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    American River Recreation

    4.7 (156 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Dapper D.

    Amazing experience! Super fun and safe trip for families and first timers! Excellent camping facilities and staff! Our river guides have great direction and navigated our family down the river. Two day camping trip was a HUGE success!!! AB

    South fork
    Ann-Margaret F.

    LOVED, LOVED, LOVED our experience with this excursion group! First time whitewater rafters here!! We loved our experience the first day on the South Fork with our Chilean guide, Camila! She was super sweet and knowledgeable! We felt completely safe in her hands! Well, we had such a good time we went for the Middle fork !! If you're up for fun and a little adrenaline rush, this is for you!! Aiden was our guide and he was awesome! Not only was he knowledgeable and reassuring in all things rafting ( guided us down the "tunnel chute" like a boss!! ), he pretty much knew everything to do with the River, plants , trees, wildlife and local history. Aiden was full of facts, song lyrics and dad jokes and embodied a true zest for life!! Kudos for hiring these two fantastic guides!! They both provided a memorable experience we will never forget!!

    Mark G.

    We did the half-day South Fork run. Our guide, Matthias and the whole crew were amazing. They made it fun for all! A lot of calm with some mild rapids and then finish strong for the last hour or so.

    Joanne C.

    My family of 8 did a one day south fork river rafting tour. Brian was our guide and he was great. Being this was my first time I didn't know what to expect. The first half of day was great but when we stopped for lunch which was awful - make your own tortilla sandwich which was some lunch meat, cheese and fixings that had been in the sun with flies hovering over it. Wasn't much at all and it's no wonder my daughter got heat stroke (not much in her stomach) so that was why my four star instead of five. Honestly if you want to go rafting a half day is sufficient to get in some fun and have the experience. A whole day is not ideal on a slight empty stomach and paddling in the hot sun all day. Do better on the lunches guys. Even pre-made wrapped cold sandwiches would have been better. For $165 per person spend a little extra.

    American River
    Patty S.

    Great Half Day trip on the American River! Was Great way to start off my Birthday! Was easy to book online. Easy to fine and find parking, check in at location nice out door to sit if you like to enjoy a little lunch ! Make sure you bring water 4 half our on the raft you will get thirsty! Stopped for little break before heading back down the river for the bigger rapid s! Had a Great Guide ( Karina ) big shout to her for making it a Great and safe day!! Gypsey started out with information and instructions!! Thumb s up to American River Recreation!! s to

    Albert W.

    I went last week on middle fork american river. I found out that AR Rafting was one of the first rafting companies for american river (30+ years) and that it's still family owned. Being on the first entry on google for "american river rafting", I gave them a call and they told me that there was a spot available and that there was a web special (saved $10). I told her that I was sold. After going on the trip, I found our guide was very professional and overall great guide. Highly recommended. Famous for: American River rafting.

    All the boats stopped to cliff jump!!!

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    Gilson was an amazing guide! We went down the south fork with an 8, 10, and 13 yr old. Wonderful experience.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - American River Recreation

    Review Highlights - American River Recreation

    ARR also picks us up, takes us to Middle Fork and back to wherever our campsite is located (both years!).

    Mentioned in 27 reviews

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    Whitewater Excitement - Awesome time

    Whitewater Excitement

    4.9(398 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    Certified professionals
    Family-owned & operated

    Had so much fun! Our guide Matt was an expert and ensured we were safe and had a blast. It was a…read moreperfect time to go if you want to avoid crowds as there was just one other group and weather was perfect. The bathrooms and changing rooms at the base were very clean. It was very easy to get our pictures from the third party company afterwards! 10/10!!

    I've rafted on the South Fork and Middle Fork several times times with various companies- I have…read morealways had a great experience- but the companies change names or stop doing middle fork- which is what led me to Whitewater Excitement this year- Everyone who works there from admin to guides to drivers etc are super helpful and nice!! My sister, nephew and I wanted to do Middle Fork this year and I remember it being an adrenaline rush and challenging but so fun- We picked a Tuesday so it was not crowded, but when it ended up being just the three of us in the raft with Juli, I was a little nervous, remembering how intimidating tunnel chute was- and I didn't have the security of a full raft of people to weigh down the raft and help paddle to build up speed. This just goes to show you how important a seasoned veteran rafting guide is Juli was amazing. He gave clear instructions, he was very calm, and he managed the raft like a pro. No no flipping over and no one fell out. So exciting! Now I want to go to Costa Rica and look up Whitewater excitement there and request Juli. Hope to do this at least one more time this year. If I lived closer, I would go more often. Ps- I read some people complaining that you have to pitch in to carry the raft from the water up to the trucks and from the trucks down to the water, I've only been with one company that did not ask you to do that. All the rest have always had the rafters help out in pitch-in.

    Photos
    Whitewater Excitement
    Whitewater Excitement
    Whitewater Excitement

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    Raft California - Sans, Briana, Tessa, Casey, Corey, aubriana

    Raft California

    4.8(686 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    Sometimes you have an experience that you know will stick with you for the rest of your life. This…read morewas one of those times. We did a two day south fork trip, with a stop for the night on the river bank. Our guide Cryin' Bryan(just kidding Brian!!) and bonus gear guy Gator, were absolutely amazing. The were kind, helpful, had the best stories and cooked the best food. We did 21 miles of river over two days and it was unbelievable. Things we learned on this trip... -Gator taught me how to make a camping mocha(more like chocolate coffee when I made it!) with instant cocoa mix, coffee, creamer and water. -A tortilla wrap with PB&J and trail mix is the thing of dreams. -The front right seat of the raft is the 'hot' seat(or wet seat) and you will get hammered repeatedly. Haha. -Camping on the side of the river is magic. Pure. Magic. -Hospital bar has its name for a reason. -Composting toilets in the woods smell like a gerbil cage. -Brian's love of Star Wars and pineapple fried rice lead me to believe we could be real life friends. -You can make lifelong friends out of strangers you meet on a rafting trip. The meals they provided were amazing. Well beyond normal camping fare. For sure a perk with the trip. With things like chicken salad pitas, pancakes, sandwich wraps and fajitas, we were never hungry. We upgraded to the canvas tent they have at the campground for the first night and it was wonderful. The little front porch and getting to hear the river while we slept was magic. The newly upgraded bathrooms were probably the nicest I've seen at a rustic camp ground. The shower stalls are outside, but each one has a locking door with the shower stall and a little changing area with hooks and a bench(and the rain shower heads were great, but know the water pressure isn't the hardest, but not the worst either). When the 'Boss Man' picked us up from the river on the last day, it was really neat to get to chat with him. He asked for anything we think would add to the trip, and the only thing we can think of would be to bring along a yard game for the overnight trips, like ladder-ball or something for on the river. But there is absolutely nothing we would change. Enjoy my million pictures. I really couldn't pick and choose what to show, so I showed it all! We can't wait to go back!!

    We enjoyed the half day class II-III+ trip. Everything went smoothly from start to end. There were…read morechill about people being late: I think they might leave a buffer because people are always a bit late. I really appreciated they had a page linked after you book of all the things to know before the trip. Getting ready was smooth, and the guide was helpful on the way with paddling instructions and questions. We dropped into the water at two points and also got to switch seats so everyone tried being at the front. The water is extremely cold. There are two photo spots where they took pictures you can purchase. Lastly the bus to get back went great, but they kind of left us alone right after we got back to camp, even though we had some questions and were going to leave a tip (we left our wallets in the cars).

    Photos
    Raft California - Staff setting up the rafts.

    Staff setting up the rafts.

    Raft California - Transportation from base camp

    Transportation from base camp

    Raft California - Safety instructions

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    Safety instructions

    Whitewater Connection - Family fun on the South Fork American river!

    Whitewater Connection

    4.7(101 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    Had an absolute blast with Whitewater Connection for our trip down the South Fork!…read more Parking is $2 for the day, cash only. Drive straight until you see someone who will take the cash and point you to where you should park. The day started out with lunch, which was burgers and hot dogs cooked backyard barbecue style. Other toppings were provided, and I thought it tasted simple but great! (Was expecting plain old possibly stale sandwiches.) We were scheduled to embark at 12:15, but due to CHP closing the bus route, many guides from the last trip were not able to make it back on time. I didn't have my phone or watch on me, but I think we ended up leaving around 1:00. Ann kept us updated the entire time, while scrambling to make the best out of a messy situation. Our boat guide was Gonzo, and he did a fantastic job! The entire trip was fun, and he would often advise us when we could go out into the water for a swim, or sit at the front edge of the raft at a rapid to get the full experience (some rapids are more shallow, for example, so sitting there can result in falling out of the raft and cutting yourself on rocks). Very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. Total trip time on the river was 3 hours, 45 minutes, plus about a 15~20 minutes ride down to the buses (a boat is pulling you along, so you can sit/lay in your boat and relax). Then about a 25 minute bus ride back to the parking spot. On the bus ride back, one of the tires fell off. Ann told us that they just changed the wheels the week before (in a lighthearted manner)! We ended up stranded for about 30 minutes, but Ann again patiently went about finding a solution. A kind lady drove a back-up bus to come pick us up, and she and Ann kept us entertained and engaged with facts and jokes the entire time! Overall, the transportation on this day was not in our favor. It was not Whitewater Connection's fault at all! However, Ann decided that since we had been through so many delays that day, all of the groups on this trip would get free photos. I thought it was an extremely kind gesture! Her demeanor and attitude in the face of issues tells a lot about how much she cares about her clients. We ended up receiving a link to download the photos the same day, despite having such a long day. Overall, I would highly recommend a trip with Whitewater Connection. The customer service does not fail to impress, and the guides are all knowledgeable and have the right personality to make the trip fun! Shout out to Ann and Gonzo (and the kind lady who drove the back-up bus...my memory is failing me here) - cheers! BRING / DO NOT BRING: - Lots of sunscreen - Water shoes (they also sell some for $15 at the site, which is reasonable) with socks - Tennis shoes w/o socks worked perfectly for me as well - No shirt (guys) - I had no issues with the life jacket scratching me! - Cheap sunglasses (so you don't have to be afraid of doing the fun parts!) - Bathing suit for guys, probably shorts for girls - Change of clothes, or at least shoes for the drive back home

    I was in a vehicle behind Whitewater Connection bus and it was emitting a lot of filthy diesel…read moresmoke. Not only that, the driver was not pulling over to let the line of cars behind it go ahead even when there were many big and wide pullovers. I won't go rafting with them nor recommend them to my friends. Picture was taken July 25, 9am towards Chili Bar put-in. Their drivers consistently lacking driving etiquette that I decided to post this review.

    Photos
    Whitewater Connection - Getting vertical in the Tunnel Chute on the Middle Fork American River

    Getting vertical in the Tunnel Chute on the Middle Fork American River

    Whitewater Connection - Hospital Bar rapid on the South Fork American River.

    Hospital Bar rapid on the South Fork American River.

    Whitewater Connection - Working hard on the Upper Klamath River!

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    Working hard on the Upper Klamath River!

    American River Recreation - rafting - Updated July 2026

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