We had an amazing time with H2O adventures. We did the 21 mile trip down south fork of the American River. There were plenty of opportunities to soak in the scenery, be challenged on the rapids, giggle like there's no tomorrow, & make memories to last a life time. read more

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

I had a fantastic day rafting with H2O. This is my third trip down the Middle Fork of the American River. Today's was the best. Devin was our guide, he was great. Knowledgeable about the river, history the area and told great jokes. Always kept calm and guided us through every rapid with ease. The food was generous, certainly better than I've gotten with other companies. I loved that we were a slightly smaller group of two boats, you got to actually meet the other people rafting with you! I will absolutely choose H2O for my future rafting trips! Thank you again Devin for a great day Marti read more

We had the BEST time rafting with H20 Adventures yesterday!! All the guides are incredible - thank you Jeremy, Ethan, Keagan, Blair and Cassidy - you guys are truly the best!! The activity itself was great, but I particularly appreciate our guides taking the time to let us truly enjoy the experience (unlike other bigger companies rushing through the river with their massive league of red boats... very intimidating and rude!!). Our guides truly love what they do (Keagan!!) and that totally comes through and rub off on us. I'd definitely do this again with H20 Adventures again!! (P.s. lunch was yummy - but it might be a good idea to provide paper plates and napkins? Just a suggestion) read more

Excellent full day rafting experience on the upper and lower American River w H2O Adventures!! Our raft guide, Marina, was AWESOME! Very knowledgeable about the history along the river, great coaching throughout, and gave us tons of laughs and adrenaline moments we'll never forget!! Also, the lunch offered well exceeded our expectations!! All the food was fresh with cut fruit and drinks, and had tons of sandwich topping options, including avocado!! We had rafted the "half day" with H2O Adventures a month ago and enjoyed every second, and is what inspired us to do the "full day" this weekend! And so glad we did!!! We won't raft with any other company!! read more

H2O Adventures is a class act! They had everything dialed in and organized. Got us all down the river safely and had so much fun!!!!!!! Thx Keegan, best guide!!!! read more

H2O Adventures - Incredible day with Keegan, BEST RAFTING GUIDE EVER!!! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

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This trip was EPIC! I've done several trips on the American River, and this company and these guides are my favorite of all time. We'll be coming back to them year after year for sure! My friends and I did the 2-day wilderness trip on the American River (middle fork), and it really satisfied our adrenaline itch - intense rapids, cliff jumping, riding the bull, hiking (well, rock scrambling mostly), but also had nice chill moments in between - it was everything we wanted. Plus the food tasted sooooooo good, and camping/picnicking locations were the absolute best on the river. Our guides were unparalleled, and always went the extra mile to make sure we got the best experience. We lucked out with Keegan as our rafting guide; and since he grew up on this river he knew literally everything and everyone out there! You could tell he was having the most fun; his energy and personality were infectious and led to us having the trip of a lifetime. We're going to request him on ALL our California rafting adventures! I especially loved how Keegan and the rest of the crew made an effort to hang out with us and to get to know us as we were getting to know them. It's those personal touches that make this an exceptional company to raft with. One final note: as a plus size woman, I was a little nervous about my ability to keep up, and to get back in the raft if I fell (or jumped) out! But the raft guides all encouraged me, and took extra time to help me do all the things I wanted. And YES they could get me back in the boat! read more

Brandon was a fantastic guide! we had soooo much fun during our full day rafting in the Class 3-5 Middle Fork part of the American river, we covered 17 miles! We stopped at a rock to do a free fall in the water from 30 feet above, the very first level 5 rapid near the Tunnel was amazing! We survived and rescued a couple of others, I highly recommend the going-along with the rapids towards the end of the trip, you get to go with the flow and the experience is awesome! Lunch was a very nice spread of wraps, fruits, cookies, etc. Overall it was a great experience and I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a day's worth of adventure! read more

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

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Great company, the guides are awesome and are funny. I have been twice so far and plan to go many more times. Choose H20

Staff was very friendly & helpful! You can really tell they love their jobs and they made sure we were safe and having a great time! Our guide was Emerson. She is very friendly & made sure each one of us had fun. Would definitely go back for more! read more

We booked for the 9:00 am rafting trip down the American River. The teams were well organized and the equipment we used was in as new condition. The guides gave us a very comprehensive safety briefing and checked to see that each of us was correctly fitted with our helmets and life jackets. The ride down the river started off gently enough, but as we moved down the river, we were steered to the better spots in the river by our guide. The trip took us through some healthy rapids, including Chili Bar and Troublemaker. The water didn't feel cold - maybe because the air temperature was in the mid-90's by 11:00 am! Absolutely an enjoyable few hours. I will be doing this again with this company. An unequivocal endorsement from me! read more

We book rafting tours with H2O every summer and always have a fantastic experience. H2O is a solid long-standing company focusing on thrill without compromising safety, and we highly recommend them. They have adventures on several rivers, but we typically visit the American River. The lunch food is always fresh and presented in an appetizing spread. Look forward to the magic brownies at the end! This year we had ANN as our guide and were blown away. Ann has been rafting for ~35 years and is a river beast! Reasons to request Ann as your guide: - She is a true O.G. and has rafting experience and skills on the American river like no other. She appears a subject-matter expert and often trains new guides. - Safety always comes first with Ann. Over her lifetime she has seen and experienced river emergencies first-hand, and even saved her friend's life on a personal non-commercial river trip many years ago. Ann will always make sound judgement calls to protect you and your family. Plus, Ann is a retired firefighter and medic so you know you're in the best hands! - Ann knows all the clever water tricks: surfing, raft wheelies, spins, rodeo style bow riding, stand-up raft riding... not just that but she isn't too lazy or burned out to enthusiastically teach you these tricks. In the 5+ years I've taken guided rafting trips, I've never had a guide employ such a repertoire of fun tricks and raft games. - You get a free lesson in basic rescue/reconnaissance. When other rafts of people flip, you get to try out catching and collecting the swimmers in the fallout. As well you get to learn how to best climb independently into the raft from the water, which is not super easy. - History and stories. Ann knows the history and landmarks along the American River, so you gain knowledge in between the moments of adrenaline. Also, Ann has incredible river and survival stories she is happy to share. - If you love corny jokes, just ask. Ann is a memory bank of silly material that you can borrow to entertain or torture your friends with. So, try out H2O and request Ann for the best all-around experience. Though it isn't mentioned, don't forget to TIP YOUR GUIDES, as rafting companies and their employees are truly enduring challenges monetarily as a labor of love, much to the great enjoyment and benefit of those of us who appreciate a chance to escape the stressful rat-race, and retreat to a world of nature, surrounded by rushing waters, subtle wildlife, trees, and warm breezes. The cascades of clear water will both test, thrill, and invigorate you, while you can rest assured that safety, essentials, and nutrition are fully arranged. You might just get hooked, like us. read more

We had an amazing trip on the Middle Fork of the American River with H2O Adventures. Our guide Steve was fun and knowledgeable. He is also a complete professional who knows the river like the back of his hand. Whole family had a blast! read more

Our group had had an amazing half day River rafting adventure with our guide Nate! He was attentive, knowledgeable, and so fun! We had mixed experience levels in our group and each person was able to have a blast! We want to make this an annual adventure for us! read more

I went here 2 times, very good service and professional. 2nd time was the best time ever. We experienced the high rapids (class 3) extremely fun. Make sure you request Keegan for the full experience with the rapids. I love how we did airplane game. Try it when you are on the river. Highly recommend for everyone. read more

We had one of the most exciting and adventure-packed, laughter-filled days on the half day with Ben. He was incredible and made the day special for us. Ben is super knowledgeable about the river and his passion for not just rafting, but hosting, guiding and having a good time, really made the entire experience beyond all expectations. He went out of his way to give 110% and give us the experience of a lifetime. We all had no previous experience white water rafting but he made sure to give us all the tips and tricks needed to make the most out of the trip and have the best time. The whole crew is close and so fun to be around. Their hospitality and kindness really made us all feel welcome and safe and the whole experience from start to finish was perfect and seamless, from gearing us up, to the brownies at the end, just absolute *chefs kiss*! Thank you, H2O team for the best day ever and we'll be back to go down Yuba together, Ben! read more

We had an amazing time with Brandon (Brando B) at H2O Adventures!! This was my 5th trip on the American River and second trip with H2O Adventures and it was an absolute blast. H2O is the best in the business and has top of the line gear and safety equipment (boats, PFDs, helmets, etc). Their guides are so experienced most even come with a free comedy show too :) After rafting on both the South and Middle forks with them, I highly recommend booking any trip with them, you won't regret it! read more

We did the middle fork American 1 day river rafting trip. We had Devin as our guide who was super informative and passionate about the environment which was really cool too, so we learned a lot! We felt like the instructions on paddling and everything was super clear, and we had no issues with knowing when to paddle and for how long or anything like that. The whole day from start to finish was such a blast, all of us came out of it having thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was my first time rafting and we did level 4 rapids and I felt comfortable throughout the trip. I would definitely recommend trying this place out for sure whether you're an experienced rafter or not! read more

Awesome experience with H2O Adventures on a one-day Middle Fork of the American River rafting trip. The guides were all incredibly knowledgeable, fun loving and focused on safety at all times. Our guide Ben grew up in the area and had so many cool facts about the river and surrounding mining towns. These people love what they do and made the trip an absolute blast. Definitely will be doing more trips with them in the future! read more

Super fun! Very fast enjoyable rapids lots of swimming! Crew was amazing!! Recommend Trevor for sure!

We did the full day Middle Fork of the American River on 07/02/21. It was so much fun. Our guide, Flynn, was so awesome. She did a great job of controlling the raft and kept us engaged in conversation the entire time. I would highly recommend H2O Adventures for this whitewater rafting experience. read more

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

This was my 1st time experience Whitewater Rafting, and I had the most amazing experience of my life!! The team leaders were very friendly, and also kept us safe throughout our experience! We even got brownies at the end of our trip. Highly recommend!!! read more

Wow. The Middle Fork of the American river. This was my genius idea of a 'side adventure' on our way from San Diego to Reno. Mind you--we are 57 and 51. Yes, some say, "50 is the new 30..." and for some things that is true. However, this adventure is definitely not one of those things. And I take full responsibility for spending my adult money thinking my body could absorb the punishment of two class 5 rapids, untold number of class 4s for 17 miles. Our egos aside and accepting that our carefree days of thinking we can do this kind of stuff anymore, the H2O Adventures crew were absolutely amazing. Cassidy, our rafting pro, was fun, informative, and STRONG--because she had to haul my a$$ into the water after I fell out in the middle of the rapid and could not assist her, my body refusing to work because I had the audacity to take it rafting instead of the usual brunch adventures it has become used to. Our van drivers were cool, and everyone really had a blast. So, my only piece of advice to the over-50 people-50 is NOT the new 30 and learn to love the smell of Ben-Gay in the mornings. Thank you, H2O Adventures for an unforgettable day that we will always remember read more

5+ stars!!! Last weekend was our 3rd year in a row rafting with this company. They are absolutely the best. The owners Tyler and Fianna and all their guides are very professional and super friendly. This is a small company but they really go above and beyond to ensure everyone has fun and is safe. This time, since it was a bit cold, they gave us all splash jackets and wetsuits to make sure we were all comfortable. Our 6 and 7 year old kids had absolute blast. We are already planning our next trip read more

Jo was our guide and she was amazing. The other guide Brandon was also a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun and we had an incredible time. Highly recommend. read more

H2O was outstanding. We are so glad we booked with them over other companies the owner Tyler was always pleasant to speak with and always remembered our names and was sure to check on us frequently leading up to and throughout or trip with them! our Guide on day one South fork was Cassidy she was amazing. very calm pleasant and knew a lot about the area and what we were doing she gave clear and precise instructions and never let us feel unsafe she made sure we were all well prepared for what was coming and made sure we had a lot of fun. On day two we did the middle fork with Kevin who was also awesome. a very laid back calm guy that was super nice to talk to and knew a lot about the area. we had a overall pleasant experience and the rapids were so much fun! i Highly recommend giving these guys a call if you plan on doing these trips if they don't answer simply leave a message they will get back to you super fast. cell service up there was spotty at best which was awesome cause our kids actually got to enjoy the whole thing with us. the camp sites are neat but we didn't stay in them as were not really camping people but if we were we would have defiantly stayed with them! Trust us you wont find a better gang to go rafting with! P.S. The photos are totally worth every penny! read more

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The people at H2O were wonderful! Hannah was our guide and did in outstanding job. Would I do it again? Hell yes, too much fun!

We had Keegan H. as our guide! He is totally amazing. If you want someone to show you all the corners of the river, he is the man! He knows everything about the river and kept us safe and sound. And catered to our adventurous needs, definitely gave us our money's worth! He teamed up with Trevor, who had another boat, both of them are great fun, professional, nice and experienced guides. Along the trip, we met other boats of the same company, all the guides were super nice! We had so much fun and definitely recommend H2O adventures! They're a small company and we were happy not be part of a 6-8 boats company, they keep it small and make it personal, it's a great unique experience! We originally booked a level 4 (middle fork) day trip, unfortunately they couldn't fit us in right (since we're party of two and they didn't want to split us up) and helped us swap it for a level III (south fork) trip, and it was still a great experience! Will definitely come back for a level IV-V raft trip! read more

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

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Great experience! The ride was exciting and can be done by people of physical level. Maya the guide was friendly and helped us stay safe.

We went rafting on North Fork Yuba River (Goodyear's bar section) with our crew of 6. Tyler and his team were punctual, efficient and welcoming, and I was really impressed how well they managed this large trip of 7 boats and 27+ people. North Fork Yuba can definitely be intimidating for beginners, but the company made sure visitors were prepared if things didn't go to plan with a swimming test and a rescue practice. Our guide Michelle was amazing and helped us build a good and synchronized paddling technique and confidence needed to tackle the biggest rapids in this run. I have done some trips with different rafting companies, but H2O definitely stands out to me. read more

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

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Exciting, thrilling, heart-pounding and restful, soul-refreshing and adrenaline pumping! Our rafting trip with H20 Adventures was all of these and so much more! Highly recommend!! 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

1/2 Day on the Lower South Fork of the American River was amazing. Brandon, our guide, made it a fun afternoon on the river.

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

Michelle kept us safe while being super friendly and we had a very fun time. She also explained local geology, geography, and history of the areas we rafted. Highly recommended. read more

The trip was amazing! Our guide Ellie was very knowledgeable. She was cool as a cucumber no matter the class of the rapids. We felt safe the entire trip. We would definitely recommend her, and the entire company to raft with. Oh, and the brownies were delicious! read more

I've only been rafting a dozen times or less, but this was unquestionably the most awesome rafting experience I've ever had! But I did discover that the North Fork of the Yuba river (or maybe just any river including Class V rapids) is not for the faint of heart. It will get your adrenaline rushing and your body wet (in my case very wet as a result of some "involuntary swims"). Guides and entire staff were outstanding. Professional, courteous, friendly, humorous, and safety minded. They also offer some more "mild" runs if you don't feel you're quite up to anything that includes some Class V rapids. A tremendous experience that I will never forget. read more

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Our family has been rafting with H2O Adventures for over 5 years now and it is always wonderful. The river is perfect for swimming, the camping spot is so peaceful, the owners are so thoughtful and friendly, it's simply magical every time. This year we went the half day in the afternoon and had our best guide yet, Brandon was so funny and made the whole thing such an adventure and so much fun. I can't recommend this company enough, they are simply the best. read more

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