My third time rafting, but my first time with H2O and also my favorite! There are many choices for rafting on the American River and H2O was noticeably one of the smaller companies. But I had the best time rafting with this company mainly because of our guides! Cons: - smaller company = smaller operation. They use multiple vans for transport instead of a large school bus. The previous time I went rafting, we were able to purchase pictures directly through the company. H2O will direct you to where you can buy them from a third party vendor instead. That's pretty much it for cons. Now, positives! + Rafting equipment is in great shape + Smaller operation also means more attentive customer service and engagement + free cold water bottles and homemade brownies. Small touch but HUGE impact when you're starving after rafting. + The guides!!! 5 stars for Zara and Bronson! Our family of 12 split into two rafts with Zara and Bronson. They were funny, outgoing, and engaging. I think the highlight of our trip was when our guides proposed that we stack our rafts and "airplane" the last few rapids. This was THE best idea! Not only was the experience super fun and unique, but it also allowed our entire family of 12 to be in the same picture. You could probably choose another rafting company and your rafting experience will be just fine. Or you can go with H2O, let go and leave it up to folks like Zara and Bronson, and make lifetime memories with your family and friends! Thank you so much for an awesome experience. Can't wait to come back to tackle Middle Fork! read more

H2O Adventures - If you didn't know, now you know! #airplanesuccess - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

See all

Devin, our guide, was a badass boss. Super knowledgeable, funny, clear communication, and patient. We lucked out because of Western States race and no other companies runnning the river except H20. So we had the middle fork all to ourselves. Good wildlife, fun cliff jumping, and got to swim some rapids (some by choice and some not). Will be an annual tradition for my son and me, and will always use H20 with special request for Devin. Solid company with solid guides and solid gear. read more

Best whitewater rafting experience we could have possibly asked for. Our guide was Ben and while everyone was awesome and attentive our guide was especially great. One member of our group doesn't know how to swim and Ben did everything possible to make them and all of us feel safe and enjoy every rapid. From the moment we jumped on the bus to start to the brownies at the end I have zero complaints. Thank you Ben and H2O for making this such a great experience and leaving us with wanting more! We will definitely be coming back! read more

Your hearts racing. The adrenaline is pumping and every part of your body is awakened. This rafting trip was definitely unforgettable. Our guide Brons definitely made our rafting trip memorable. He was funny , engaging , and a wonderful raft guide who gave great direction when needed. Our whole group had a blast and we were having so much fun throughout the whole day . Although rafting has its upside, there's always the downside of the dangers of rafting . The day started at the parking lot where we then got transported on a shuttle to our destination. From there we put on PFD's ( personal flotation device ) and helmets . We were then given a safety talk by one of the guides and it was hilarious yet informative. It definitely wasn't boring. It was informative yet comedic and is something you want to pay attention to since the river can be dangerous . After the safety talk we were broken into groups . We had a large group so they split us ; 6 on one boat and the remainder 4 on another boat. Since we only had 4 people My bf sat in front left , me in the back of him and two of the others on opposite sides. From there Brons taught us how to paddle and then we were off to the river. This was my very first time white water rafting and I was super excited. Our boat was called " The Mermaid Hunters "! We were definitely the craziest / loudest ones there. We were having the time of our lives . We got to the level 2 rapids and were trying to ride the "wave". All I remember was paddling hard and next thing I know the boat goes up in the air in slow motion and the bf and I flip out . It all happened so fast but they managed to bring us back right away and I got that adrenaline rush. It's definitely exciting / scary all at the same time. After a while of being on the river for a couple of hours we headed back for lunch. We definitely worked up an appetite and they had a buffet of "build your own sandwiches " . They had various breads , cheeses , meats, toppings and sauces for the sandwiches, and I loved how they had a lot of avocados . Yes !! There was also chips and fruits. After lunch we went back on the river. I loved how Brons was so down to earth . We were having tons of fun and interacting with the other rafts and wetting each other. It felt nice too since it was like 97 degrees that day . At some points when the river was calm we all jumped into the water . It was so cool and the views were breathtaking. They also stopped at two different places to jump off cliffs. I decided to opt out since my form is always bad and I end up landing the wrong way . Next up was the level 3 rapids , and we were ready . Brons was telling us that we all had to work and paddle in unison for the level 3 rapids. The current was a lot stronger and they had emergency swimmers just in case anyone fell out. We got to the Son's of Cesspool and the water looked enormous as we were rafting through. The water was splashing in our faces but we managed to make it through. The last rapid we went through was called "hospital bar". At that point we were all pumped and ready to tackle on the last rapid . "Paddle " ! Brons commanded, and we all dug deep into the water with our oars , as the water splashed in our faces . The waves were choppy and as I paddled into the water the next thing I know there was a big wave of water that rushed to the side of the raft and it tipped to the right throwing me off. It happened so quickly . At that point my heart was racing, as I submerged in the water. I was just thinking omg did I really just fall out .I was scared and I could feel the water pushing me quickly in the river. Then bam .. the shin of my leg slammed into a rock and at that point the adrenaline went in full effect. I was just thinking please please don't hit another rock. As fear began to set it , my mind went into survival mode as I remembered " lie back and stick your foot out " . I went into that position as the water pushed me a little further down . Then I heard Brons yell , " swim to me "! He stuck out his oar and I quickly swam to it. I grabbed on to the handle as he pushed me closer to the boat . I quickly grabbed the side of the boat praying I didn't hit another rock . Luckily he grabbed me by the Pfd and pulled me in . At that point I can see a deep gash in my leg and blood was gushing out . Sigh of relief . I was back in the boat . Luckily, after that rapid all the boats got together and were all conjoined to be pulled out by a jet ski to head back. What a day! Although it was unfortunate I hurt my leg during the rafting trip I don't regret going . I'm very aware of the dangers of river rafting and that's why it's important to listen and follow directions from your rafting guide. H20 is a great company and I'm glad we booked our rafting trip with them . Brons, you are the man ! Thanks for a wonderful time and keep doing what you're doing ! Other than that, this rafting trip was truly an unforgettable experience. read more

H2O Adventures - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

We went rafting last Saturday and it was AMAZING! We did south fork which is a level 2-3 since we had a few people that never rafted before... And they did not want to anything "crazy". We did a half day adventure. Arrived just before 12:30 to get checked in and change. Around 12:45 or a bit later we suited up in our life jackets and helmets, then waited for orientation to begin. After the orientation we got separated into groups, and since we had six in our group already we were told to go to raft with Anna, she would be our guide. I think all guides were awesome, friendly and they looked out for each other... It was great to see the communication and camaraderie amongst all the guides. Our guide was The best in my book! She was so cool she gave options if we wanted to "surf" or just chill at some parts. She may be tiny but she sure is mighty. Her personality, vast knowledge and passion for rafting is absolutely contagious! We are planning to go again next month.. And we are hoping Anna is will be available to guide again... This time we will be heading for Middle Fork. I'm so excited! read more

See all

Oh man, where do I start. My boyfriend discovered this rafting company in 2017 and he's been going ever since to them. My boyfriend had me go June 8th this year for North fork of the American and I'm not one for things like this outdoor type stuff but the atmosphere, especially our guide, Nate and Steve was so awesome that I asked my boyfriend to let us go again. We camped Wednesday and that was so fun with easy access to their bathroom with showers and clean setup with hot water, you just gotta wait a few seconds to let it warm up. Thursday we met up for rafting, it was so fun, our guides were so funny, informative and told us stories. We got to learn the history of the place that we rafted during the trip, we were given a lunch, good sandwiches, chips, fruits, cookies, juices, coffee and was always asked if we wanted anything or needed anything. They also provided life jackets, helmets, wetsuit, fleece and water booties to stay warm. They were so attentive to our needs even when we didn't ask. Our guides, Nate and Steve were so great that we booked and requested for the same guides again. If the guides we had were this great, I can only imagine the rest of their crew. My boyfriend been going for so long with them and I'm so grateful for him taking me to experience the outdoors, especially with this company. I think to experience something like this, with friends, family and this company to make the experience so wonderful deserves everyone to try them out. They're so amazing that we booked twice in one month and on our way soon for round two for me this month. (June 2023) I would recommend this place to anyone who are beginners as well, they have a class 3 that I was told about too. I just want to go every week now. Hope you all enjoy them as much as we did, thank you Nate and Steve for this experience! North fork of the Yuba here we come!!!!!! read more

H2O Adventures - White Water Rafting with h2oadventures - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

Did the 21-mile rafting trip over July 4th weekend! We had so much fun with everyone there -- from the arrival check-in to the bus drive to the gear set up, and lunch, every staff member was so personable and we felt so welcomed! Shoutout to our guide Trevor for navigating us and being such a professional at this sport!!! He put in extra work so that we could all have more fun and even got us to paddle backward so we could hit a wave again! Special shout out to the trainee, Lexi, for bringing so much energy and pushing us to do more risky and fun things, and leading by example! read more

Our river guide Marina was amazing in all respects. I grew up in Placerville and have enjoyed the American River for many years. The rafting company H20 was first rate. The free wetsuits and excellent gear made all of the difference. I recomend renting the yurt tents as lugging camping gear from the parking lost to the campsite was not ideal. The owners are gracious and do care about the river and provding the customers with the best possible experence. read more

What a great time! Blake was our rafting guide and we were lucky to have him. He brought awesome raft guide energy and made the whole day really fun. We did South Fork and stayed at the campsite, which was really clean and had a lot of amenities and was great for big groups. Highly recommend read more

Frigid water temps, Offset by warm-hearted guide. What's that ahead? Splash!!! read more

Great bunch of guides. Went 2x this summer with H2O and each was fabulous. Fun guides with a great attitude. Went with a boat of septuagenarians the first time and the guide adapted to ensure the thrill level was appropriate. read more

Today my sons and I did the Lower Fork with Zara as our guide. Prior to our trip, Fianna made sure we were properly taken care of and prepared. Amazing customer service. We arrived early and could not have been greeted better. At least 4 separate staff checked on us and made us feel special and took our temps for the whole Covid check. Once on the water, Zara led us on an incredible journey. She is smart, funny, strong and easy going. She combined fun with safety and appreciation for our surroundings. She even took extra pictures. Zara was F'ing awesome. Along the journey, Zara encouraged us to explore the water. I'm not a small guy and needed help getting back in the raft. Zara pulled me in easily. This young lady is yoked. She also allowed us to jump off a 15ft rock. We were hesitant but her encouragement was perfect. What a rush! At one point, my 11 year old fell in at one of the rapids. Zara handled it like a total pro. He was scared but has not stopped talking about her since we returned. Pretty sure he has a crush. Lol At the end of the run, Tyler drove us back to our car after hooking us up with some amazing brownies. Talking to him was the perfect ending to the day as I could sense the passion and joy he has for his buisness. Thank you H2O. I will be back. read more

Went this weekend with a group of 15 people. We had such a great experience. Fiana helped us out when we first arrived and she was super accommodating. Our camp host, Devin, was super sweet; he led us in a group stretch for fun before our white water rafting. Keegan made the experience for me, being a first timer at white water rafting, very enjoyable. He was very interactive, talked to us, and had a great sense of humor. GREAT JOB KEEGAN! I mosdef recommend him as your guide. I will be back for another awesome adventure with friends. read more

My BFF and I came for a great day of rafting. She had never tried rafting with actual rapids before and got bounced out for a swim a couple times. We were so lucky to have gotten Marina for our guide! She was hilarious, knowledgable, and kept everyone safe. Marina was great with my friend as getting bounced into a rapid can be quite a ride. She encouraged her and supported her. I can not imagine her strength and stamina for being out in the sun all day and using all those muscles day after day. She is a rockstar! I chose this company due to the reviews and for it being a smaller company. It was all true. The company makes sure the rafts stay near one another for safety, the river can have a mind of her own at any time. Also you can plainly see what a great family the guides are all to one another; they tease and torment each other like siblings but also have one another's backs. They let you "ride the bull" or the front of the boat through a few rapids when possible and also let you know when you can relax and stretch out or swim. After you are through, Tyler, the owner of the company comes on a jets and pulls the whole pack of boats like a train to the beach to get them out. The bus meets you near the bathrooms with cold water and warm brownies! Before getting into our car to leave I took our tip to Marina and she wanted to come make sure my bff knew how great she did for her first time. She was kind, hugged us and told us she would love to take us again anytime. I was appalled that a pair from our boat who not only didn't listen to instructions, but got in their car and didn't even consider tipping. These guides are great people who work hard and those tips really help them get through the summer, especially after the pandemic shutting everything down. Give Marina a shot, you will have a great day!! read more

We had the most amazing time with H2O Adventures!!! It is a wonderful experience and we would no doubt go again. Thank you so much to all of you helping us have a great experience. A special thanks to Blake, Devon and Tyler. Blake thank you for singing us your great raft songs and having so much fun with us! Also thank you for pointing out all those cool rocks. You are a very skilled raft guide and probably the best. This is the perfect emoji that represents you Blake . Don't worry Devon I am sure you where amazing too). Devon, thank you for helping us with getting our gear on, showing us all those amazing birds, and well of course going over the very important instructions and rules. By the way Devon we completely demolished splashing your team and you know it is true. Tyler thank you for getting all our gear and helping us put it on. You and so kind and awesome. Don't worry next time I will fall asleep in the van and you will earn your well deserved 10 bucks. And you better thank your mom for those extremely extraordinary brownies. Now those gold stars we talked about. Gold stars to Blake, Devon and Tyler. I hope you find out what those gold stars do. I am sure all the other raft guides deserve gold stars too. Blake thank you for making our trip so spicy. We can't wait to come again. This was by far the most fun ever and the highlight of our vacation. Yay WHITE WATER RAFTING!!! From Amelia and the Garcia family. read more

H2O Adventures - Go white water rafting!!! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

We had the best time on our rafting trip. We can't wait to do it again! H20 was very organized and the staff was so nice and just amazing. We had a great time with our guide, Blake, who described the whole route as we went along. We felt very comfortable with him. We'll definitely be back soon. read more

H2O Adventures - Heading in. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

Thanks H20 for an amazing day! Bronson was a super cool dude. He put all of us at ease, was fun and make everyone relaxed. 10/10 would go with him again!!! read more

H2O Adventures - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

When your rafting guide shows up in a tiger wet suit, you know you're gonna have a fun time! It was our 1st time white water rafting & Lindsay T. was the perfect guide! My three friends & I booked the 1/2 Day South Fork American River tour, and Lindsay rounded us out for an all-girls crew. AMAZING experience! We got soaked in the rapids, swam during downtimes, and marvelled at the natural scenery. Wished we had brought a GoPro to capture the excitement of it all! H2O Adventures runs a fun & safe operation, and we felt well taken care of. The homemade brownies at the end of our trip was a nice touch too! We will definitely book thru H2O Adventures for our next white water tour and are looking forward to rafting with Lindsay again! read more

Small business and they do it right. They have excellent safety practices: temperature checks before loading into the bus, masks enforced for all in the large spacious bus that seats about 60 but only carried 15, hand sanitizer at the ready. I've rafted twice with H2O and they are experienced and very kind folks who know how to provide a fun, safe and exciting trip. Both trips were half day South Fork American River. We had Lyndsey and she was wonderful. She educated us about the surroundings and shared stories while turning us into a very coordinated crew. I highly recommend this adventure. Warning: River Rafting is addictive. Enjoy! read more

H2O Adventures - Their campground is lovely for a picnic stop - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

Short story: Pick this company! Long Story: We did the 21 mile with Jeremy and wow! 1st of all, Jeremy is an exceptional person and guide. We had a blast. The camp site is perfect as well. All the guides and boats float together to help keep everyone safe. It really is as much fun as the reviews say! And even more so safe! I never once fear for a second trusted Jeremy to keep us safe. From the moment we got in the van to our night karaoke session Jeremy felt like a long time friend. From sharing dad jokes, quoting Will Farrel to keeping us safe all day we will definitely be requesting Jeremy for our next trip. At the beginning of trip a private, unguided, inexperienced group of rafters attempted to make the trip. Before the private boat hit a rock and stuck it, Jeremy called it. Witnessing the stranding rafters, we pulled to the side of the river and Jeremy quickly rushed to assist them. He quickly noted people die on the river and we must help others in need. And we all completely agreed took us an hour to help these people and we would do it again in a heart beat. Even with rescuing 5 people we had a complete blast! Dave the camp site manager was a great camp host. We also got to chat with some of the other guides, like Tyler who is RAD. Ethan even helped pull me out of the water. We will be back! Cheers. read more

We just had a full day rafting trip down the middle fork with H2O. This is the perfect trip if you want to have some chills, so much fun, so many rapids. The whole process from booking till the end of the trip was extremely well handled and organized. Employees are super nice, everything runs smoothly, provided lunch was actually a great lunch full of healthy choices not your mediocre hot dog like other big companies provide. At every step we felt very well taken care of. Ann was our guide and this lady is amazing. If you have a choice don't think twice book her. She is extremely experienced and guided us through the rapids very confidently. She is also a very pleasant and witty person, you really enjoy talking to long hours while on a trip. We will definitely come again and already recommended our friends to do so. read more

H2O Adventures - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

I would like to thank H20 Adventures for having such an excellent guide Expert by the Name of ETHAN. Ethan knew every part of the river and explained the different parts and its history. My family had the best experience every with Ethan. My favorite part was the place in the river called Hospital/bar and Frankenstein drinking. Looking forward to going on my next trip with Ethan doing some Class 4 and 5 with some friends. Thanks again Ethan for such an experience. Ethan deserves 10 stars for the RockStar that he is!!!! read more

My friends and family just had a amazing day on the water with H2O adventures! This was the best experience and we couldn't have had a better time with Ben as our guide and all the great people there as well. We will recommend them to everyone we know!! read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our rafting experience in the South Fork :) Nicala was too good We got to experience all the adventures of a rafting trip with an ensured safety read more

H2O Adventures - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

We just did the North Fork of the Yuba River (Maytag), and it was awesome. The staff is so generous. they fed us lunch for free and they tell you to not worry about cleaning up anything. They take care of it all. The rafting guides are fun, personable, and very safe. We had Devin as our tour guide and he was so great. They know how to have fun and know when to be serious. Highly recommend these guys read more

H2O Adventures and our Guide Keegan made sure we were safe, comfortable, and had FUN! I would DEFINITELY recommend their adventures... and this is coming from a first-timer who fell from the raft twice! (I certainly got my money's worth!) All the guides were so friendly with each person and other guides. We even had splash battles with other rafters! Everyone makes sure you have the best time on the water and there's never a dull moment! It's close to the end of the season, but check out their next spring adventures for a guaranteed wonderful time! read more

Our family took a rafting trip on the lower South Fork American - The Gorge. Jeff was our guide and he did a fantastic job. He made sure our kids stayed safe but still gave them a great adventure - they rode the bull, jumped off rocks, and even swam a rapid! We all came off the trip wanting to go again, ready to plan our next trip. Everybody on the staff was friendly and professional. We felt welcome, safe, and prepared for the trip. You could tell the guides all love what they do, and put in the extra effort to make sure everybody had a great experience. read more

We did the full day Middle Fork rafting with Devin as our guide in mid-August. We had an awesome day! Devon took great care of all of us, especially my 74yo non-swimmer mother. He really knows how to read the water currents and kept all of us safe . Devin made the experience so enjoyable for all of us, including both my 74yo mom who wanted some excitement but not too much and my 15yo daughter who loved rafting the exciting class 4 rapids. Devin even took a GoPro video of us going down Tunnel Chute and shared the video with us! He's one of the best rafting guides we've ever had. We hope to raft with H20 Adventures again next summer! read more

If you are looking for an exciting and safe rafting trip. H2O is the company to choose. Our guides navigated us expertly down the river, making sure we were safe and keeping us entertained along the way. we learned a lot about the history and geology of the area. They gave us plenty of crisis training (e.g. what to do if we fall into the river and how to get back to the boat, etc..) there was no point that we felt we are ejected from the boat, just purely splash and fun. EVERYONE had a great time. the lunch was great too. there were enough fruit, beverage, and sandwiches for everyone to enjoy a good meal. The overall experience was excellent. Enough excitement but felt pretty safe. The staff was outstanding. We had to reschedule our trip due to COVID. Fianna went beyond to reschedule for our big group of 18. Great attitude and humor. Their passion for their work is evident and made the experience so enjoyable. we will definitely come back next summer for more Rafting with H2O. read more

Nice surprise at the end, we got popsicles. But I may have spoiled the surprise or ruined it for those who didn't get a treat at the end... For people who are afraid of the river, the south Fork is great for beginners or those who may have had a few before getting in the raft . It's a pandemic, and they are aware and encourage mask use in the raft or are ok with no mask use in your party on the raft. I test regularly and decided to not wear a mask, as did those in my party. They pull the raft over to jump off of rocks, if you're up to it. As I get older, I find that I am afraid of heights... can't be brave unless you're scared . The staff is fun, and safe. Been on many trips and was happy with their setup and energy. Forgot to bring cash for a tip, so I used Venmo... we had tequila shots to end the day, so no rest for the wicked read more

See all

We had a lot of fun for all day rafting! Ben was a great guide and kept us afloat! Thanks for a memorable day! :) read more

See all

David and I got to raft for the whole day with Devin. He was very informative and kept the energy going. They provide a nice lunch with hearty sandwiches and snacks. We definitely had a great time and are already planning our next trip! Would recommend to anyone. read more

Such an amazing experience!! Thanks to our guide Devin. He is the best!! He surely did a great job. He is very thorough and clear on his instructions which really helped us since majority on our boat are first-timers. He also made sure that everyone is safe during the whole activity. We were able to jump out of the raft for a dip in the water and get to experience flowing with the current which was really fun!! I highly recommend this company. They have competent and entertaining guides. read more

See all

You will definitely not be disappointed if you book with H2o Adventures. Our guide Dave was not only very skilled and knowledgeable in navigating the river, but very accommodating to our group. My husband is in his 70's with mobility issues. Dave totally worked with us and guided our raft through the rapids totally safe while at the same time having an extremely fun time! He was very, very personable, kind and fun! He definitely knows his stuff!!! Thanks Dave! If you want to make some great memories for your family, Book with H2o! read more

A great experience overall, we were there on July 16th our guide STEVE was amazing and took great care of us! I was a beginner and the trip provided just the right amount of exhilaration and fun. Highly recommended, especially Steve! read more

Top notch crew, the owner, Tyler, is great and very knowledgeable. Our guides, Pierce and Diego, were exceptional and we flashed the class 4s on the Middle Fork with ease. The H2O camping area in Lotus is spacious and the location is great if you need a night pre/post trip. Note: no power at the campsite (that we could find) so charge your phones elsewhere. read more

We've rafted with 4 different companies over the years and H2O Adventures has provided the best experience so far. Guides Lindsey and Blake made it fun, told some great jokes and provided a safe journey down the river. The reservation process was super easy with Fianna answering all the questions and working out the best plan for our group. The campground and facilities (and buses!) are in great shape, camp is right on the water with lots of parking. The location was easy to find. The equipment was all well cared for and all of the guides were knowledgeable, considerate of the environment and guest safety. The brownies at the end of each day were a nice touch. We can't wait to come back read more

H2O Adventures - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

My family of four (the boys are 12 and 16) rafted the Middle Fork of the American River with Devin last week. It was an amazing day! The rapids, especially Tunnel Chute where we all took an unexpected swim, were legit! Beyond the rapids, we had so much fun swimming, laughing, jumping off a huge rock, and learning about the history of the River. Even lunch was fantastic! The guides were professional, and we always felt safe. What a day! read more

What's life without adventures! Me, my two daughters and 2 friends did the full day middle fork with our guide Trevor who we absolutely loved! The Tunnel Shoot was scary but would we all do it again? You bet we will! Thanks again H2O Adventures and a special shout out to Trevor. You rock! read more

See all

Excellent whitewater experience! The staff are chill & ensure you have a great time and of course keeping you safe. They go the extra mile and would highly recommend! read more