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Middle Fork American River
Best Summertime Class III & IV California River Rafting Trip, American River

The Middle Fork of the American River is one of California ’s premier adventures. Making its way through one of the most remote white water canyons in the state, The Middle Fork boasts some of the finest summertime Class III and IV river rafting in California ! The river rushes 18 miles through an intensely isolated and deep canyon and is broken up by the many challenging Class III and IV California river rafting rapids. If you have a soft spot for pristine wilderness areas, and love the thrill and isolation of the river, then this California rafting adventure is most certainly what you’re looking for.

Middle Fork American River Rafting Highlights

• Best California river rafting class III and IV rapids found anywhere in the summer season
• Remote beauty of the Middle Fork American River canyon
• This trip is a great fit for people who are physically active
• A True California river rafting adventure - Incredible scenery with no development
• More thrills and fewer people than the South Fork American River rafting trip
• A short 1 hour trip from Sacramento, 3.5 hours from the S.F. Bay Area, and 6 hours from L.A.
• Half-price camping in our deluxe South Fork American river rafting private campground with registration.*

* Due to the early start time for all Middle Fork American River rafting trips, our 1 and our 2-day guests are invited to join us the night before the trip and stay at our American River rafting private deluxe campground - at half price . A fantastic California white water rafting adventure!

Trips Offered - Middle Fork

Tunnel Chute Run 18 miles, 1 - 2 days
Class 3 - 4
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1-Day Trips $129 - $159      Trip Prices
Our full-day Middle Fork American River adventures include the complete 18-mile segment of the river. This all-day event includes a delicious and relaxing lunch.

We also offer a Middle Fork American River trip without the “Tunnel Chute” Class 4+ rapid, which makes this section of the river more easily accessible to the younger members of your group, or those not quite ready to raft the chute, but who still want to appreciate and experience the intense beauty of this canyon and its rapids.

2-Day Trips $289 - $299      Trip Prices
The two day Middle Fork American River rafting trips offer guests more time to unwind and truly experience the river and canyon, to hike the side canyons, fish, and just to find yourselves in a different world. Camping along the Middle Fork is a wilderness experience that’s difficult to duplicate on any other California white water river. We set up camp at a fantastic sandy beach away from all houses, roads, or any hint of civilization really. These two-day adventures 2 nights of camping and 5 meals. Make a Reservation

3-Day 'Dueling Rivers' Trips $359 - $409      Trip Prices
South /Middle Fork combo: Best of the American River Rafting Adventures
Does your group need an extra day of fun on the American River? Try our new 3-day combination adventure on the South and Middle fork of the American River . On your “Best of the American River ” rafting getaway, you'll enjoy 2-rafting the South Fork of the American River , 1-day on the Middle Fork, 3-nights of deluxe camping along the riverside and 8 delicious meals! We guarantee that you'll return home relaxed and revitalized. This is an awesome 3 day American River Rafting Adventure that cannot be beat! Our 3-day "Dueling Rivers" combination trips run on either weekdays, Friday – Sunday or Saturday – Monday. Make a Reservation

 Family Rafting / Kayak Trips      Trip Prices
Our family Class II Raft/Inflatable Kayak Trips enable us to share the splendor of the Middle Fork and its impressive canyon with your entire family. We embark on our white water rafting California trip where the rafts complete theirs and start down the river on an 8-mile journey along the "Lower Section." This section greets us with bouncy Class II rapids and striking canyon scenery. Minimum age for this trip is 5 years old. Make a Reservation

Middle Fork American River Rafting – What it's Like?
The first rapid to greet you on the Middle Fork is "Good Morning." If you are not yet awake, you soon will be after that first rush of cold water hits you face first. Within just the first few miles, you'll tackle the "Tunnel Chute." The tunnel was blasted through by gold miners in the 1800s in order to divert the flow of the river away from the famous Horseshoe Bend. The Bend forces the river to be squeezed into a 100 ft long, 12-foot high cascading spillway. The river then flows underground through a navigable tunnel. There truly is nothing else like it in white water rafting anywhere in California!

Once it emerges from the tunnel, the Middle Fork races down the canyon over 5 miles of rapids, reaching its climax at "Kanaka Falls," a Class IV maelstrom that will force each rafter to test their abilities. After this one last rush, the river mellows and reaches the quiet side of the canyon where guests have a welcome opportunity to enjoy the scenic side of the Middle Fork American River. Steeped in the history of the Gold Rush of the 1840s and 50s this American River rafting river still possess much of the equipment and a few of the mines used during that era. Modern gold miners are even trying to ‘strike it rich’ today!

Near to the end of this quiet section, the silence is soon interrupted with a thunderous roar. The river is about to enter " Ruck-A-Chucky Falls. " Here the river quickly drops eight feet over a navigable waterfall, and then a further twenty-five foot, Class VI, unrunnable fall that has to be portaged (passengers will have to walk around the falls while the guides “line” the unmanned rafts over the falls). Once back in the rafts, the Middle Fork American River rafting trip ends with a 3-mile rush through the most demanding part of the trip. Rapids like “Crysta”, "Tightsqueeze," ”Catapult” and "Parallel Parking," all come in quick succession.

You might also want to see:
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