Lovely camp site, grounds were kept clean, facilities such as showers/toilets were also clean and…read morekept in working order. Loved that our site had shade/canopy over it during the summer heat. General store has all the essentials, ice, some firewood. Kids loved the pool there as a nice option when not wanting to go to the river.

This place is definitely a party campground, so don't come here expecting peace, quiet, and…read morerelaxation. The campsites are packed closely together, and it doesn't seem like there are many rules. Most campgrounds have quiet hours after 10 PM, but that doesn't seem to apply here. The partying goes on around the clock. If you enjoy a lively atmosphere, meeting lots of people, and staying up late, this might be right up your alley. What really shocked me, though, were the prices. The owners must be making a fortune because the rates are anything but cheap, especially considering there isn't much around the area. I understand that running a campground costs money, but my goodness, how much can you justify charging for a camping spot? I honestly think we spent less when we went glamping in Zion! I'm sure the owners would explain that the high prices reflect the cost of running the operation, and I understand that businesses have expenses. Still, the sticker shock was real when I saw what my friends pay to stay here. This style of camping isn't for me, but I'm grateful to be included in my friends' annual trip. I believe this is their third year doing it, and I'm happy to be part of the tradition. Everyone has their own idea of a good camping experience, and if partying around the clock is your thing, you'll probably have a great time here. But at these prices? It's camping, y'all! low rating is due to the high prices.

Cons: Called day before telling them that we arrived earlier than 3pm check in time since one of…read moreour group is already at platform5. Reception said thats not a problem she will put a note. We arrive at 2:10pm at 100F. we have gate code entered and parked to go to reception to check-in. The yound lady at the front deak will NOT check us in and told us check in is at 3pm. Told her im fully aware thats why we called day prior to advice and allowed and told her we have our friends already inside with same reservation. But still she said NO, you can go to your friends but still have to go back at front desk at 3:00pm to check in We drove the oneway narrow path to the platforms.. and saw Platform6 already available... then one our friends at a tent site was allowed to check in at 2pm.. I called reception and different lady answered, we asked if we still have to DRIVE BACK at front desk to check in, since we are already at our platform. she was surprised why we where not accomodated, but did not appologize for the inconvience, and told us you can walk to front office if u dont want to drive 100F. Just to put a check on our name and give a car tag. whicn they could have done earlier !!!!!

Stayed here for 3 nights, and unfortunately the experience was frustrating due to the lack of staff…read moreavailability. I went to the front desk four separate times during normal business hours and never once found it open. I had a time-sensitive question and was unable to get help, and calls to the front desk also went unanswered. On our last day, we needed assistance locating the dump station. When we went to the front office, there was still no one available. We also encountered other guests actively searching for staff and unable to find anyone, which makes it clear this isn't an isolated issue. The lack of basic amenities was also disappointing--there is no WiFi or laundry on-site. While the location is beautiful, it seems to be the main reason this place stays in business, as the customer service and amenities do not meet expectations. The bathrooms were acceptable, but the shower pressure was extremely low, which made it difficult to use--especially for anyone with thick or textured hair.

Ohhh camp Lotus you have given me so much of your energy and vibes through out these years. It was…read morein the year 2006 that I discovered you! 20 years later I now bring my daughter and her best friend. Through out the years I have brought friends and family to camp and we all leave saying similar things " that was so needed" " we really needed the outdoors" " this is such a cool place, and it's not that far from Sacramento" They have a cafe on site although it's not 24 hrs. They do however serve breakfast sandwiches in the morning w/ coffee. Along w vegan cookies and muffins. They have a pretty great selection of connivence items. Similar to what you would find at 7/11! They carry S'mores kits and wood when it's allowed to burn. They have free showers and running toilets that have always been really clean. This place has lots of price and I believe it's family owned! My last recommendation would be to bring BUG repellent (the store does sell it) and to CHECK IF YOU CAN MAKE A FIRE if not it's propane season

It's a cute camp. The store is good and has good prices! The showers are nice and I liked the…read moreplace. One 'bad thing' is that the place is a bit messed up

Had an amazing time with my fellow nurses and family. Will be back for sure! Thank you much Coloma…read moreCottages!

We had a wonderful stay at Coloma Cottages by the river. The cottages are clean, cozy, and…read morewell-equipped, with the option to rent a cottage or pitch a tent depending on your preference. The property is peaceful and less crowded than nearby campgrounds, making it ideal for relaxing by the river. It's also within walking distance of the charming town of Coloma, and we would definitely return for another getaway.

We've come here two years in a row now for a family trip about 30 of us we love it here. River on…read moreone side pool on the other side. We love that this place mainly is for people using the river so the pool generally is all ours. The rooms are clean AC works in the cabins and we always have a great time. Only thing not giving this a 5 star rating is the bbq grills. We grills burgers on our gas grill in front of our cabin. It seems they clean the grill but do not clean the grease catchers bc man did that thing catch fire like crazy. We thought we were going to burn the cabin down. Often times rental places overlook this and it results in disaster. We almost broke out the fire extinguisher but thankfully we were able to remove all the meat and calm the fire down. We'll be back either way!

It's super peaceful and green everywhere. Our dogs enjoyed the fenced dog park. The trees will…read moreprovide great shade come spring and summer. The area has a lot to offer.

We had a fantastic experience on a 1 day trip on the South Fork American River. We had three 11…read moreyear old kids in our boat and the guide (Parker) was so patient and friendly to them! The trip was just the right balance of excitement and feeling safe. Our guide was awesome and clearly an expert at navigating the river. Also highly recommend the campsite - nice flat sites and clean showers/bathrooms.

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!

We had our wedding at EarthTrek this past weekend and I couldn't wait to write a glowing review. We…read morefeel so fortunate to have been able to host our wedding here - it was everything we'd dreamed of and more. From the moment we stepped onsite for our initial tour, EarthTrek was the immediate and obvious top choice for us. The grounds and facilities are very well kept and it's obvious that the family takes a lot of pride in the way they care for the site. There are so many areas for guests to explore and enjoy - many of our guests raved to us about the beautiful, serene venue. The river provides such a soothing backdrop and the whole site feels very private and secluded. We really loved that our guests could book overnight camping, and we also opted for the breakfast burrito option on Sunday morning, which was a big hit and a really delicious, bountiful spread. Laura, who was our primary point of contact, is a dream to work with - just genuinely one of the nicest people I've ever come across, and so accommodating and responsive (which is exactly what you hope for when you're planning a wedding). Our wedding was very DIY and decor-forward, and Laura was so great about scheduling site visits with us so we could plan and take measurements. I could go on and on, but basically: EarthTrek is incredible and I highly recommend working with them at their beautiful venue.

I go on an annual rafting trip with friends and ALWAYS go to Earthtrek. The campgrounds are more…read more"glamping" than "camping", but you are still outdoors, by the water enjoying an opportunity to bond with nature. Jerry and his family run this operation with love and kindness. His meals are always amazing, including vegetarian stuff! I miss that he doesn't schedule rafting directly but he has a great agreement with Oars and always steps in the ensure our trip is dreamy. So grateful for this little part of paradise that he allows us to visit and enjoy.

1/5/2019: I wrote several reviews for James Marshall Monument and Coloma State Park; however, all…read moremy reviews mysteriously disappeared! Yah~YELP! Where ARE my reviews, eh? THEREFORE, I searched ALL the YELP! photos I posted: I found a few photos dated 1/5/2019 as PROOF I did write my reviews for both locations. Disappointingly, ALL my photos AND reviews for James Marshall's Monument and Coloma State Park event MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED AFTER 2019! UNHAPPY! Anyway, in June 2022, I attended a Military Funeral I personally arranged at James Marshall's Monument for my deceased Army friend who passed away plus, instrumentally preventing his family from spending an egregious, heinous sum for funeral expenses, i.e., I contacted the Coloma State Park's Head Supervisor Ranger on my friend's family's behalf. Blessed, the Head Park Ranger Supervisor contacted my friend's family a couple days later who only had to pay $75.00 for reserving James Marshall's Monument location for my friend's Military funeral! The location presided a PRIVATE, dignified, Military funeral which involved the US Army Color Guards who fired off a 21-Gun Salute for my deceased Army friend, ample parking provided for all attending the Military Funeral, conveniently located picnic tables for food/libations setup, and more importantly, an easy, short stroll to James Marshall's Monument where the 21-Gun Salute was presided. My friend's family were so grateful to Coloma State Park's Head Park Ranger Supervisor for allowing presiding a Military funeral which was quite a distance from the Coloma State Park's American River parking lot. Reiterating, reserving the James Marshall's Monument location for my friend's family and all who attended my friend's Military Funeral, it was so PRIVATE, awesome, easy, uncomplicated set up due to the picnic tables for the food and libations were conveniently adjacent to the clean restrooms, and overall, a gorgeous, tranquil, serene, appropriate location presiding a somber, dignified, Military funeral. Finally, presiding a Military Funeral at James Marshall's Monument for my friend's family will always be remembered and revered. Best of all, all who attended my friend's Military funeral have ALL returned exploring James Marshall's Monument--again, James Marshall's log cabin, checking the construction updates for both St. John's Catholic Church and Emmanuel Church, Sutter's Mill, gold panning the American River, sent snail mail from the Coloma Post Office, ate at my friend, Noah's Argonaut Cafe, and hiked all the trails, too! BTW: Since I'm 100% Service-Connected Vietnam Veteran possessing a Veteran's Distinguished Park Pass, reserving James Marshall's Monument would be NO FEE for me! FYI: Resource Building For PHYSICALLY Applying For A Veteran's Distinguished Park Pass Resource Building 1416 9th Street Sacramento CA 95814 (916) 657-4380 https://www.mapquest.com/us/california/resources-building-375367030 www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30958​ Contact CA Park Pass Sales Office: (800) 777-0369 ext. 2 Send email: parkpassinfo@parks.ca.gov

Awesome historical stop. This cute 1800s old town brings the California Gold Rush era to life with…read moreover 20 historic mining buildings. You can still see a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, a cafe, event venue (Gold Trail Grange), museum and a charming little post office that is actually still functional. It's a great spot for all, kids enjoy the fun gold-panning activities, adults interest to learn the Gold Rush history, walking trail, picnic and hanging out by the river. We also walked around the Mt. Murphy Road Bridge, this bridge offers great views of the South Fork American River and the white-water rafting, please watch out for cars, the bridge is narrow! Highly recommend stopping by this place.

I went with my class this weekend and I made so many great memories. My guide was amazing she was…read moreso helpful, funny, kind, and made my experience so much better. Laurel you're the best!!

I decided I wanted to take the kids I nanny (11 & 13) to do something fun and unique and thought…read morewhy not finally cross off whitewater rafting from my bucket list?! We were gifted a beautiful day on the river with multiple sightings of wildlife including fish jumping, ducklings, geese, and even a bald eagle! The best part was getting to see the kids do something, get scared, have a blast doing it, and then ask to come back for more intensity next time. I really appreciated the guides for their hospitality, humor, and kindness. However my main piece of feedback would be a friendly reminder that nature and outdoor recreational activities are a form of escape and respite from our every day life, so being more mindful of the topics of conversation brought up during the ride is very important to the atmosphere.

Best in the business! Christian and Duffy had us laughing the whole time. When we go back we will…read morebe in one of their boats.

For my friend's birthday, we booked the South Fork Lower Gorge 1-Day Trip (Class II-III, Beginner,…read more15-mile 1-day trip with lunch). It was our first time rafting and our guide Horacio made the experience very enjoyable! We brought (and left in the car) towels, a spare change of clothes, and a portable battery. To our raft, we brought waterbottles and sunscreen. We also brought a waterproof pouch for our phones to take pictures and videos. It was attached to a lanyard so we were able to take videos as we paddled and went down the rapids. The trip starts on a bit of a calm stretch. We were lucky to have a 6-person raft to ourselves (party of 4). We were suited up with life vests, helmets, and paddles (provided). Our guide primarily did the paddling since he said we needed to conserve our energy for the latter part of the trip. He also chatted with us a bit about the history surrounding the river. Since the waters were relatively peaceful, we sacrificed a friend so that we could practice rescuing someone who fell off the raft :D! The lunch provided by the guide on our trip was build-your-own burritos and lemonade. It was delicious and the variety of toppings and condiments was thoughtful. We reapplied sunscreen during this break (important)!! The latter part of the trip was definitely a lot more strenuous, eventful and fun. There were a good amount of Class 2 and 3 Rapids with time in between each to chat and rest. There is a photographer in a kayak who would prep and capture the money shot of each rapid (excluded from the rafting package). Our group did end up purchasing the full package (all photos and videos) for $90 since the photographer was able to capture the moment our birthday girl fell out of the raft LOL. Once we traveled the full-length of the route, we took a bus back to the reception area alongside the other rafters we saw on the river and met during lunch. Near the reception is restrooms with showers to rinse off in. Overall it was a very memorable experience and we will definitely come again in the future!