North Fork American River Rafting

Full Day Whitewater Rafting Trip

($92-$115 per-person)

Whitewater Rafting on the North Fork of the American River

This river is HOME.

With the start of this whitewater rafting trip river only 1 mile from the owners hometown of Colfax, CA, the North Fork of the American River captures what spring rafting in California is all about. Turquoise green water, polished granite boulders, and those challenging rapids that make your eyes grow wide.

An outstanding number of class 4+ rapids in the first six miles, gets you wishing this river never ends. Amazing wild flowers and lunch amongst waterfalls are just a few rewards you get experience on the North Fork of the American River. Depending on water level, this trip may be extended downstream 3 miles to Lake Clementine, as the river meanders though the lower foothill mountians near Auburn, CA

North Fork season is considered "rafting wet-suit season".  H2O Adventures provides farmer john style wetsuits, wetsuit socks to go under your shoes, fleece tops, and splash jackets to keep everyone as warm as possible while rafting.  This is all provided for each and every trip at no additional charge, no matter the group size.

**Please Note that H2O Adventures only offers trips on the North Fork of the American Monday - Friday. If looking for another Springtime Class 4/5 Whitewater Rafting Trip we encourage you to check out the North Yuba River.

Click here for the North Yuba River; offered 7 days a week all spring long.

About North Fork American River Rafting

Did you know that some of the best whitewater in the United States is right here in Northern California at the North Fork American River? Northeast of Sacramento and close to Sutter's Mill, which set off the California gold rush in the 19th century, the North Fork American River is the longest free flowing section of the American River, which runs from the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east to the Sacramento River in the western Sacramento Valley, after joining both the Middle Fork American River and South Fork American River on its way to Folsom Lake.

Part of the San Francisco Bay watershed, the American River’s flow is created by melting snow high in the Sierra Nevada, which works its way via various headwaters and tributaries down to the valley below. The North Fork American River is part of three major forks, including the Middle Fork American River and the South Fork American River. 

But when it comes to whitewater, North Fork American River rafting has some of the best whitewater rafting in the country, and you and your family or friends can have a great time navigating California's whitewater this season. With the section of rafting available to H2O Adventures clients being 14 miles long, there are many rapids and areas that make the North Fork American River rafting unique and special.

Starting at Mountain Meadow Lake near the top of Granite Chief, a mountain high up by Lake Tahoe, the North Fork American River water is tumbling down the Sierra Nevada mountains as it flows northwest, then west into a gorge before joining up with Big Granite Creek. After that, the river turns southwest, then south near Colfax at our rafting put in locations and into the North Fork Lake, also known as Lake Clementine. Like many lakes in the area, the North Fork Lake was formed by the North Fork Dam, which was built in 1939 to keep hydraulic mining debris from flowing downriver.

After the North Fork Dam, the North Fork American River runs south again and under the highest bridge in California, the Foresthill Bridge, after which it receives the Middle Fork American River, the North Fork River's largest tributary. Further south, the North Fork American River flows past Auburn and finally empties into the northern section of Folsom Lake, a man-made reservoir formed in 1955 by the Folsom Dam