Middle Fork American River Rafting

Full Day Class 4+ Middle Fork American River

White Water Rafting Trip

($99-$156 per-person)

Whitewater Rafting on the Middle Fork of the American River

1-Day Trip - 17 Miles

The Middle Fork of the American River in California is one of the best summertime Class IV middle fork white water rafting trips in California. This American River rafting adventure meets at 8:15 AM in Auburn. A 45 minute van ride dead ends at Oxbow Reservoir where gear is distributed and the stoke begins.

H2O hits your face early with a splash as the water flowing over Good Morning rapid hits your face right away. A warmup is immediately needed as the infamous Tunnel Chute rapid is just over a mile downstream.

After five miles of navigating Class III and IV whitewater, the river settles down and provides opportunities for rock jumping, surfing, and ‘riding the bull’ as we float through the canyon towards a riverside stop, where a fresh lunch is prepared by the guides.

After lunch, the river flows gently for a few more miles, giving everyone time to relax and digest before reaching Chunder Pond.

From here the river picks up again with rapids such as Chunder Falls, Parallel Parking, and Ski Jump bringing your adrenaline back up. A mandatory walk around Ruck-A-Chucky falls allows for a chance to watch your guides run their raft down a class 6 waterfall. Your trip concludes at the old Greenwood Bridge site. Guests are returned to their vehicles around 4:00 PM.

**Please note that the short walk around Ruck-A-Chucky Falls can be a hot and steep hike at times. If hiking is difficult for you, call us to see if this Middle Fork American River rafting trip is the right fit. :)

Check out this in depth video about a rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the American from our friends at Active NorCal.

TLDR: Planning a trip for white water rafting in American River? Here's what to know:

• Experience Class IV thrills on the Middle Fork

• Choose full-day or overnight camping adventures

• Enjoy expert guides and riverside meals

• One of the top spots for white water rafting in California, on the American River

2-Day Overnight Wilderness Camping and Rafting Experience

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Same amount of miles—slower pace. The meet time of 8:00 AM allows for dry-bag distribution and packing of all your river essentials. At the boat ramp, bags are loaded onto our gear boat, gear is distributed, and we start our journey downstream.

10 miles of river time brings us to camp where we enjoy all the beauty of a relaxing overnight trip full of great food, drinks, games and laughs. Day 2 allows for side hikes to waterfalls, rock jumping opportunities and more Class IV white water rafting.

Don’t believe this is the best way to see the Middle Fork? Just ask our guide Ben- He says, “It’s magical, I wish all trips were multi-days!”

Call to discuss multi-day options on the Middle Fork of the American River at: 530.277.3433 and get started creating your “Best Day Ever Experience’ today.

A 62-mile stretch of wild beauty, the Middle Fork of the American River is one of the three main forks of the American River Watershed, along with the North Fork American River, and the South Fork American River.

Fed by melting snow from the Sierra Nevada mountain range, as well as various tributaries and headwaters, the American River played a central role in the California Gold Rush that started it all in the mid 1800s.

Draining a large watershed near Lake Tahoe, the Middle Fork American River provides some of the best rafting in the United States, and you can even pan for gold in the area, though the South Fork remains the more popular panning destination. But back during the gold rush, the Middle Fork was a hugely popular mining destination, though today long portions of the river have been drained by diversions and other dams. The area also boasts the winding, 100-mile Western States Trail, which runs through the canyons of the Middle Fork River from Auburn to Squaw Valley.

Below the Oxbow Reservoir, however, the Middle Fork American River rafting options are the pinnacle of excitement and recreation in the area. With controlled river flows boosted daily from 300 to 1,000 CFS in the summer and early fall, thanks to Oxbow Dam releases, the river guarantees excitement. The river provides Class II–IV rapids, plus the thrilling Class VI Ruck-A-Chucky Falls (viewed from land), making it a top-notch choice for thrill-seekers.

Come experience the greatness of a true California rafting adventure with Middle Fork American River whitewater rafting. Perfect for adventurous first-timers and intermediate paddlers alike, this is one of the most exciting Middle Fork white water rafting trips around.

Contact us today to book a rafting trip on the Middle Fork American River rafting trip with the experts at H2O Adventures. Your trusted rafting company for American River rafting experiences.