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American River Raft Rentals
Categories: Active Life Boating Active Life Rafting/Kayaking Boating, Rafting/Kayaking [Edit]
11257 S Bridge StRancho Cordova, CA 95670
(888) 338-7238
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
Cynthia P. said: "We were from Kansas travelling to CA for a week and wanted to do a whitewater adventure. I researched all the different options and picked Mariah because of the reviews that were already out here. I was not disappointed. While the…" read more »
55 reviews for American River Raft Rentals
55 reviews in English
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Review from Mary C.
Sacramento, CA
7/31/2011
Relaxing with friends and drinking beers. FUN TIMES!
I always have fun when I come here, maybe because I'm always little tipsy but so what?
This is a perfect summer day activity! It's best to come when it's at least in the mid 90s because the water is still pretty cold and it takes about 4-5 hrs (with the water gun fights, the stops to jump dive off cliffs, and the stop at the slippery mud island where girls like to wrestle..) to get to the end of the river trail so towards the end it usually starts getting a little chilly.
TIPS
*Bring a stereo! Music always makes the trip more enjoyable but u need to hefty bag that stereo at least 3 times to make sure it's safe.
*Bring PLENTY of beer because the trip is longer than you think and you can't just soberly sit there and stare at your friends all day. (I don't know if they are changing the regulations next year to no alcohol...that would suck but enjoy it while you can!)
*Get a water gun! It sucks to be attacked (and you will!) with no protection!
*Don't bring anything that you don't want to get wet. I wouldn't even bring a towel because last time I brought one and it was soaked by the end of the trip. Useless and gave me an extra thing to carry :/
*Sunscreen up! You are soaking up the sun during peak time so you wanna protect your skin from those UVs!
*Bring snacks! I don't know about you but when I get tipsy I like to snack so chips are a MUST. Gotta keep an eye out so they won't get water in the bags.
*Bring water. Stay hydrated!
HAPPY RAFTING! :) -
Review from Patrick C.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a fun experience! Definitely a relaxing day trip with friends and alcohol.
The raft rental line went fairly quick. It would have been nicer if the water was a bit warmer because it is a bit on the cold side. However, the weather was warm...around high-70's (it would be nicer if it was warmer)...so try to plan this on a hot day! Bring your water guns, alcohol, food, sunscreen, swim shorts, and shades...and get ready to enjoy a nice relaxing cruise down this calm river. $5 parking and the hike to start point is not far at all. -
Review from Janet H.
6/3/2011 ROTD 8/10/2011
The casualties of our rafting experience:
1. bug bites. Lots of them...
2. battle scars. Let's just say we weren't that great at navigating our rafts and crashed into trees multiple times.
3. lost personal belongings. Somehow my earring fell off? No idea when & where... and at one point we had to swim after a lost paddle that fell off our raft.
4. losing fellow rafters: Okay, I think I overdramatized this one...they're still alive but two of my friends somehow lost balance and fell into the FREEZING river. Struggles.
BUT! Despite these over dramatized casualities, words can't describe how fun the rafting trip was! It was really relaxing just floating down the river. Unfortunately, we came here on a cloudy, cold, and sprinkling day, so we were freezing most of the time. I definitely want to come back in the summer when it's hot! I was too chicken to swing off the rope because it was way too cold. Props to my friend for actually doing it, while we watched from afar. -
Review from Carol Y.
4/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fun times, but you'll have to carry your raft down to the river which is kind of far... when you're carrying a raft. It's a relaxing ride--the perfect summer chill activity. Bring plenty of beer and water. If you see people in the water, they're peeing, for your information.
There are a few little areas worth stopping off at: the cliff which people jump off of, just be sure to put on your life vest and avoid getting caught in a rip current (which is what happened to me). A rope to swing from a tree into the water. So fun, but I was recovering from the rip current incident so I passed as we approached. The island with all the bird crap. I honestly have no idea why everyone stops here. I hear there was some wrestling going on in the bird crap once.
There's also a point in the river where it gets a little more rapid. That was the most fun for me! Yay.
When you get to the end, they take care of the equipment for you and there's a shuttle to get you back to the parking lot. -
Review from Angie C.
Davis, CA
7/3/2011
So the price for renting a raft for 4 people comes to a total of more than $70, including the bus ride back to the parking lot at Sunrise. If you have your own raft you can pay $5 to use their air compressor, but don't even think about taking the bus back unless you rent from them, even if you pay them for parking and air.
I went yesterday and my friend was very rudely informed by the jerk of a bus driver at River Bend Park that the buses would not be taking anyone back to the parking lot at Sunrise who didn't rent a raft from them, and to take a cab (they charge $25). Why this makes sense to them is beyond me. The bus was nowhere near full, and I doubt they have been able to make much money due to this year's extremely cold and fast river conditions. I took the bus back several times last year, so why they are being difficult about it this year doesn't make sense to me.
My suggestion: buy your own raft at Costco for $70 and use it all summer, take two cars (leave one at River Bend Park), and if you have it, use your own air compressor.Comment from Josh S. of American River Raft Rentals 8/13/2011
I wish we could help but we can only shuttle our raft rental… More » -
Review from Jim C.
Belmont, CA
8/26/2011
Definitely a fun experience!!
A few friends and I went a couple weekends back and had a blast. The staff is all friendly, the water was perfect, just a good overall time.
The only reason for the 4 star is the line took FOREVER to get through. There was a line for those who had reservation...but after the line, everything else goes smoothly.
If you're looking for a fun, inexpensive way to have some fun, relax with a few brewskis and enjoy a day out...this is a definitely a great way to do it!
Will be back, that's for sure -
Review from Kim D.
San Jose, CA
8/1/2011
I usually go to River Rat, but I went with a large group of friends who decided with The American River Raft Rentals.
Basically the same deal, but crowded and you have to pay to use the air compressor.... which is free the last 4 times i've been to River Rat.
Some of the people working were nice and some were rude.
I'll definitely stick to River Rat. -
Review from Uyen L.
San Jose, CA
11/17/2010
I've been here three times and every time was just as fun as the last. My birthday is in July, so every year I tend to celebrate it here. The drive is kind of draining, but at the end of the day its worth it.
Things to know
-Pay for the damage waiver just in case. Only $2-$5 depending on the raft size.
-Float time is 3-4hrs.
-Parking is $5/per car and shuttle is $4/per person, so save your money and have one person pay for one car while the others park their car somewhere far (free). That way the driver that paid can shuttle the other drivers back. When the float is over all the drivers can go get their car and come back and shuttle everyone home.
-The river is shallow so you can actually go swimming when the current is slow.
Things to bring
-Sunblock
-Sunglasses (bring cheap ones because my friend lost her designers)
-Water guns (the store jacks up the price like crazy)
-Food (bring a cooler and load it up with fruits, ingredients to make sandwiches, etc.)
-Drinks (alcohol is prohibited, but everyone still brings it)
-Water Shoes (the rocks at the bottom of the river hurts your feet; i got mine from target and it was cheap)
Quick tip- I would rate this place a level 1, extremely easy. However, easy also means chill and sometimes you just want to relax.
The price is very very reasonable:
4 Person Raft/$54
6 Person Raft/$80
10 Person Raft/$144
12 Person Raft/$156 -
Review from Zhi Qiang J.
Sacramento, CA
10/15/2011
Amazing.
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Review from Kimi M.
West Sacramento, CA
3/31/2011
Been here a few times now and every time you can expect to have a blast!
Think waterfights with neighboring floaters, tasty beverage guzzling, rope swinging, rock jumping, fun in the sun.
Just be prepared to wait a while in line before and after the floating fun-ness. Can't wait to go again! -
Review from Ellen L.
8/30/2011 6 photos
If I were to rate this place based off my first experience, I would've given it 5 stars. However, a week later I went for a second trip and had a horrible experience after.
I'll start with the good. The workers are super chill and it's very easy to rent the rafts. You bring it down to the river and get situated, and you can bring alcohol too! There's also this little bridge you can jump off of (kind of scary, but glad I tried it!) before you start your journey. We took the easiest level so the whole ride was smooth sailing with occasional bumpy currents. Everyone you meet or pass by are super friendly and it's like a giant outdoor party. The mud wrestling 'island' was an interesting experience, but I definitely would never want in on it haha. I also tried the rope swing on the trees, which is NOT wise to do if you are not sober or do not have upper body strength. I was told multiple times that barely cleared the shore and almost died.. -___- Overall, the trips were always amazing and I had a great time with my friends.
The bad. After my second trip, we went to eat at Oz and I noticed some small white bumps on my shoulder/upper arms. I figured it was from too much exposure to the sun and that it would go away. The next day I woke up, my arms itching like crazy! Still half asleep, I scratched away at my arms and to my horror, when I opened my eyes I saw that the small white bumps had spread down my arms to the tops of my hands!! I tried to stop scratching since it made it worse, and quickly scheduled a doctor's appointment. She informed me that it was common at the American River and that it was caused from 'nettle bushes,' that had an oil-layer that acted similar to poison oak. I didn't even remember going through bushes though. I then noticed that I had the bumps on my thighs but they did not itch...she said, "Ohh...they will." She said it should go away by 2 weeks and just gave me benadryl and hyrdocortizone (which hardly did anything..).
It's been a week and two days and most of the bumps have gone away and are no longer visible. I still get a random itch here or there, but it definitely was not as bad as the first five days. Later, my friend who also got it, said she heard that people get it from the water because it is so dirty... I had a really fun time, but from this experience, I really don't know if I'd want to go back. Having deformed looking arms and legs and itching like no other was NOT fun. I wish they at least gave some kind of warning...Listed in: A Break From the Real World
Comment from Josh S. of American River Raft Rentals 9/4/2011
We have heard very few complaints of "Swimmer's Itch" this… More » -
Review from Aaron G.
7/28/2008 ROTD 10/28/2008
I like adventure.
I like danger.
I like the thrill of a raft moving quickly through the water over rapids and deadly rocks
This has none of that. This is my 2nd consecutive year coming here to rent a raft and slowly float down the American River. Rentals aren't too bad. It's about 20$ per person depending on the raft size you get. With it comes oars and life jackets for every passenger. Anything else you want to have with you is all on you. What did I bring onto the raft with me?
~2 coolers
~ice
~4 12 packs of beer
~6 gatorade bottles of jungle juice
~6 sandwiches
~1 bag of chips
~1 box of cookies
~sunscreen
~sunglasses
~water guns
~a big smile
You would think that the trip consists of laying in the sun, intriguing conversation, and beer. Basically, an awesomely relaxing time. For the most part it can be. However, when you have too much alcohol and restless people, you get:
- spilt beer everywhere
- men erotically rubbing sunscreen all over each other's body
- people falling all over the raft and out of the raft
- water fights with every raft that you come in contact with
- eating soggy river soaked food
- people straddling other's faces
- non stop laughing
- bathing suits breaking
- lost items in the water including expensive sunglasses and flip flops
You may also wonder how we relieve ourselves with all the alcohol we're consuming. Well, the bathroom is literally surrounding you. No need to wait in long lines or search for a restroom, just jump right off, hang onto the raft and let 'er rip. Getting back into the raft is the only difficult part about this process.
In the end, it's not too costly and you can guarantee hours of good fun in the sun, assuming you are with the right people. -
Review from Raquel Y.
9/2/2010 3 photos
SO MUCH FUN!!!
Here's the inside scoop of what you can get if you come here: you can jump off the bridge at the very start of the river (which I HIGHLY recommend you do, the feeling is amazing!) and have an epic water fight battle against other groups, swing on a rope attached to a tree, get a nice tan, drink on the boat with friends, relax, and just have a good time.
This is not like any other river rafting. It's at the lowest level of rapids, level 1, and is only meant to have water fights with other people. Some people come just to water fight. So here are some advice before coming here:
- come when it's hot! I'd say 80s. you'd get burned if you came in the 90s because you're out in the sun for 4-5 hours)
- make sure you have some strong men. You're going to be carrying the raft from the rentals all the way to the river
Bring:
- WATER GUNS (it will not be fun without them! You can buy this at the store, but they will be a bit more expensive)
- Buckets (for combat in close contact - very effective!)
- Umbrellas (for sun and shield against other teams!)
- water shoes (so your slippers don't slip off)
- swimsuit
- SUNBLOCK
- beers
- big coolers (to put beers and food - your whole boat will get soaked so don't bring any electronics unless they are water proof!)
- waterproof bag (to put sunblock, keys, etc)
It really is a fun experience to come with friends. We came with 27 people, had 3 boats, and just had a crazy water fight with everyone. People would team up and go against another boat, you think of strategic ways to fight with them, etc. It's an awesome place and I highly recommend! -
Review from Lenee F.
San Francisco, CA
7/27/2009
This was my first experience on the American River and it was true lazy river rafting. We rented two 6-passenger rafts from American River Raft Rentals and were given four oars, but in actuality we only needed two oars because the river was flat, with the exception of one small 30-second rapid, so minimal paddling was needed.
After we picked up our rafts, we had to haul the them about a fourth mile down to the raft launching area. Too bad our rafts were not already at the launch site but the walk wasn't too far so we survived.
This rafting trip was extremely fun! We packed our lunches (lunch is not included in this excursion) in multiple coolers and tied them into the raft. Additionally we brought water guns so that we could attack other rafts. Note: one should tie the water guns into the raft or they may get lost on the river. We ended up getting attacked with water guns by two rafts but then formed an alliance with them so that we could mob on other unsuspecting rafts and soak them.
We started out with two rafts and at one point were tied to 4 other rafts as we floated down the river! I Have never seen so many people roll around and fall out of rafts in my life. It was hilarious.
There is an island (mud mound) that we stopped at in the middle of the river, where mud wrestling was taking place. The mud wrestling was absolutely entertaining! One girl got her fake nail ripped off! Sick!
There are no guides patrolling the river and life jackets are optional given that the river is so flat. Bring your sunscreen. It was triple digits in the sun, but the water was really cold!
At the end of the rafting trip, there is a large grassy area next to where the shuttle buses pick you up. We all took a brief nap under the trees. It was super relaxing. There are BBQ pits and benches in the grassy area if you want to cook after the rafting trip.
For the raft rentals plus bus ride back to our cars, the total was $19 a person. Super cheap!
If you are looking for a river with rapids try Cache Creek, however, if you are looking to truly lazy river raft, the American River is a good choice.
I will be back!Listed in: Active Life
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Review from Halle T.
San Francisco, CA
6/7/2009
12 rafts + 40 friends + lots of rope = one rockin' day on the American River.
If you're looking for a fun group activity in the sun, this is your place. Here are a few tips:
- Bring water-proof bags for extra clothes
- Don't bring anything you care too much about-- phone, wallet, pet
- Bring snacks and booze in a cooler. And don't litter. -
Review from carlos a.
6/2/2010 4 photos
Cheapest rafting I could find on the American river. Period. Everything else was between $50-$100 per person.
We rented a 12 person raft for $160 and it ended up being less than $20 a person.
For an extra $5 you can get a shuttle from the bottom of the river back to the parking lot.
This particular stretch of the river is very calm. Don't expect any white water class IV rapids. If you want to chill on the river and go for a little swim, this is the place to be. -
Review from Lien T.
San Jose, CA
10/2/2009
Ahh, what a fun-filled experience. Not only was it my first time river rafting, but I actually got the opportunity to go twice this Summer.
Both times I went with a party of about 30+ people so it was nothing but tons of fun. The first time we rented 3 rafts and the second time we rented 4. I would say the huge, sturdy yellow rafts can hold about 10-12 people comfortably. From what I've experienced so far, the more you can pack into one raft, the more fun! The service was quick and friendly and the prices are fair.
Other tips I've gathered:
- If you're going to have to bring your important belongings (cell phones, cameras, keys), remember to double ziploc bag them.
- Don't forget sunblock as the river's currents are very calm so you're essentially going to bake under the sun.
- Drop off a car, preferably a van or SUV that can seat the most number of drivers, at the drop off location so you don't have to take the bus.
- Water shoes is a must as you will more than likely lose your sandals/slippers. They have a store that you can buy them at on site for only about $10.
- Bring rope to tie the rafts together. We didn't need our life jackets so we used our life jackets to tie the rafts together instead.
There are several rest areas along the river, including a cliff where you can climb up a rope to jump off of. At the end of the river there are also grills available for barbecuing.
I left burnt and bruised from all the craziness but I had a blast regardless. If you're looking for a chill/relaxing experience then this is the place to be. -
Review from Hunter G.
Davis, CA
8/19/2008
It started out on a Fourth of July. If you like rafting down the river with 10,000 drunk kids in a constant water fight then the Fourth is the best time to go. If you like helicopters flying over head and the Coast Guard and Sheriff's Office patrolling the water then the Fourth is the best time to go. If you like mud wrestling on "Temptation Island" where drunk guys push girls into the pit and hope that someone's top comes off then the Fourth is the best time to go. If you're OK with a few people dying in the river because of some drunken accident, guess when a good time to go is?
We don't go down the river on the Fourth anymore. We just went in the middle of August for my sister's birthday. There were only a few rowdy's splashing water and my mom stopped that real quick. We probably drank more beer than anyone else on the river and to my knowledge no one died. I spent a good portion of the time actually IN the water along side of the raft because the weather was great and the water was nice.
It's about a four hour trip if you stop and have lunch along the way. You can get by with a minimum of paddling and just let the current take you if you want. There's a shuttle back to the parking lot for $2 and a nice grassy area at the end where you can BBQ if you're not exhausted from being in the sun all day and drinking beer. If you plan on going on a Saturday (or the Fourth) it's best to make a reservation and a 6-8 person raft comfortably seats four people with room for about two good sized-coolers. -
Review from Eugene N.
9/24/2010
Some friends took me here for my birthday. It was great. This was my first experience and it was a great one.
There are somethings that needs to be pointed out. The part of the river you go on is EXTREMELY CALM. No matter what you see/hear/read, this is more of a CLASS 1. There are MANY parts where you can jump out and swim.
The Rental place has different size rafts. We got the one that holds 6. It was a self bailer, which means you have to drain the water yourself. But since this run of the river is calm you don't need to worry too much.
The entire excursion takes about 3-4 hours, that is with stopping, swimming, getting back on, etc. If you don't do any of those and just run the river straight, it will be significantly faster.
The raft is already inflated, you just have to walk it to the river. This part is a TEAM effort. Once you are finished, you will need to have either parked an extra car at the end to take you back, or pay for shuttle bus transport.
A LOT of people had alcoholic beverages. Although there are signs that says it is prohibited on the river, lets just say, you shouldn't worry unless "you're dumb, you really dumb.. forreal" - antoine dodson.
The only problem by the end of the trip, if you were looking for more adventure, is that this part of the river is too easy. Again it's a CLASS 1.
However ANYTHING MORE THAN CLASS 1, is RARE to have a RENTAL ONLY place, similar to the AR Raft Rentals. I guess people are scared to do class 3+ by themselves. You can easily find many of the guided trips.
**YELP TIP** Well here is the only other one that you can rent for the more aggressive parts of the river. See how rare people do it, only 1 review..
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
There is one other one, but it sucked they were asking so much just for rental, might as well do the guided one at that cost, thus why I didn't even bother to note it.
**YELP TIP** -
Review from Zu W.
San Francisco, CA
7/19/2010
I went rafting this weekend and I had a BLAST!
Essentials:
Swimsuit
sandals
beer (in cans)
water gun
sunblock
friends.
It was so chill, sit on a raft for 3-4 hours drinking, meeting other groups, swimming, eating, water wars. Whatever you want.
Seriously you have to go here to get what i'm talking about. -
Review from Jennifer K.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2011
Went rafting down the river with friends over the summer and had a really great time. It was cheap, the weather was sunny and we had a great time.
Too bad it was a holiday weekend so the police were patrolling and had prohibited booze on the river. Yes, they do take those restrictions seriously. Don't even think about trying to bring booze with you, as they will search your coolers.
It's more floating down the river than rafting, but it's relaxing. I would have been more relaxing with beer/booze.
PS- there is a shuttle that will take you back to the rental place for like $10/head, so don't forget to buy tickets or park a car so you can shuttle back and forth at the end. -
Review from Susan Y.
8/4/2008
A-OK.
Good place to go once in a while to chill with good company. If you go with people you don't like, well then you'll have a horrible time, because there's no excitement from the river.
Basically, it's like going to the beach, except you're on a raft on a river and there's no sand. It's a good place to tan, but for sure wear sunblock and reapply like 5 times or you'll be hurting.
The girls in our group wanted to all go in one boat. However, floating down as eight Asian girls in a raft, we heard lots of derogatory remarks from so many passer byers.
1. We are not so helpless that we need men to row for us
2. We are not some exotic dragon ladies there to give your husband a show, you nasty lady!
3. We are not a bunch of foreign exchange students
Moving on, at the end, there's a place to drop off your raft so they can take the raft and stuff back to the beginning. The workers there were really unhelpful though. After dragging our raft to the shore and looking for where to put it, you'd think the workers just chilling in the shade would take the initiative to let you know what to do, but no. They weren't on the really friendly side either.
Anyway, there's a picnic area near by that's good to eat and play in the field. Then to go back, you have to wait for the shuttle and take a 30 min ride to the parking lot.. or you send some people to do this and drive the cars back to the parking lot near by.
Nonetheless, good place to have a relaxing good time with friends, next time we want to try the harder level courses.
Oh but if you do come here, don't forget your water guns, or you'll be attacked without anything to fight back with! -
Review from Deanna w.
Castro Valley, CA
10/4/2011
I did not try the River Rafting BUT was going to after we ventured down to the river to see the space, did go down to the river and parked my vehicle on Bridge Street, not in parking lot, thinking I will save the parking fee of $5, bad mistake! My vehicle was broken into within 25 minutes of me exiting the car. My purse was stolen. I called the river raft place to inform them, they were gracious and helpful as much as they could be. This is merely and warning for those who go here. I am from out of town, this is a very unfortunate thing. Hoping this review will help anyone..Advice: PARK in the American River Raft Parking lot! Pay the $5!!!
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Review from jackieyacki e.
San Jose, CA
7/12/2009
No hassle raft rentals.
We returned the rafts filled with a dirty mixture of river water, beer, smooshed chips, broken cigarettes, and other miscellaneous debris with no problem.
What happens at the end of the day when big groups of people are waiting for their ride, drunk, and no longer in happy party mode? They get rowdy and wanna get in fights. Be prepared to yell out shit like: was that mother fucker talking bout me? and repeat phrases like: I will fuck him up!
I forgot to pick up my ID, so I called and asked if I can send a self-addressed stamped envelope and have them send it back. They said they'll just send it, which is totally cool of them. -
Review from audrey, after hepburn ..
San Francisco, CA
7/24/2007
As spiff e. says below, it's the river you're there for & NOT the "rafting". The portion of the river where American River Raft Rentals is located isn't for the white water, dare devil, adventurous type. Let's say it's a class 1, or even a class 0 if that class exists. Bring your cooler stocked with alcoholic beverages (only allowed on NON-holiday weekends) a lunch and all your friends. There are several locations for you to stop over to ambush other rafters with yes, water canons, cliffs for you to jump off of, a rope swing for you to let out the Tarzan in you & small shores for you to relax and just enjoy the sun.
I recommend NOT using the paddles provided with your raft rental, unless you're trying to make a pit stop at one of the shores. Float time to the designated ending is 3-4 hrs. If you paddle, your trip could be over in less than 1. If you've got your entire posse with you (the more the merrier) bring rope or bungee cords to tie your rafts together. Also make sure you rent a raft that is equipped for more people than planned to be riding in the raft. You need space to stretch out. Plus, where do you plan on putting all that beer? -
Review from janette m.
Sacramento, CA
8/25/2008
Notes to self and others: Be sure to have help putting sunscreen on all of back so as to avoid scorching sun burn. And remember to reapply sunscreen after getting wet. And don't overpack the ice chest because the initial walk down to the river is a mighty long one when carrying a heavy ice chest!
Overall, a fun, relaxing time, though... The whole trip from Sunrise to River Bend Park took about 3 hours. We parked our car at River Bend Park then carpooled up to Sunrise with our friends so we didn't have to take the shuttle back. The hardest part of the whole trip was carrying the raft down the long path to the river-- all the handles were split in 2 so it made it challenging. But once in the water, it was smooth sailing. The rapids are not hectic at all and only one time did water slosh into our raft.
Didn't see any water fights or water guns... the crowds were very mellow.
We rented a 10 person raft for 7 of us and had plenty of room for all our gear.
1 star off for the long walk to the river and the broken handles. Other than that (and the sunburn I now have due to my lame sunscreen application or lack there-of), a fantabulous day! I definitely want to patake in the experience again and plan to be better prepared. -
Review from Paige L.
San Jose, CA
8/2/2010
Went rafting yesterday and had a super great time! Our group was pretty big so we rented two large rafts. They give you 3 paddles and a bunch of life jackets per raft.
If you are planning a trip here are some things that will make the day more enjoyable:
- Lots of water guns
- Water shoes
- Swimsuit (even if you don't bring water guns...other groups will! and you are at their mercy!)
- Sunblock ( you're going to be in the sun for a good 4-5 hours straight)
- Bug spray ( there are sooo many mosquitoes out there)
- Food and drinks (you will get hungry)
- Trash bags ( for the food you eat. Lets be green and not litter!)
The way it work is you drive out to the rental area. Rent the rafts, and walk the rafts down to the river. From there on out, its all relaxation and fun. Groups of all kinds will attack you with water guns so be prepared to get them back!. The river runs pretty slowly and there are various points where you can stop and rest on the side. If you are going in a large group like I did, and have multiple rafts, the rafts can be tied together with the life vests. At the end of the route, you pull off to the side and the rental place picks you up and take you back to the beginning. They charge $5 per person so I recommend sending one person to pick up the car and driving back to get the rest of the group.
Overall, the experience was awesome! Lots of fun times with good people. This experience is as fun as you make it! They also have kayak rentals as well =) Check it out before summer ends! -
Review from Kes D.
8/7/2009
Staff were kinda grumpy, prices aren't really that cheap. Go here if you want to have a party-style rafting expedition down the American River, not if you want a peaceful weekend. Make sure to bring some booze, but please don't get too drunk otherwise you'll end up like this guy some folks had to drag out of the river because he fell asleep.... :O
Pack anything important in ziploc bags and make sure you secure it to your raft. Make sure you pull off the river and stop to go swimming in the freezing water or to have a picnic somewhere to get your money's worth. Fun? I think it depends on who you go with-- I had plenty of fun. :)
They get bonus points for having an awesome acronym for any water-based activity group: "ARRR"! -
Review from brian j.
San Francisco, CA
7/21/2008
Fun for all involved,
Float your cares away downstream,
A-holes with squirt guns. -
Review from Jennifer N.
Roseville, CA
6/3/2010
I went rafting July 4th weekend last year.
SUPER FUN IN THE SUN!
We rented two rafts and it came out to be maybe $20/person for 10-12 people. We were able to bring our own coolers, food, and drinks (NO ALCOHOL). People also brought water guns and shoot at each other, which makes the whole trip even better! :)
EVERYTHING GETS WET!! So put all your valuables in a waterproof container.
It's an all day trip down the river. I'm going to plan another trip this summer again. I can't wait until the weather gets super hot again. I think the best time to go is when it's 100+ degrees outside because the water isn't super cold.
P.S. ALWAYS WEAR SUNSCREEN & A LIFE JACKET! *SAFETY FIRST* ^_~
See you there July 4th weekend!! -
Review from Quang T.
8/25/2010
Went twice this Summer 2010. Each time was super. Great way to spend some time in the sun. Raft rentals comes out to be about $20 per person. Its Class I so there are not many rapids (two at most). Its really just a 3-4 hour float. Bring your water guns, a lot of sun block, and stock the cooler full of beer (cans only bottles are not allowed on the river). There are many places to stop along the river for lunch or simply enjoy the view. Best to go with a big group and tie the rafts together. Beware of being ambushed during your float and always keep your water guns (i.e. stream machine) fully locked and loaded ready for war.
Price = about $20 or less per person
Shuttle Ride = $4
Parking = $5 -
Review from Hiromi N.
San Francisco, CA
8/19/2008
Holy crap, carrying the beer coolers, snacks and the rafts to the river from the rental station start point seemed like a Herculean feat. Luckily, I had 7 guys with me. 6 out of the 7 are some of the hottest gay men that I know and love....
Some words to describe our experience:
Water guns
paddles (why won't the boats row or steer themselves?)
3 small rapids
beer, beer, Jack Daniels beverage thingy, more beer, a smirnoff ice and another beer...
A large rolling cooler will fit in a 4 person boat
Don't swim in that water, people PEE in that water...oh and geese and ducks like to take a dump in the water...
Cliff jumping
Water fights with random people
Joining a floating cannubis club
Did I mention the hot gay men that I was with and the beer?
Oh yeah, and my sexually secure boyfriend tagged along for the ride.
I'd show you pictures, but then I'd have to shoot you.
Total floating time - 4 hours, but that was mostly b/c we stopped to cliff jump and we were DRUNK
I know, I know drinking and water don't mix...
Prices:
4 Person Raft $48.00 $2.00 (damage waiver)
6 Person Raft $72.00 $2.00 (damage waiver)
10 Person Raft $132.00 $5.00 (damage waiver)
12 Person Raft $144.00 $5.00 (damage waiver)Listed in: For Fairy Princesses
-
Review from Manjit Z.
8/17/2010
I'm reviewing the actual rental place and that's why I'm giving it 3 stars, if I were to review the river itself, it deserves 5 stars, but this is a review for the rental place so here goes.
Please be warned I am comparing this rental experience to the rental experience I go through every year when we go down the Stanislaus River. First, parking is $5 in their tiny lot so get there early. We got the 6 man raft, we got 4 paddles and a bunch of gross life vests. The life vests never went on anyone. So we get the raft and have to trek all our stuff and the raft down to the river. At the Stanislaus River, they have all the rafts right at the river so all you have to do is load and push your raft in and they even help you with that!
Once we got into the water we realize that our raft seems to be underinflated, either that or we got the gangster low rider raft, not fun!
The drop off point was pretty disorganized as well, maybe the people who run this place should go down to the Stanislaus River and take some hints from them.
As for the river itself....AWESOME!!! It's a river, you're with friends you like, hopefully, and people who start water gun fights. Bring sunscreen, food, drinks and bug spray, wish I would've thought of bug spray. Have a dry bag and a garbage bag.
Note to people who have never been rafting, don't bring a stroller and your video camera, your camera will get wet and a stroller....really??? Yes I was witness to a family who did that. In conclusion, if you are going to rent your raft be prepared for crappy service, but don't let it ruin your day, the river (if you let it) will make things good again! -
Review from Niek S.
8/9/2010
It's a nice 2,5 hour float down the American River. It is so slow you do not have to worry about anything. I have done this a couple of times, and here are some tips:
TIPS:
- Bring sunscreen.
- Park 1 car down at the exit (river bend park) so you don't have to pay or wait for the shuttle to take you back, which can take a long time.
- Bring some beers! This is totally legal, if it is not in a glass container. Alcohol is not allowed on holiday weekends.
- Get there around 10 or earlier, because it can get real busy. Reservations are hassle free, and will be valid until 11 a.m. -
Review from Autumn B.
San Francisco, CA
9/25/2010
We go back and forth with this place and the place on the other side of Sunrise. There isn't really a difference in the experience other than where you get off at the end. American River Raft Rentals ends at River Bend Park (formerly Goethe Park).
Today was a good experience - we all had a blast... but when we returned our raft the guy loading was incredibly grumpy - rude even.
Given, I am sure he talks to a lot of drunken idiots at the end of their float... but customer service is important, even at the end of summer.
The bus driver was exceptionally nice and went above and beyond to make sure everyone's ride was accounted for. -
Review from Kat H.
Garden Valley, CA
8/20/2011
Why rent there's when you can do it urself? buy a $70 raft from costco or sams and you will have it all year plus. we drop everything off at the begining and leave a few ppl to get the rafts pumped up and ready. then everyone else go all the way down and parks the cars at the end of the river. we then pile everyone up in the van and drive back to our fellow floaters who have hopefully got all the rafts down by the water and fully loaded by the time we get back. The we r off for our 4-5 hour trip. It's $5 per car to park so it's best to use the cras with the most seats and carpool. we have had our rafts for over 5 years. the only part we have to replace is the plugs to them since someone never remembers where they put them. It is way worth it to do it yourself. atleast on this part of the river.
Don't forget the sunsceen,squirt guns(we make 4 of our own out of pvc pipes for under $25 altogether) booze and beads! And Party Safe! -
Review from David C.
Sunnyvale, CA
8/25/2008
I've been doing this for the last few years and either the river is getting more shallow, or I've been going at bad times.
Another thing is, when they say, get there on time for your reservation - they -do- mean it! Don't ask me how I know... (o.o);;; -
Review from Rachel M.
6/27/2010
I went rafting along this river with my sister and a few of her friends during the summer and it was SO MUCH fun.
A word to the wise - bring water balloons or a powerful water gun. And if you happen to pass other rafts consisting of large groups with either of these things, DON'T egg them on unless you want a full out water war. We learned this. We passed by a large group of people and my sister yelled (jokingly), "You better not shoot us, you bastards!!!" Next thing we knew, water was flying all over the place from the obviously drunk assailants. But it was fun anyways!
And the water does get a little choppy in some spots but that adds to the fun. As long as you use your oars accordingly, you'll be okay.
The scenery is beautiful and the entire experience is relaxing. The more people you go rafting with, the more fun it is! I definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys fun outdoor activity or just wants to have a little fun! -
Review from Kat M.
Sacramento, CA
8/11/2008
Had a great time, people for the most part stayed friendly and playfull all along, and if you don't want to get it wet leave it on shore cuz even though its a lazy river ride most of the way, it has its bumps, and EVERYTHING will get wet.
Yesterdays loss count: 2 or three shirts, a pair of shorts, 2 shoes, a few pairs of sunglasses, 4-6 packs of waterlogged cigarettes, One rear auto glass window. (Not parked safely in the parking lot, but down the road further) Our sandwiches, some full beers, 3 cans of pringles, some very pale skin, a few brain cells, some of our sanity, and possibly a relationship or two. But that's the way we roll. It was still a blast, and I'll do it again as soon as I can !
For like $16 bucks a piece, including a ride back to the cars. (Parked safely for $4 bucks a piece.) Not a bad deal at all.
Have fun, and BE SAFE! -
Review from Jenn L.
San Jose, CA
8/4/2010
Went here last Sunday and we had 2 10-Man rafts @ $144 each plus $4/person for the shuttle.. everything came out to be around $460 for about 20 people so it was not bad at all. We had a blast! We were prepared with the works.. water shoes, water cameras, food/drinks/beer, coolers.. you name it, we probably had it! hahha... The weather couldn't have been more perfect. Will definitely be back again..
Also forgot to mention to hold onto your valuables and keep your phone in the car! LOL.. stupid me had to bring my iPhone and digital camera and my Dior sunglasses... Needless to say, the iPhone no longer worked no matter how hard i tried, the camera won't power on, and I lost the sunglasses to the waves..
Oh well! lol.. gotta be smarter next time.
