Unforgettable day on the river! We had an absolute blast on our full-day rafting trip down the 22-mile stretch of the American River! The entire team at Sierra Whitewater Rafting Company runs an incredibly well-organized operation - from check-in to the end of the day, everything flowed seamlessly. A massive shoutout to our guide, Sage Low. She was a total pro! Navigating multiple Class 2 and 3 rapids can be intimidating, but Sage's direct, clear, and confident paddling commands kept us on track and feeling completely safe the entire time. If you are looking for a thrilling, perfectly executed whitewater adventure, book this trip and ask for Sage! read more

My group of 12 recently took a 1 day raft experience down the Middle Fork of the American River. Many weeks in advance, the folks at Sierra Whitewater made sure we were prepared and accommodated! They offered to keep us in 2 rafts of 6, and also accommodated our large group while camping on site. The trip was extremely fun! It was a good mix of exciting rapids mixed with relaxing floats down the river. Our guide, Lucas, did a great job of judging our excitement and experience, and made sure we had opportunities to have fun. He also made sure that we stayed safe, even when we tumbled from the raft. I would absolutely recommend taking the Middle Fork raft experience from Sierra Whitewater. read more

Awesome experience! Guides were enthusiastic, helpful, kind, and made sure of everyone's safety. Highly cecommend.

5-Stars is not enough for this company and the experience you get! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted and checked-in by Tucker, one of the rafting guides who happened to be our rafting guide for the day. He was absolutely amazing, friendly and incredibly knowledgeable about the river and whitewater rafting. We opted to do the Full River trip which is 21miles on the South Fork of the American River. On the River, Tucker was excellent in calling out paddling commands and instructions to ensure a safe and exhilarating trip. This was a 7/8hr trip which included stopping for hot lunch (grilled burgers, salad, watermelon, chips, cookies as well as Lemonade and fresh cold water) and snacks for the bus ride back. Along the river there are photographers situated at the major rapids that take pictures of all the rafts maneuvering through the turbulent waters. At the end of the day, the photos are posted and you have the opportunity to purchase the ones you like. Bottom line: don't need to take your expensive camera or phone because there's photographers capturing the moments. We're definitely coming back next year! read more

See all

My husband surprised me with a wonderful birthday and 11th anniversary celebration at this remarkable location, and the experience was truly unforgettable. Upon our arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Josh in the parking lot, whose positive energy set the tone for the day. I highly recommend arriving on an empty stomach, as they provide a generous meal before the adventure begins. We enjoyed delicious hamburgers with a variety of toppings, along with fruit, chips, and cookies. I skipped the cookies but even after eating the hamburger I didn't feel sluggish so it was perfect. After our meal, we got our safety gear and went over rules, tips, safety info etc. Zach was our lead and he was very knowledgeable on all 150 questions our team asked him lol. We took off and within 5 min we were in the water by choice, and the water felt amazing. At the end of our river adventure, a jet ski transported us to end location where we removed our gear and boarded a bus, they gave us a snack prior to loading the bus. Zach drove us back efficiently while Josh kept us entertained. The entire staff was phenomenal and it's clear why this place receives such high praise. I look forward to returning with my kids , as my birthday and anniversary celebration was nothing short of amazing. Thank you guys so much. - Bring cheap sun shades you don't care to loose - Sunscreen - towel (leave in the car) - swim clothes / water suit - change of clothes (leave in the car) - water bottle - chap stick - hair tie for after your hair will be all messed up after this trip lol You don't have to get in the water to swim but be clear you will get wet!!!! And ..... you're wearing a life vest the whole time and helmet so even if you can't swim the vest will keep you floating. I hope this info helps . My husband and I sat in the front I had an amazing experience read more

See all

What a great time and experience! My mother is law planned this family outing and read through several reviews on several different companies. She ultimately chose this one based off the great reviews, and she really did a great job choosing this one! What an amazing time. From the lunch at the beginning of our check in, the knowledge and safety tips, the grouping up, the guides and the trip. It was amazing. Our guide was fun, knowledgeable, whitty and well experienced in rafting. It truly was a great time, and we are already planning a trip back. read more

Sierra Whitewater - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

See all

This business is fantastic! It was all our first time white water rafting and we had the greatest time! We chose to do the "gorge". We had burgers, salad, and watermelon for lunch before we left. We all got our ppe and listened to the rules. We met our guide Zack who was amazing! He was so personable and really knew what he was doing. It was a fantastic day. Now we all want to do it many more times! read more

See all

We love whitewater rafting and Sierra Whitewater is our favorite company to go with. They are kind, fun, welcoming, exciting and just all around wonderful. We had a fantastic day rafting the Gorge with our amazing guide, Sage! She was absolutely fantastic! Thank you!! read more

Sierra Whitewater - Whoo hoo!! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

Family and I had a great time on the river with our awesome guide Owen! Jen was also great and gave us some great information about the area. We did the lower fork where we were able to take our 4 yr old twins. They had an absolute blast and felt safe throughout the experience. We pulled over half way down the trip and enjoy a snack and walked in the water a bit. Joyous memories were made. read more

It was our first time whitewater rafting experience and it went so smoothly. My husband and I were a bit nervous but Kyler made our experience fun and unforgettable. He was patient, and obviously very experienced so we felt very safe. He gave specific and clear instructions. He kept the vibe fun and lively throughout the whole ride. We also enjoyed the adrenaline rush we got while going through some pretty wild rapids on the half day trip, south fork. We are planning to return and ask for Kyler to be our guide, he's so awesome! read more

We really enjoyed our rafting experience with Sierra whitewater. Our guide was so knowledgeable and skilled and it was first time for many of us so made us feel confident and gave us excellent instructions to stay safe and have a wonderful time. Highly recommend them and would do it again soon' read more

If I could give more stars I would. We did the lower section with our two kids, ages six and seven. The rapids were exciting and so fun for all of us. Noah was our guide and we would request him again and again. He was extremely knowledgeable and kept the trip engaging. Can't wait to do it again! read more

Had awesome experience. Our guide was awesome and very knowledgeable. Highly recommended to go with this company. This is my 4th year coming here, and I love it! read more

Ask for Austin the guy is an absolute pro. He knows this river like the back of his hand. We had a great adventure. He's an excellent guide very knowledgeable. Highly recommend. read more

Sierra Whitewater - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

See all

Best Birthday Ever! Noah was great! We felt safe and yet had a fun adventure. We were paired perfectly with other guest on boat

We did a one-day Middle Fork / Tunnel Chute adventure with Jamie. What a great day! Everyone had a blast: the weather was warm, the water was clear, the lunch was filling. The Chute did not disappoint, but the whole day was a lot of fun. read more

Sierra Whitewater is an outstanding operation. They've been running trips for decades, and it shows--they've refined every aspect of the experience. From check-in and transportation to the equipment, safety briefing, and guides, everything is organized, efficient, and thoughtfully designed. What impressed me most is that they seem genuinely committed to maximizing your time on the river. Every detail has been considered to make the day as enjoyable and seamless as possible, with unnecessary hassles removed so you can simply relax and focus on having fun. It's a company that's clearly passionate about delivering a first-class rafting experience. I will definitely go back! read more

We had a group of 9, our guide was Sean. We arrived late by our own fault in judging time. We could tell he was a little annoyed about us getting there late (as he should). We started off a bit rough and he gave us some tough love. At the end we made up all the time we were late! Even Sean said he had a great time with us and told us to please come back. Our team name was "team shady"....and we proved ourselves. This company is absolutely amazing from the bus driver, Jen, to the staff serving food and even meeting the owner Derek. AMAZING group/staff...cannot recommend this place enough. 8/9 of us this was our first experience. Will definitely be back, and for sure with Sean! Thank you all!! read more

The raft trip was amazing! We did the Gorge route and most of us had no prior experience. Our guide, Lucas, was amazing and made sure we had a super fun trip. I would definitely recommend, super fun. Bring water, it's hot out there! read more

We went Whitewater Rafting with Sierra. It was the most amazing time of my life. Our guide Owen led us amazingly. I was sitting in front and I got to lead my family with level 3. We did the South Fork this time and I'm 100% going back to do the Middle Fork next time. The experience was unforgettable. I really recommend this place. read more

Best day ever with Sierra Whitewater! All of the guides in our "Oreo formation" were fantastic, but a huge shoutout to Spencer--his skill, confidence, and outgoing personality made the whole experience unforgettable. He kept our "Big Daddy" running strong and had us girls going from a little nervous to full-on "Brave Girls" by the end of the day. Couldn't have asked for a better rafting adventure--highly recommend Sierra Whitewater! read more

My party of four signed up to raft the full day south fork July 31, 2025. Three of us had at least some rafting experience prior to this "beginner" course. We were assigned a guide who, once we were in the raft and on the river, announced that he had limited white water experience and was mostly familiar with float trips. This raised some red flags but we brushed it off thinking Sierra would never put someone ill equipped in a raft, alone with guests. Wrong. We made it through the first few rapids mostly unscathed. We did end up running into other rafts accidentally (the guide admitted to this). He also inadvertently took us through rapids at the same time as other rafts; this happened twice. He also mentioned that he got the raft stuck on a rock the day prior and it took multiple guides and thirty minutes to free it. About an hour in we went through a rapid that all the other rafts traversed with no issue. We slammed into a rock and I went flying out of the raft a slammed into a rock, tumbling down the rapid and hitting multiple rocks along the way. I was able to grab my paddle AND the guide's paddle and swam my way back to the raft. I had multiple scrapes on my left leg and moderate pain in my right lower leg. The guide apologized and said he "forgot there was a rock there." We made it to camp about half an hour later for lunch. I could barely put any pressure on my right leg. I hobbled to a picnic table, hoping a brief rest period would stop the pain. Wrong again. The guide alerted Sierra leadership, who was present at camp, about the incident. NOT A SINGLE REPRESENTATIVE CAME BY TO ASK HOW I WAS FEELING. I could not continue with the trip and had to use a lawn chair found at camp as a make shift walker to get back to the parking lot. Once again, no assistance was offered from Sierra. I picked up a pair of crutches in Sacramento. After flying home and visiting the orthopedist, I was scheduled for surgery a week later because it turned out that the collision with the rock fractured my tibia. I was on crutches for three months, out of work for 7 weeks, and out thousands of dollars. At this point, about four months later, I can barely walk any sort of distance and still have to attend physical therapy. We called Sierra to let them now what happened. They offered to refund my trip but did not follow through until we called back a week later. I trusted Sierra to provide us a good experience with a qualified guide. Could this have happened even with a qualified guide? Yes, but not likely especially on this beginner course. No one else on the trip even fell out of a raft. No one from Sierra ever asked how I was or if I needed assistance. In fact, one gal was rude and indifferent when my husband told her I was injured. If you choose to raft with Sierra make sure you proactively request a seasoned guide. Ask the guide about their credentials BEFORE you get on the river. Do not accept someone with limited experience! It is dangerous and you could end up with a broken leg or worse... To add insult to injury, the lunch sucked. read more

Sierra Whitewater - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

We had an amazing time. Our guide Andrew was the best. He continuously checked in with the group to see how exciting we wanted the trip to be, he was very professional and positive. The entire trip was not only an adventure, but was an interesting way to glide through 8 miles of wilderness. It was an amazing way to spend a day in Gold Country. We saw a deer, enjoying the river and Redtail hawks as well as a multitude of ducks and other water birds. I highly recommend it. And if you want to get splashed and feel the adrenaline, they can easily make that happen or have a more relaxed trip down the river they can make that happen too., if you haven't tried whitewater rafting on the American River, I would definitely check out Sierra Whitewater. They were relaxed and easygoing, but very safety oriented and kind. read more

Sierra Whitewater - Enjoying the river during a break from the waves. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

This crew is professional !They make you feel safe and the experience is life changing. I recommend Tucker the guide and Sierra white water rafting if you want to enjoy an adventure with your family and have lots of laughs. Thank you to the cook who provided lunch !!!! That veggie rice stuff was bomb.com as well as the burgers hit the spot. read more

our guide Zoe, gave us a great afternoon. She was attentiv, funny made our day. can't get any better than her.

Our guide Ellie was great. It was really fun and exciting. It was more than I expected cause it was only a class 3. Because we were originally going on the middle fork but was cancelled due to low water level. read more

well organized, we had a nice coach and guide. smooth sailing, fun yet safe. will definitely recommend to others seeking a moderate thrill.

Had an amazing experience out on the river with the Sierra crew. we did the half day South Fork trip, and what stood out for me was the energy and organization of the entire Sierra crew. Things started on time, we were guided at each step, plenty of communication, and special shoutout to our leader Spencer who really kept the entire time on the raft fun with his humor, and brought the entire crew together. He had so much experience out on the water which reflected on how effortlessly he guided us on each rapid and section of the river The Sierra crew is really good, I would highly recommend read more

My experience with Sierra Whitewater was fantastic from start to finish. We had gotten to the parking lot about 15 minutes before the meet up time and had enough time to apply sunscreen and go to the bathroom. We then got checked in and went onto the bus ride where we went over safety protocols. My group of 7 had the privilege of having Spencer as our guide! We had all never been rafting before so with his guidance we were able to quickly learn everything we needed to know. Our group did The Full River trip and it was the absolute best. Halfway through we stopped for the included lunch which tasted great. I can not stress how amazing Spencer made our day, from answering all of our questions, to telling funny jokes, and stories it was a perfect way to spend the day. By the end we were surprised with how comfortable and good we felt with rafting, so we are already planning our next trip for the Middle Fork route. read more

What a great overall experience. Our guide Spencer was great, very knowledgeable, great personality and was completely in control of the raft at all times. Will definitely be returning read more

Sierra Whitewater - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

Our all-day Middle Fork American River trip with Sierra Whitewater Rafting was fantastic! My husband and I were first-time Class V rafters, and The Chute definitely checked a bucket-list item for us. Spencer guided our raft of six, while Noah led a second raft, and both did an outstanding job keeping everyone safe while making the day exciting and fun. Spencer was experienced, funny, knowledgeable, and a great leader--we would definitely request him again. Lunch was delicious and well organized, and Ray expertly handled the winding mountain roads to and from the river, which honestly felt scarier than the rapids! One of the highlights was watching Spencer and Noah run Ruck-A-Chucky while we portaged around it. Best of all, nobody fell out of the raft, making for a very successful and unforgettable adventure! read more

Sierra Whitewater - Conquered The Chute! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

Zach was great. Obviously very experienced and informative. Awesome time with the family with perfect weather to be on the river. First time doing the lower fork. Good fun. We will be back. The lunch crew needs to work on their customer skills...a bit on the sulky side..Everyone else was very pleasant. read more

friendly, chill, professional, great guides, convenient, excellent lunch. wonderful hands on owner

So much fun!!! Staff were safety conscious and super friendly. Loved it!! Highly recommend to anyone interested

My brother (12) and I (8) had such a great time with Sean! We got soaked so much and you were the greatest best guide! Thank you for letting me swim and jump off the rock! You are the best ever! I felt very safe with Sean ---- I wish I could have gone more and more and more in more and more rapids and bowls. Oh and the teacup spins were awesome! read more

Our experience was great! Our guide, Sean was experienced and knowledgeable. He showed us everything we needed to know for a successful and fun trip. The only thing we didn't know was that we would be the motor, doing all the paddling. Our guide did the steering. It's a good thing my husband and I work out with weights, so Our arms weren't sore. read more

This was my first time river rafting. We went in the beginner 1/2 day trip. Our guides were Chris and Zach. Adults with Chris. Kids with Zach and both guides were friendly, professional, fun and engaging. It was an adventurous day. The scheduled time, food service, system and transition from parking to instructions, to riding the river to getting back to base camp was efficient and no downtime! I highly recommend this company! read more

it was the perfect day. temps were high but not unbearable, the rapids were perfect for my experience, and the guides were knowledgeable and gave great direction. fun too. The entire experience was full of giggles and so much delight. i hadn't rafted the south fork before so it was all new and yummy. Im confident in my 5 star review... do this! Truly a most memorable day on the American! read more

Great place great service the river guide Rob was phenomenal. I had 38-year-olds and a 10-year-old and she was so patient and friendly with all of them. My boys had a great time. I definitely suggest this to any family with younger kids. Lunch was great read more

10/10 Experience! First timer here, felt very safe and comfortable, informed, and most of all, I had a BLAST. Shoutout to Spencer and Zach for the amazing, guided tours. Both of them have the best spirits and vibes. Thank you for showing our company such an incredible time! read more