The day begins with picking you up from your lodging between 6 and 7 am and heading east across the Bay Bridge offering great views of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and Fisherman's Wharf.
We stop for breakfast in the Central Valley. Famous for its rich volcanic soil, the Central Valley is a booming agricultural region best known for Almonds, Grapes, Tomatoes, Peaches and Strawberries.
After breakfast we continue our journey up through the cattle and horse ranching lands of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains to the American River.
Once in the foothills, we either meet up with the EarthTrek Expeditions bus or go straight to the put-in for the Upper Chili Bar Run, a continuous thrilling 8 mile run of Class III rapids. The action begins immediately with Meatgrinder, followed by numerous rapids including Racehorse Bend, Rock Garden, Triple Threat and climaxed by a mad dash through famed Troublemaker Rapid. Our trip ends as we pull ashore back at camp where your guides prepare a tasty BBQ lunch.
After lunch, there is time to play some beach volleyball and enjoy the river, then we unwind by tasting some fine California wines before heading back in the van to San Francisco, dropping you at your lodging between 6.00 and 6.30pm.
In April and May, the water is cold, with warm days, wetsuits are provided. June thru September, the water is refreshing and the air is hot. Whatever time of year you choose to raft the American River, we hope you'll be as impressed as most of our visitors are, and if you have any questions simply contact us.
