48-Hour American River Rafting, Camping, and Gold Country Adventures
Craving a great adventure and a night or two under the stars? Or maybe you’re curious about camping, but not quite ready to go? A relaxing weekend getaway in California's Gold Country combines outdoor adventure with creature comforts.
To keep you completely stress-free, we've put together the ultimate 48-hour itinerary, combining two nights of riverside camping with a fun-filled day American River Raftingas well as some favorite local attractions you can visit while you're there. Just an hour outside of Sacramento, this is one of the easiest ways to make an ordinary weekend memorable.
Friday | Set up base camp at OARS American River Outpost
6pm arrive coloma And check-in is at: Paddle American River Outpostthe company offers American River Rafting guests a one-night camping deal before and/or after their trip for $15 per person per night.
You may or may not bring your own camping gear. Outpost offers tents and sleeping kits for rent, making packing a breeze.
7pm If you want dinner prepared on site, go for it. Otherwise, it's easy to get to nearby Gorilla Rock Tacos There you can get three super delicious tacos for less than $10, plus a variety of craft beers on tap.
8pm You can play chess on the camp's life-size chess board, relax with a drink in the common area, or take a short trip to the river and watch shooting stars from the beach.
Saturday | South Fork American River Rafting
8 am Fuel up for your rafting adventure. If fighting the camp stove so early doesn’t sound like fun, take a 2-minute walk next door selarisin Serving coffee and a variety of homemade breakfasts (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays). After breakfast, start getting ready for your day on the river.
11 am Check in with your trip leader near the camp store and then head to upper camp for a delicious picnic lunch included in the tour. After lunch and a detailed safety talk, you'll walk to the beach with all your gear for an afternoon of swimming, whitewater paddling, and fun in the sand. South Fork Canyon Tour. Don’t forget to smile for the camera at Satan’s Cesspool and Hospital Bar, both The best rapids on an American river.
5pm Return to camp, take advantage of the outpost's amenities, and refresh with a hot shower before dinner. No pit toilets here!
Enhance your adventure experience
Don't you like sleeping on the floor? Upgrade your accommodations and spend the night before and after your rafting trip in one of our adjacent hotel's elevated cabin tents, earth aviation camp.
6pm After an action-packed day, you can choose to enjoy carefree fun and camp meals at Outpost (please ask for availability when booking your trip).
If you want to hang out, don't miss the chance to check it out Troublemaker Beer Garden There you can enjoy cold brew, wood-fired pizza and other delicious pub grub. Stop by on your walk hotspot imaging Check out the rafting photos from the day.
8pm Relax at camp with family and friends and relive the best whitewater moments of the day. Before long, exhausted and satisfied after an adventurous day, you can rest comfortably in your tent.
Sunday | Marshall Gold Discovery Park and Auburn State Recreation Area Hike
8 am Pack up camp and it's only a five-minute drive down the road Marshall Gold Discovery Park. Here you can enjoy a casual breakfast in the restaurant Argonaut Farm to Fork Cafeoffering a menu inspired by local farmers and purveyors in the area. Then, stroll along the river, watch a blacksmith in action or learn how to pan for gold.
10 am End your adventurous weekend with a hike or trail run Auburn State Recreation AreaSpanning 40 miles of land along the Middle and North Forks of the American River, it offers over 100 miles of recreational trails. The 2.2-mile Black Hole of Calcutta Falls hike, just 15 minutes from the outpost, is a relatively close option with year-round waterfalls and a great place to relax and cool off before heading back home.
