'll see tons of butterflies, wild flowers, birds, and of course will see the spillway. Parking is $10 cash paid to the park. This most recent time that I came it was very difficult to find parking, so if you plan to come on a weekend plan ahead and come early. I would also recommend bringing bus spray and being cautious of the poison ivy along the sides of the trail. Overall it's a beautiful hike and I'd recommend it!

    OARS American River Outpost - Rafting on the South Fork American River

    OARS American River Outpost

    (225 reviews)

    We had an amazing experience on the south fork of the American river. Our guide was knowledgeable…read moreand friendly, the weather was beautiful, and the river itself is gorgeous. They do a very good job of organizing the day, with a lunch spread that is surprisingly edible. I loved being able to swim a bit in the river, and wish there was more time to do that. The rafting itself was fun, the class 3 rapids were exciting and our group managed to not fall out of the raft due to the expert navigation of our guide. I am looking forward to going back and experiencing some class 4 rapids.

    My family of 3 booked a 2-day South Fork trip and it was absolutely fantastic. Alec, our guide, was…read moreinformative, professional, personable, friendly, and lots of fun. He had lots of knowledge about the California gold rush and it was nice to learn about it as an adult who didn't grow up in CA (I'm sure my 12yo loved learning about it too). While we camped at Earthtrek, it was super helpful that our trip included breakfast, 2 lunches (one lunch mid-rafting trip), and dinner. All meals were delicious and it was nice that there were gluten free options. The OARS site is spacious, with clean facilities, and a small shop for items. Now on to the rafting experience! For some background, my husband was the only one who had ever done it so my kiddo and I were newbies. Along with another kiddo and adult, we rafted through class 1-3 rapids and I never felt that we were not safe (despite me being the weakest swimmer in the family). Alec was truly a guide in every sense of the word. He prepped us before taking on the rapids - gave us the route we would take, what to expect in terms of how we were to paddle and what we had to do. We played some fun boat games and spent some time floating in the river which my husband and son loved. Also included were the always fun brain teaser riddles that had all of us entertained during the floating portions of our trip. After completing the class 3 rapids and all staying in the raft, we felt on top of the world and wanted to do more! If you have ever thought about trying white water rafting, do it - you won't regret it! It's truly an experience and a great time in nature with the family. OARS is a professional and inclusive company, with great guides!

    Tributary Whitewater Tours - Cabins

    Tributary Whitewater Tours

    (283 reviews)

    Good shit. Awesome…read moreguides, thrilling rapids, and stunning views. An unforgettable adventure! ‍

    WOW WOW WOW. There are not enough ways to express how awesome this entire trip was. Audrey (the…read moreguide who's raft I stayed on), Dustin (the Team Leader), Mcclure, and Roman will forever get my praise for how they exceeded my expectations. This was my first time going both whitewater rafting and camping, and the entire time I felt taken care of, safe, and catered to in ways I hadn't even expected. I don't know how many times I shouted "Team Audrey!" as she expertly navigated difficult rapids. Roman was the guide responsible for riding ahead of us with all our cargo and setting up camp, and every time I was more and more impressed with the breathtaking set up he did with all of our tents, eating areas, and shaded spots. Dustin was a worthy team leader who made sure our trip went smoothly and on time, and was awesome to talk to and joke around with. And McClure was a thorough teacher and guide who is clearly passionate about what he does! I've noticed some reviews of people complaining about things out of Tributary's control like the bathroom quality or the heat or the other parties that would camp nearby. And even though that is technically not Tributary's juriscdiction, I still felt as if the four guides with us did everything they could to anticipate these problems and lessen their impact on our trip. Like they had a handwashing station for us, and had plenty of shaded areas for us to rest in. Not to mention they really took care of the quality of food we ate, giving gluten free and healthy options as well as snacks and drinks for us. Audrey, Dustin, Roman, and Mcclure. You four have a forever client in me. It is because of you guys I have such memorable stories that I will be telling until I am old. I can not thank you guys enough.

    H2O Adventures - Chili bar

    H2O Adventures

    (758 reviews)

    I'm so glad I found H20 Adventures! We had so much fun on the half day South Fork lower gorge run…read more This is rated class 2/3 and perfect for the beginner like myself. I was really nervous at first and honestly wanted lazy river rafting with zero rapids, but after the experience with H20, I'm excited to plan another trip with them. The scenery was amazing, the late March weather was warm and as expected freezing water. We were provided with helmets, wetsuits, and splash jackets, this kept us warm and comfortable. You should bring water bottles and sunblock on the raft. Your other belongings are safely locked up prior to launch. You can also bring waterproof cameras or phones, be sure they are securely strapped to you (like chest or wrist strap, or helmet mount) they do have a professional cameraman kayaker Kevin taking amazing shots along the way so don't worry about not bringing your own camera. Nico, our tour guide was skilled, knowledgeable, and entertaining, and incredibly nice. We also had the opportunity to interact with the other tour guides Kyla and Martina who led the other two rafts on our 3 craft convoy down the river. If you are looking for something to do with your family this summer, I highly recommend H20. Get your reservations asap.

    What a great rafting trip! Nate and Marina were our guides for the trip. From the minute we checked…read morein the fun began.Marina did our safety briefing and it was as if you were being talked to like a sibling or friend.The humor sprinkled in the seriousness of the matter made it easier to swallow. They provide you with wetsuits,fleece and dry jackets and helmets. Nate was our guide on the water and what a fun awesome guide.Full of knowledge of the history about the rapids.Beautiful scenery with wildlife.He made us again feel like old friends but I really think he just truly enjoys rafting.Run and book this trip!

    American River Confluence - hiking - Updated May 2026

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