South Fork, American River: Chili Bar (Class III+ Whitewater)

Experience thrilling Class III+ whitewater on South Fork American River. Navigate rapids like ‘Meat Grinder’ and ‘Troublemaker’ amidst stunning foothill scenery.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Action awaits on this historical trip through one of California’s most popular waterways! Beginning just outside of the town of Placerville, this run offers 9 miles of whitewater excitement. Travel through the golden foot hills of the Western Sierra Nevada mountains as warm sun rays envelope your senses. Splashes of cool mountain water invigorate and…

What's Included
  • PFD, Helmet, and transportation from meeting place included
  • Wetsuits and splash jackets available when needed
What's Not Included
  • Price does not include any photography offered by 3rd parties
Additional Information

Experience the thrill of a lifetime on one of California’s most popular rivers! This exhilarating 9-12 mile journey offers whitewater excitement through the picturesque golden foothills. Feel invigorated and refreshed by the cool mountain water splashes as you navigate the rapids.
In 1848, the South Fork of the American River made history when gold was…

Location
4531 Salmon Falls Rd
Salmon Falls Road
For rafting on the South Fork American River, Chile Bar Run we meet our guests in Pilot Hill. From here, we load into our vans and travel 30 minutes to the river. Once the rafting is over, we drive you back to Pilot Hill returning you to your vehicles at the meeting location.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(7 Ratings)
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Cdurbinator66
Aug 24, 2022
Best Day Ever! - We had the best time ever!!!!! Lunch box was the best guide to have for your first time rafting. He was so knowledgeable and so funny! Yes he had the corniest jokes but he kept us entertained. I also loved learning about the history of the river and the gold rush. They were very organized and on time. We were lucky the location they picked us up at was right across from our AirBNB! We walked over an just had to jump into the van. It was our first time rafting and we will never forget the experience it was such a blast! Thank you Lunch Box and Melty! We had a day we will never forget!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
37erikas
Jul 13, 2022
Fabulous rafting experience - I would give this more stars if I could! We had a fabulous experience on this rafting trip. The company is extremely well organized and operated. Every detail was thought of in advance and communicated clearly. Our guide was terrific ~ Paul was knowledgeable, mellow, experienced, and personable. The lunch was wonderful ~ tasty and healthy. It all clicked together perfectly. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting a professional, exhilarating, fun-filled afternoon. Really great fun!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexander_b
Jul 10, 2022
Splendid day on the South Fork American River - Clayton, our guide, was extremely friendly, upbeat, engaging, knowledgeable, and had a great sense of humor. My party of four had a really great time on the water, and the lunch prepared for us was quite nice. I'd recommend Tahoe Whitewater Rafting to anyone looking for a fun group activity, and a great way to beat the summer heat to boot!
Review provided by Viator
Berit_l
Jul 1, 2022
Awesome rafting experience! - We had a great time rafting! Clayton was a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide who made the time on the river fly by way too fast. He also prepared a yummy lunch for us. A great way for my daughter (15) and I to spend a nice summer day!
Review provided by Viator
Nanaamerican
Jul 26, 2019
Awesome trip with Adam - My husband and I took our two grandsons age 10 and 12 on this whitewater trip. It was amazing and the kids loved it! What a great company and both guides were great! A great lunch and a wonderful adventure for children too!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Singawinger
Aug 15, 2018
Chili Bar with Tahoe Whitewater was amazing - Our family of four had a great time on the Chili Bar six hour ride. The guide was great, adding in tidbits of history during the quiet parts of the ride. He made the ride exciting for all of us and we felt entirely safe. The lunch was very well prepared for a riverside meal. Great experience all around even with a van issue. Mike is a class act and I highly recommend this outfit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maya
Aug 12, 2018
Family of 3 - everyone LOVED it! - Great experience! Great customer service! we loved our guide (I think its Adam). He let us swim along the raft, let my child row and in general we felt very confident even on all Level 3s. the bus trip was long, but pleasant. Even lunch was quite good considering that they had to carry everything on the raft. We would definitely do it again, if we are ever in the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor