Hit The Water! Try Whitewater Rafting Near North Bay
http://www.whitewatertours.comRiver's Bend Resort
6400 Highway 49
Lotus, CA 95641
(800) 672-3846
www.whitewatertours.com
Meet up with Tributary Whitewater Tours, a rafting river company operating in California since the late 1970s. Park in the gravel lot to find the camp, first on the right, down the trail. This location on the South Fork American River, 100 miles from Napa, has rafting trips suitable for kids ages seven and up from half-day to two days. Life jackets, paddles, boats and professional guides are all provided. An overnight campsite with tents and sleeping bags is also conveniently on-site for those who are making it into a longer experience.
www.aorafting.comAll-Outdoors River Center
1026 Lotus Road
Lotus, CA 95651
(800) 247-2387
www.aorafting.com
This is the departure point for the Tom Sawyer Float Trip, an easy five-mile beginner trip. Featuring gentle rapids and calm pools, the trip is a one-day ride priced at $129, suitable for ages five and up. Lovely scenery will pass rafters by. Banks of rolling hills, riverside blackberry bushes and trees are contentedly growing from roots in the riverbed. Professional guides, inflatable kayaks and a picnic lunch are all included from All-Outdoors River Center, a third-generation family company now in operation for 50 years.
http://www.arrafting.comAmerican River Rafting
Raley's Grocery Store Parking Lot
13384 Lincoln Way (off I-180)
Auburn, CA 95603
(800) 333-7238
www.arrafting.com
Cover nine miles on a full-day Class 4-plus American River North Fork trip to meet Chamberlain Falls, Bogus Thunder and Staircase. Recommended for those above age 16, equipment and lunch are supplied. American River Recreation is your experienced operator, navigating these waters since 1979. Check out the whitewater rafting bloopers posted on the website. Of course, all end with happy endings. It's always good to have experienced guides and a dry set of clothing for the ride back home.
www.earthtrekexpeditions.comEarthTrek Expeditions Camp
7308 California Route 49
Lotus, CA 95651
(800) 229-8735
www.earthtrekexpeditions.com
With 36 years of experience on the American River, Earth Trek Expeditions has both tents and cabins with beds at its campsites for overnight rafting trips. When you're not on the river, there's volleyball, foosball, ping pong and air hockey to entertain, and the campsite sells things you may have forgotten to pack in its on-site store, including wetsuits for the occasional need. EarthTrek ensures you will "bounce, yell, get wet and laugh" through rapids with names like Satan's Cesspool, Meatgrinder, Triple Threat and Troublemaker.
www.americanwhitewater.comAmerican Whitewater Expeditions
5981 New River Road
Coloma, CA 95613
(800) 825-3205
www.americanwhitewater.com
Middle Fork is an 18-mile stretch of the American River, offering some of California's biggest rapids. Big Drop at Tunnel Chute Rapid descends 80 feet, narrows to 18 feet wide, then continues through a 90-foot underground tunnel blasted by gold miners more than 160 years ago. Pioneered by American Whitewater Expeditions back in the 70s, it currently offers six ways to experience Middle Fork, including a Class 4 intermediate trip with a minimum age of 12 and all hands paddling. It's 36 miles of overnight fun-packed adventures from $269 for adults plus an eight percent government land and river use fee. Check out group, family and last-minute specials.
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Laurie JM Farr is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. A transplanted New Yorker, she has traveled throughout the world as the Big Apple's official tourism representative. She served as organizer for three Royal Visits to America. As an international relocation consultant, Laurie assisted more than 400 families with overseas moves and is a proud mother of two, thoroughly bi-cultural children. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
