For all of you who have experienced a whitewater rafting trip on the South Fork of the American River with O.A.R.S., you have most likely visited Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. The park, in the town of Coloma, includes a museum, a full-scale replica of Sutter’s Mill where the Gold Rush started, as well as a ghost town of restored period buildings and Gold Rush artifacts.

Due to California State budget cuts, this park is scheduled to close soon after Labor Day, Sept. 7. It is the heart of the Coloma community.

The final list of State Park closures has not been finalized – and efforts are in place to lobby for keeping the Park open. Sutter’s Mill, located in the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, is where the California Gold Rush started and led to the formation of California as a state. The park is the lifeblood of the local economy.

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Summertime, sweet summertime:  school is out, warm weather is here, and you just might be ready to sign up for that whitewater rafting trip you’ve long been considering.  There’s no time like the present!

Ask yourself some questions first to help you decide what river trip is right for you. Be honest.  What do you like? Are you an adrenaline junkie? Do you enjoy stepping out of your comfort zone? Are you looking for a fun, one-day rafting trip for the entire family? Have you rafted before, loved it and want to step it up a notch? Are you looking for something close to home? Are you looking for stunning scenery? Do you want to combine your river trip with another activity to turn it into a vacation?

California rivers are rated Class I – V.  Here is a brief explanation of river ratings to help you decide what is right for you:

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Clifton Paul Fadiman said it best, "To take wine into our mouths is to savor a droplet of the river of human history."  Three Northern California whitewater rafting outfitters take his words literally and offer combination wine tasting and river rafting trips.  However, no other outfitter offers more river options and variety of vintners than O.A.R.S.

Two other California outfitters, Adventure Collection and Mariah, offer wine tasting trips, however, they are based solely from the South Fork of the American River.  Mariah offers a wine-tasting presentation in their Beverage Garden in their riverside camp and AC offers one-day rafting trips combined with one-day wine country touring.

O.A.R.S. wine tasting and river rafting trips offered this summer include:

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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What would Luke Skywalker do?  Get out on a river and celebrate, of course!  (I’m stuck behind the computer all day-fortunately I’ve got my lightsaber app for my iPhone.)  Recent heavy rains throughout the state have -thankfully- added to our reservoirs and pumped up the volume in nearby rivers.  Big flows in Northern California = big fun for California whitewater rafting:

These flows were taken from Dream Flows website at 7:00 AM:

South Fork American River – 4048 cfs
Usual summer flows are typically less than 2000 cfs – so it’s a great time to experience the South Fork at super fun, big flows.

North Fork American River – 5030 cfs

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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California whitewater rafting on the American River-South Fork, near Sacramento, is the ideal rafting trip for beginners, families and anyone looking for an easy rafting getaway in California. This river, located between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, is approximately a one-hour drive from Sacramento and three hours from San Francisco.  We refer to it as "everyone’s favorite river" because it’s a great place to learn to raft and a place to return to time again, no matter your whitewater rafting experience.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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You know it’s spring when… mornings are brisk, afternoons are balmy… lush green hillsides burst with color from poppies and assorted wildflowers… and our California Whitewater Guide School begins.

Our California whitewater rafting guide school is part Blazing Saddles (think beans and campfires), Survivor (although nobody is voted off the raft) and Navy Seals (you DO look bad a$$ rowing through Satan’s Cesspool and Ned’s Gulch). 

The O.A.R.S. 7-day, March 22 “Beginning Guide Training” meets at River’s Bend Resort on the South Fork of the American River and moves to other Northern California Rivers, possibly the Merced and Tuolumne, depending on water levels and group skills.  Led by longtime O.A.R.S. guides, all the whitewater basics are taught, such as reading water, oar and paddle boat techniques, navigation strategies, rope skills, boat rigging, setting camp, basic swiftwater rescue and equipment care.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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As of a March 7th report from the American River website, the snow pack that feeds the American River is at 101% of normal.  All three Forks of the American River (South Fork, Middle Fork, North Fork) are swollen with runoff. The North Fork of the American River briefly peaked at 11,000cfs (3 x safe boating flows).

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Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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If you are considering a California whitewater rafting trip and/or a Yosemite National Park vacation, you may want to consider booking your flights now.  Airfares to San Francisco (SFO) from the East Coast are really, really cheap right now.

I subscribe to airfarewatchdog.com – and discovered r/t airfares for less than $300 – even during the peak summer season!

Watch for lower airfares to Oakland (OAK), San Jose (SJC) and Sacramento (SMF).  Sacramento is the closest airport to the South Fork American River, as well as the Middle Fork and North Fork of the American rivers.  It shouldn’t take more than 1½ hours to get from the Sacramento airport to the South Fork American put-in.  It will take approximately 3-4* hours to drive from the San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose airports to the South Fork American/Middle Fork American/North Fork American rivers (or the Tuolumne and Merced rivers).  (*depending on traffic – I would encourage you not to schedule an arrival or departure during rush hour traffic.) All airports are relatively equidistant to the rivers).

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Things are buzzing here in the O.A.R.S. HQ in anticipation of the start of the commercial California whitewater rafting season.  Our guides are thinking about returning from their global jaunts.  Our CA/OR Regional Manager, James Rodger, is back from his winter in Chile, Ecuador, Peru and the Galapagos Islands.  We’re spit-shining the gear for our California Whitewater Rafting Guide Schools (the 7-day Beginning Guide Training starts March 22, the 14-day intensive begins on May 23) and our South Fork American rafting trips will begin as early as April 4.

If you’re considering a spring rafting trip to California and want to combine it with a visit to San Francisco, the Westin St. Francis on Union Square is offering incredible rates from $119 – if you book by 11:59PM on March 3, 2009.  In my experience, their sale rates usually begin at $169, so this is an incredible deal.  Stay in a classic San Francisco hotel, ride a cable car, visit Alcatraz, experience whitewater rafting… and call it an unforgettable California vacation.  If you have time, visit the Napa Valley wineries, or stick around the Sierra Foothills and visit the burgeoning Sierra Nevada wineries. 

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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This is it – your last chance to go whitewater rafting on the South Fork of the American River in the 2008 commercial rafting season!  Be on the look out for some of the O.A.R.S. staff – more than a handful will be on the river this weekend.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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