WHITEWATER RAFTING

Middle Fork American River

Your two-day Middle Fork trip affords ample time to relax and explore this magnificent river canyon. One the one-day trip, you’ll cover the same number of miles, so count on a long, action-packed day. Be aware that a few sections are flat and require some demanding paddling. Although this is a highly physical river, it’s a reasonable challenge for aggressive first-timers.

Trip Details

Day 1:
From the meeting location, take a 45-minute shuttle ride to the put-in at Oxbow, where boats and the rest of the O.A.R.S. crew await. Guides will present a thorough safety talk, and then the adventure begins.

Not a minute from the launch point, you encounter your first whitewater. Aptly named Good Morning, this big-wave Class III rapid will get your blood flowing and your heart pumping, eliminating any remaining sleepiness from the early morning. The next mile and a half brings several Class II-III rapids in quick succession, giving you a chance to sharpen your paddling skills for the mother rapid of the Middle Fork: Tunnel Chute, which is fast approaching.

You hear the ominous roar as you approach Last Chance, a thrilling Class IV drop that positions you for entry into Tunnel Chute. Paddle hard, lining up the raft to go flying down the falls and into Tunnel Chute, a long, growling stretch of whitewater that paws you back and forth through its frothing channel and, as you emerge with laughter and cheers, down through the famous underground stretch of river. 100 yards later, float back into the sunlight, with your heart still pounding like miners’ tools breaking the rocks for gold. For the next mile and a half, you happily negotiate more adrenaline-pumping Class II-IV rapids with highlights like First Flip and Kanaka Falls.

After plummeting through Kanaka, the river changes considerably, meandering over several miles of calm water. This is a great chance for you to rest your arms momentarily and gaze up at the beautiful scenery. You are now in the heart of Auburn State Recreation Area in the American River Canyon, where steep walls covered in pine forests plunge down into the boulder-strewn river. Springtime rafting offers green hills blanketed with colorful wildflowers; later in the season, the hills turn a golden yellow that contrasts sharply with the green woods that cover them.

Lunchtime comes and you pull off the water for a delicious picnic. Knowing that a morning of hard paddling inspires a very hearty appetite, O.A.R.S. makes sure that lunches are always abundant and satisfying. Lounge in the shade of an oak tree with a deli sandwich piled high with fresh cold cuts, cheese and veggies or perhaps tasty taco salad, plus icy lemonade, water, fresh fruit and cookies. After feasting and relaxing on the beach, the journey resumes.

Back in the boats, finish paddling through the flat-water section, then prepare for another long stretch of continuous whitewater action. An intense Class IV drop, Chunder gets you back in the swing of things just before you make a hard right and pull off the river above the roaring Ruck-A-Chucky Falls. This 35-foot waterfall is classified an un-runnable VI, which means that you must get out of the boats and portage the rapid. Walk down the side of the pounding falls, then look back up to see guides “ghost boating” the empty rafts – pushing them over the falls – for an idea of what happens to boats in Class VI whitewater! Back on the river, finish the day with another mile and a half of great whitewater like Parallel Parking, Texas Chainsaw Mama and Final Exam.

As you reach flat water and the take-out, the river trip draws to a close. An O.A.R.S. shuttle will be waiting at the take-out point to return you to your vehicle by approximately 5:00pm.