Holy cow! This was a standout experience. I went with three friends and we did the American River Adventure that took us to the South Fork and the Middle Fork. We stayed in their "glamping" tents and the staff prepared a delicious dinner for us that night. The bathrooms/showers were well lit at night which we found important. OARS is a company I will 100% use again in the future. Our guide for both days was Mike and he was outstanding. Very skilled and friendly. The second day Mike had Garrett with him and the two of them made the day unforgettable. Even the lunches they prepared on site were tasty. All Covid rules were followed and it was appreciated. Everyone at OARS was eager to please and make sure we had a great experience. Bravo OARS. read more

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! USE OARS COMPANY - NOT ANYONE ELSE!! I went with my family and had the best experience!! the camping ground and bathrooms (flushing toilets, actually showers) were super clean (we did have 1 group of 20 year olds that were loud, but the OARS staff quickly went and made them be quiet). We did 2 days, first day on the south fork and second day on the middle fork. All the guides were amazing and friendly. BIG shout out to Miller who was so nice and shared a ton of really great facts about the area. He was also super patient and always made everyone feel safe (even during the tunnel!!). Additionally, the other guides were always making sure everyone was feeling good throughout the day (Shout out Garrett as well!). It was also nice to swim during the calm parts and just relax. Will bring my water proof beats pill to listen to music next time for these parts! ++ there are professional pictures taken at the key rapids if you want to purchase them. The food was also SO good. We had sandwiches the first day (which were A+ with extras like avocado, hummus, pepperoncinis) The other companies did not have as good of food (i saw!!). We also had the dinner, which was also A+. We had salmon, chicken, and steak for dinner, with brownies for dessert!! They also brought out candles for my mom and brother's birthdays. Overall, could not give them a better review. The staff works so hard, but were seriously a highlight of the trip due to their positive attitudes. They all were friends and made you feel like one too. I just left and I already miss it. I had such a great time that I'm planning a trip with friends before the season ends because i want them to experience it. Also - if you're worried about COVID-19, the entire staff made sure everyone was wearing masks before we got on the rafts, during lunch, and after the raft trip. The staff made all the food and served it so no one else touched the food. read more

Looked at 6 different Rafting companies. Taking 24 boy scouts so I had to really make sure it was: Safe, cost effective, and AMAZING. Not easy to pull off. All the rafting companies varied in price, length of trip, features offered, camping included/not included, safety gear options, and food. From the moment I spoke with their office they answered all of my questions, gave me pricing and walked me through various options, and made sure that we would be on the right trip that was difficult but not dangerous. They explained EVERYTHING with no pressure. Many of the other companies charged extra for things that OARS included, and one company told me that helmets were optional? (Not for scouts!) The thing about OARS is that they take care of the whole experience for you. They get you outfitted, take you out with amazing guides, make sure you have fun on the river, feed you well, and return you to a great campground. (Really great Cafe/Bakery 500ft from the campground - walked there each day for breakfast and coffee! AWESOME) When I started looking - the person who setup this trip last year told me to USE OARS and I thought I could find a "better deal", "more options", "a cooler spot". I spent 2 weeks calling and emailing getting quotes, options, etc. Don't waste your time. OARS is who you should raft with! Have fun. read more

JD was our funky-fresh guide who took us through our Level III+ rapids. It was a blast and his competence and communication were cleanly demonstrated. We had lots of fun and the pictures to prove it. We took the Chili Bar 4-hour tour. Lunch was included in our day as well (it was a pretty meh lunch, but after all of that, we gobbled it up without complaint). I really appreciated our safety crash course along with the helmets and life preservers. Some companies were on that river without helmets, but after a girlfriend took an accidental dive on Troublemaker, I was glad we all had them. Many of the tours you take on the American River are run by the river guides themselves, which seems like a good idea at first, until a schedule needs to be written up or someone gets sick or you suddenly don't have a bus or a driver to haul people up the river. O.A.R.S. is run by an experienced river staff, but they work FOR the guides. They provide shuttles and a set schedule, new float gear and sponsors. I would highly recommend this company and this tour. I had a lot of fun and my guide knew all sorts of crazy local history. PS: READ YOUR PACKET! The address of the facility still doesn't show up on GPS or Google maps. You need the latitude/ longitude if you're going by GPS. Also, thank you, Zozi! read more

OARS American River Outpost - Thank goodness we were all wearing helmets!!! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

I am an experienced rafter, and I say that these rapids are awesome. There are nice calm areas of the Merced river, and some very fun class III and IV rapids. Travis was my tour guide, and he was great! read more

We pulled together a party of 12 with OARS guiding us on a 6 hour rafting trip - North Fork of American River, Sunday, May 5, 2019. The water level was perfect, guides were amazing. Our Guide "Grant" was knowledgeable, professional and charming which was an added bonus on top of a lovely Guide catered luncheon break on a sandy shore riverside. The equipment was great, very professional Guides and safety was a priority, highly recommended!! read more

OARS American River Outpost - OARS rafting North Fork American River, May 5, 2019 - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

If I were to give a review just for the guides, I would give 5 stars. They were friendly and knowledgeable. (Grace, our guide-in-training proved that she is ready to guide with the best of them! And, Travis, our lead guide, was outstanding!) BUT, we spent a very sleepless night listening to people (seemingly the people on the 2-day trip) yelling and partying for hours. Additionally, guests were not wearing masks in the bathroom/shared facilities We would not stay at the campground again as a family. read more

I give o.a.r.s 5 stars! It was my son's 13th birthday and the staff baked him a beautiful cake, and the whole camp sang him happy birthday! Not to mention the beautiful waters and wonderful guides. ... that is what really made the trip wonderful. The guides. read more

OARS American River Outpost - Amazing, its as if I found my new family for the summer! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

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My friends and I recently did a one day rafting trip with OARS on the Middle Fork of the American River. We stayed one night at the campgrounds and it was very clean. You can rent camping equipment from them for an additional fee. Our guide was Mike and he did a really good job getting us down the river. I had never been rafting before so I was nervous but Mike did a great job coaching us through the rapids. Also the lunch they served us was really good. I would definitely go again! read more

Wow! What an amazing trip. From the ease of working with OARS to schedule, the friendly site navigation, the use of technology to sign our forms and such, the pictures from that day, and of course our guide (Felipe from Costa Rice) = 100/100 We did the Middle Fork of the American (after having done the South Fork with another company a few weeks ago) and it was rad! All of the guides, the drivers, the helpers, and the photographer were first-class. They made sure we were safe, hydrated, and having fun. Would recommend them to anyone seeking an adventure. On the river were everyone from young teens to 70+ The river is dam controlled which makes the water consistent. Rapids were mostly 4s. Tunnel chutes is epic. Another shoutout to Felipe for being amazing, super knowledgeable about the region's history, the plants, the animals.... he also knew how to give commands and to keep us operating the raft the right way (not all guides focus on this). Travis and Miller also super kind and good leaders. DO NOT WAIT to book! read more

We used OARS for a full day trip on the American river south fork a couple of years ago when my daughter had just turned eight (the minimum age) 2days before our trip. I was a basket case of nerves because I had never white water rafted before and was worried about what might happen. The forms you fill out online prior to departure apparently are taken very seriously because we were in our own special little boat with a very experienced guide. He kept us safe and was also a lot of fun (he stopped the boat so my kids could pick black berries from the bank) and initiated silly games and water fights. Two years later and we wanted to go again and we did the half day at Chili Bar with OARS again. We arrived at roughly the same time as a lot of other rafting companies but we could tell OARS was one of if not THE most professional and well organized companies. We were paired up with our guide and were joined by two guys to fill out a six person boat. The trip went super smooth and our guide was very knowledgeable about local history, flora and fauna, and geologic features unique to the area. He kept us safe and we again played games and had a ton of fun. read more

We did middle fork a second time, still amazing!! We were fortunate enough to have Eric again. He is super knowledgeable and an all around great guy. I would highly recommend this trip! read more

We had such a great time! The boat wasn't overfilled like others and our guide was so much fun. We spent an entire day there and it included lunch. Lunch was really good too. We would do it again! read more

OARS American River Outpost - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

Our family did a incredible summer rafting trip down the South Fork of the American River with a super experienced and fun guild who goes by the name mustache Mike. The company was well organized and staffed and our day went completely smoothly. We also had a very nice lunch on the river bank. Mike made the trip fun for the kids and exciting for the adults can't wait to go back soon when the kids are a little older and try the middle Fork will definitely use Oars again! read more

My boyfriend and I went on a full-day (10:30 am-4:30 pm) rafting trip down the South Fork of the American River last week. I chose O.A.R.S. over the other rafting companies because of it's non-profit nature and focus on preserving the river. Since July is busy, they suggested we go on a weekday when there are fewer boats (from various companies) on the river. O.A.R.S. offered us one free night of camping at their riverfront facility, but we chose to stay at a local hotel instead because of the summer heat. Guests are asked to watch a safety video ahead of the trip and the trip leader also went over safety information, rafting vocabulary and other important information before we were provided our gear. The lead guide has a box for car keys. Our boat held six people plus our guide, as well as a net bag to hold our group's water and sunblock bottles. Our guide had us practice the various maneuvers and commands before setting off. It's incredibly important to follow their safety guidelines, as someone in another boat apparently ended up with either a chipped or knocked out tooth. We were given the opportunity to jump out of the boat and float down a rapid, which was fun and a little freaky since I got stuck in a current going in a different direction before getting pulled onto a different boat. All the participants were very friendly and engaged in water fights on this hot day. Lunch was a sandwich bar and Oreo cookies and a few people were lucky enough to get seconds. Sandwiches are amazing when you've been rafting in the July heat. They provided gluten-free bread as well. The only bathroom stop was during lunch and it was at a composting toilet that not everyone understood how to use. Our guide told us that the heavy winter rains and floods had deposited rocks, which changed the flow of the rapids. The last stretch used to be rapids when the water level was lower but a jet ski came to tow us for about 20 minutes to the take-out spot, which gave us time to take photos with the waterproof camera my boyfriend carried in his pocket. Guests stow the paddles before grabbing a soda can and boarding a re-purposed school bus for the return to the O.A.R.S. facility. There were several photographers taking photos in a couple of spots along the river that one could purchase afterwards for $30 (one digital image) $55 (one set from one rapids) or $79 (all photos taken) from Hotshot Imaging, which is located a short walk from O.A.R.S. This was a lovely day-long adventure and O.A.R.S. did a very good job ensuring guests were safe. The lead guide did several headcounts and whenever we arrived at a flat spot in the river, our guide reminded us to drink water and reapply sunblock. He carried a gallon jug of water for us to refill our bottles. If you go, take a large, wide-mouth water bottle (it's hard to refill while in a moving boat), sunblock, a baseball cap or visor as well as polarized sunglasses. A couple of people wore broad-rimmed sun hats, which made it hard for them to hear once the brims were mashed under the helmet straps covering their ears. This was our first rafting trip and I can't wait for our next trip! read more

OARS American River Outpost - Being towed by jet ski to the take-out location. 8 boats lashed together. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

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Best day ever! Our guide Miller was the best, he had so many facts for us and he was so fun, you can really tell that he loves his job. We will be coming back next summer! read more

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Spent Saturday, 9/3/16, on the Middle Fork , with Erick and Umez (sp??-sorry about that) and Diana was our driver. My friend Sue and I were in the boat of six. What an amazing trip... You guys are the best! Highly recommended using OARS! Thank you for a fantastic day. Can't wait to book a trip next year! Oh... BTW, if you've never whitewater rafted, like my friend and I, don't be afraid of the Middle Fork..... GO BIG OR GO HOME! Thrill of a lifetime! read more

OARS American River Outpost - Tunnel Chute... Yeah baby!! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

We had a great family 2 day rafting trip with our 4 teens doing the Lower and Middle forks. Dana was an awesome trip leader and Mike was the BEST guide ever. He was knowledgable, funny and had perfect lines :). All the guides we met were super friendly and personable. We also loved Jerry the best van driver! The food was great as well. We camped comfortably for 2 nights. Highly recommend!!! read more

Did a 2 day trip 4/29 to 4/30 for my bachelor party with 10 guys and had a great time. Did South Fork the first day and North Fork the second day. Camped out the 2 nights at their property and we were the only group there but we had no trouble having fun with plenty of space for 7 tents. They fed us lunch and dinner the first with breakfast and lunch covered the second day. I've been rafting in California and Costa Rica before but this was by far my favorite trip. Water levels were high because of the great winter and our guides let us push our limits to exactly what we were looking for. Eric and Jess were incredible guides and hosts when back at the campsite. Eric was the guide for my boat and we hit every biggest drops and every exciting thing he could find in that river. The other guys had Jess and had nothing but great things to say about her skills as a guide. South Fork was class 3 and a little tamer but still had some fun lines. North Fork was AWESOME (class 3-4), more technical and a lot more thrilling. Super safe trip as long as you follow instruction and actually participate. I won't lie but 8 out of 10 us ended up in the water but that's what we wanted, If that's not what your into they can definitely accommodate that also. We had another boat that didn't want the same trip that we were looking for and none of them became swimmers. Can't say enough about the O.A.R.S. crew and the trip. I am already looking to get back up there and get back in the water. Thanks Eric and Jess!!! read more

Bekah was our guide on our full day rafting trip. We booked the day before and OARS was able to add another raft to accommodate our group. Bekah was great, very skilled in River guiding! She was in charge and helped to make our trip so much fun! I highly recommend OARS! Their outpost had everything we needed before and after our trip down the American River. The food and beverages served were refreshing just when we needed to refuel! We had a blast! Get out there and have some fun! read more

My son and I have only awesome things to say about OARS American River Outpost. We headed up there from San Diego with 16 people from our Boy Scout Troop 1648 to do the South Fork on the American River. We knew it was going to be great and it was! First off, the group camp area was immaculate. You can tell they pride themselves in keeping the area clean (leave no trace) and properly functioning. Their small store is well stocked, wifi was great since there was spotty cell service, and bathrooms were super. Since we were tenting level ground is key... we had no shortage of that or shade. We had lunches ( on the river) and dinner provided which were restaurant quality... 5 stars. Everyone in the troop was talking about the food... Good food = Good times! Best of all was the Staff! Total pros, kind to all of us, positive and made us feel like were were the most important guest they've had there. You can tell that they love what they are doing. The staff were also our guides down the river. My son and I had Joe as our guide for both legs of the trips. He was a pro in every way - teaching us the basics, talking about the sites around the river, telling us what to expect when we were approaching rapids, how we were going to get through the tough parts (which were quite a few) and encouraging. The trip down the river was thrilling. So many fun Class I-III rapids. In the calmer areas you can swim, relax and take in the great scenery. . We didn't even get out of the campground before we started talking about when to do this again. Thanks OARS American River Outpost for great experience and great memories. read more

OARS is rated the best for a reason: they are. We have been rafting many times/ with many different companies. Yesterday's trip down the American River was perfect. Dani, our guide form North Carolina, kept us entertained and having fun the whole trip, all the while making sure we were safe. read more

You couldn't ask for a better outfit. The guides are top notch (James was our man - amazing ability to keep everyone, our boat and the entire group, entertained and safe). The campground - especially the pre-set platform tents, is beautiful and thoughtful. The platform tent area has two well-placed water features for beauty and sound masking. There are tons of games including volleyball and giant chess. The location can't be beat. Walk to to breakfast, walk to your river launch, walk to your delicious dinner at Gringo's (try the Bahn Mi taco!) and walk to frozen yogurt for a treat before you turn in. A-MAZE-ING!!! O.A.R.S. has a relationship with REI. If you mention REI (or apparently Yelp) when booking you can get a 15% discount. We'll be heading back next year. read more

We just came back from a river rafting trip and we had a blast. I officially have an itch to go back and do it all over again. As usual I used yelp to find a company with great service and that would give a great experience. Being that it was our first ever rafting experience we chose well. We made reservation online 2 weeks in advance and had to actually move dates because I was pretty sick. When I called and changed the dates the guy that helped me out was very accommodating. He in fact sent an email to double check if I still ok to go. We decided to do the 1/2 day south fork gorge run which starts at around noon. We arrived around 11am and we were able to check out Mother Lode River Center, the camp grounds and deep our toes in the river. At noon the weather was pretty hot so the cold river water felt just right. If you're a woose with cold water do the later trip, rather than the earlier AM trip. We opted out of having lunch there, and to be honest I wouldn't recommend stuffing yourself right before getting into moving water. But from what other reviews on yelp say it seems their sandwiches are very good. When they finally gathered everyone, they started with introductions and their experience in the river. They took about 15-20 minutes to cover all safety and hazards in the river. We geared up and off to the river we went. Our guide was so awesome, I was a bit nervous but she was just so passionate and knowledgeable that I was put at ease. The river is category II and III which allows families to go with their kids as well. It gives you enough adventure to want to try category IV. One of the biggest tips I can give you is choosing a group of people wisely. Even though it was just me and a friend, we got paired up with a couple and their teen son. It was great, the guys wanted to take the lead and paddle and commit to the adventure. The other group on the other hand had a bunch of women and lazy paddles. Half of the time we had to wait for them, they got the boat stuck because when they were told to paddle most of the group decided to duck and when they had a chance to swim they swam to shore and the boat had to get them back... So choose wisely! Other recommendations for the trip: lip balm, cheap sunglasses (so if they get lost you're not left crying over them) water , lots sun screen and if you are very pale wear a long sleeve. Other than that enjoy the trip and all the surprises!!!! read more

My friends took me here the Sunday after my birthday in the beginning of August. We scored a great deal off a 3rd party website, https://www.halfoff.tv/HalfOff.html, and paid half off the normal price. We did the level 3 rafting on the South Fork of the American River. The rafting experience itself was pretty cool with lots of beautiful scenery to look at. I think this would be a great company/place to take your family, kids, or a loved one to (yah its kinda romantic too in a way). There were a few areas along the river where we were tossed around with some pretty good splashes. Plenty of times too where we got to play paddle wars with other rafts. And of course, times where we were along a smooth stream to just admire the very beautiful scenery. Ok, off to the bad stuff, kinda... I really wish my friends did the level 4 or higher. Level 3 was beautiful but a little too chill for me. I was really wanting to go through some hardcore rafting like flip over or fall off a waterfall or something and live to tell about it! But I guess they were just looking out for me because I don't know how to swim and they were saying you need to know how in order to do the higher levels. Dammit! The staff was real friendly and knowledgeable. Before you board, someone goes through a lengthy safety spiel so you know what to expect and do in case something bad happens, and they cover all the possibilities of what could go wrong. I only wish that they told us about the not putting sunblock above your eyes early on because we would be wearing helmets and because the sunblock would only run down your eyes which happened to me. Oh, we also opted to have their bbq lunch special which we paid $12 or $17 for, I kinda forgot. I was expecting some real hearty food with some good bbq which didn't happen. Instead they had salad, chips, dry pasta, some veggie meats and chicken. I don't eat my vegetables so none of that was happenin for me. So just a heads up if you wanna go for this or not, but you're probably better off stopping by a nice restaurant on your way in. Even though the food wasn't all that and I wanted something more adventurous I still give these guys 4 stars. For our first time rafting it was really a pleasant and beautiful experience, something I will definitely come back and do again rather than just as a one-time thing. read more

Went on a 2 day trip with the liquor group so we were called. This was the second year out company brought some top performers to go rafting and I was luckily chosen to be apart of it. Awesome camp ground. Very relaxing and lots of activities to do. The guides are awesome and cooked us the best meals!!! The red neck breakfast that they tried on us was a huge hit. James was our guide and he killed it. Made our rafting a lot more fun with additional turns and bumps to create more adventure and he was full of awesome stories and facts. I can't wait to go back and do the middle fork. Thanks James and the whole gang. read more

OARS American River Outpost - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

This was one of the best experience I've ever encountered! It was a group of three of us, my boyfriend, his buddy and myself. We got grouped with another group. Our guide was Kaitlyn. She was definitely a tough cookie. Sorta intimidating but her guiding and knowledge definitely made me feel more safe and I definitely trusted her judgment. We did the full day of rafting 140$ a person this included lunch. The whole experience was amazing and I definitely think it's worth the money and energy you put in. We rafted from 1130-430. Stopped for lunch for about 30 minutes. Every minute was exciting. There was downtime to go swimming in the river too. Definitely bring a few water bottle and sunblock! Definitely will be back. I recommend this company to everyone looking for a good time with experienced guides. read more

My family had an amazing experience on the Middle Fork of the American river. My children are 15 and 18 so this was a perfect amount of adventure for them. The guides with OARS were professional and experienced. I felt like we were in good hands. Our guide, Grant was a gem! he not only guided us down the river but provided us with a true experience with playing games and doing tricks in our boat along the way. I was impressed by the knowledge of the history of the river and its gold mining as well as appreciating the nature and beauty of it all. We camped for two nights at the camp. The proximity to the river was nice to cool our heels. The camp was comfortable and provided everything that a camper would need. The best part was having the restaurants within walking distance so we could fall back on those options instead of cooking ourselves. Bravo OARS!! Will be recommending you all to anyone and everyone who will listen. read more

Such a great day yesterday. Jimbo was our guide and he was simply the best. It was my first time rafting and I was completely scared shitless of falling in, bears, and everything. He made me feel comfortable and "safe" to the point where I just said "eff it" and jumped in the river voluntarily. It was FREEZING! If there's one negative thing I would have to say it would be he's not the best weather man. He had a gift growing up on predicting the weather but yesterday was not his day. He said it was going to be in the 100s and it was in the low 70s. It was cold. It was a total culture shock for me being from Watts/ Compton and all. I had my Dorothy moments like "I don't think we're in Compton anymore" lol. He did teach me a valuable lesson though... "You said It's not how you swim it's how you hold your breath It's not about playing fair in this life It's more about cheating death If you don't like getting old Well you'll hate the other choice I'm told Cause it's a little too late to die young (a little too late to die young) It's a little too late to die young" If you go here asked for Jimbo as your guide. Nothing against the other guy Tate (I think that's his name) he's pretty solid too. read more

I brought my bachelorette party for a weekend with OARS on the South Fork of the American River. I wish every weekend could be this incredible. OARS is hands down the best outfitter on the American and other rivers worldwide. They are a pioneer in commercial rafting, and continue to be an industry leader. Their guides, campsite, and service were incredible - it's quite obvious they are a top notch organization once you experience it. There was also a very high profile celebrity couple on our trip, and even they left after the weekend with huge smiles on their faces! read more

This is shout out to OARS Idaho. Do plan your next family adventures with this company. Do expect to have great people doing great work all the time. I used to work in the industry so I get what a rafting adventure is supposed to look like. The professionalism these kids displayed is off the charts. They, without exception, were punctual, skilled, friendly and kind. If there was ever a reason to make me want to start guiding rafting trips again, OARS is it. Emerald Lafortune and her whole crew simply rocked our whole trip. These are the best of the best. I encourage you to book your next family adventures with these people. I don't give out five stars lightly. They earned this. read more

OARS American River Outpost - McCall is full of cool folks. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

SIMPLY the best! When looking for the best company to go down the river with, OARS was rated the highest for safety. We went down the river with Dani (from North Carolina) as our guide and it was wonderful. He guided us down the rapids for maximum fun, all the while making sure we were safe. Will be going back again later this summer. read more

Took the two-day South Fork of the American River trip with my 11-year old son for his birthday. Stayed in one of the platform tents, including the night before our rafting. Had a great time. Guides are terrific, especially Alexis. All the staff knew it was my son's birthday, and treated him extra special. We had a great time and can't wait to go rafting with OARS again. read more

The south American, class 1-3, is great for beginners and those with a bit of experience. The camp was clean and well organized. Our guide, Austin, was the best. Explained what to expect before each rapid and knowledgeable about the surroundings. Since we did the 2 day trip, he was also our cook and did a pretty darn good job. I highly recommend the platform tents! Can't wait to go back. read more

SO MUCH FUN!! It was my first time rafting and will definitely not be my last! We had so much fun with OARS, the river was beautiful and the campground very nice. There are tents on platforms with cots you can rent, or you can just bring your own and set up in one of many little camp areas. There are indoor honest to goodness bathrooms with showers and they just purchased the property so I know it will be getting even better! This trip (South fork American river day trip) is great for families and first timers because it's pretty tame (in late sumer especially). OARS however does much more intense trips all over the US and even some in other countries that we will absolutely be looking into because we're now hooked on rafting! read more

We did a one day rafting trip with O.A.R.S. down the middle fork of the American River on 7/12/08 -- there were 5 of us and one OARS guide. The middle fork is a level 4 -- about 5 -6 good, bounce-you-around rapids, then calm waters. They provide a decent lunch - sandwiches, fruit, cookies, lemonade set up on the bank of the river mid-day. Definitely a fine run for beginners. The guide was likeable, knowledgeable and kept us rowing in synch. Most importantly, he stressed he did not want anyone to fall out of the raft.. which was not my experience with another rafting outfit a few years ago. What a workout! I should mention we had an issue with some inappropriate jokes from our guide though, which when we informed OARS management via email they responded right away, apologized and accommodated our requests, including to provide some diversity training for the guide. They even gave us a credit toward a future rafting trip. The experience was great, aside from the above incident, but OARS management response was just what a decent services organization should do. I hope to take another rafting trip with OARS, with a larger group as well. It is my hope that trip will warrant the full 5 stars . read more

On our trip to Sacramento, CA; I had thought about going Kayaking or Rafting as I've always wanted to give it a try. I was looking at different companies in the area for rafting and looked at OARS after a recommendation a friend gave me. They looked really good online compared to some of the other companies I saw even though they were a little more expensive but you pay for what you get. We couldn't have selected a better company for our first whitewater rafting trip. They have a lot of information on their site and videos to show you what to expect to get out of the trip and safety tips. The staff was great. From the moment we pulled our car up, we were greeted with friendly smiles and warm welcomes from the staff. They had a great introduction to the facility and and equipment we were going to use. Great training on the rafts before we began and even provided a good lunch for everyone at the midway point. Our guide Bekah, was truly the best guide you could have asked for on the river. She was knowledgeable, funny, had great communication, instruction, and story teller. Her attitude was amazing and we couldn't have asked for a better guide on the river. She made the trip very fun and had everyone excited about rafting and had us wanting to come back for more. I would definitely request her again as our guide on our next trip on the American River runs. We will be back to try the Chili Bar, Middle Fork and North Fork. read more

I rafted all over the world including Costa Rica and Argentina and this was a fantastic trip. It was easy to book and had all my questions answered before booking. I loved the energy of our guide Connor. He was fantastic in guiding us and provided us with the level of challenge that we were looking for...we did the full day South Fork trip. The first half is rather tame. Then you have lunch....btw I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the lunch provided by OARS. Yes it was sandwiches but the meat they used was very high quality and they even had gluten free bread and the avocados were a nice touch. After lunch the real fun began we did about a dozen of named rapids with several being class III. It was a blast. What a fantastic way to spend the day. I also have to give a shout out to Mustache Mike another guide who was hilarious and worked hard at making sure that everyone had fun. Thanks so much to Connor and Mustache Mike. Hope to be back on the river before the season ends. read more

GREAT TIME!!!! Took my family and boyfriend on the south fork rafting trip this past week and we had a blast!!! Mike was our guide and he had us body riding the rapids and in and out of the water. We were laughing and screaming the whole trip. Lots of good size rapids. (Class 1-3). The lunch that was served was surprising really delicious and healthy! Everyone of the OARS team was super professional and really puts their customers first. They were all very accommodating for those in my family who are gluten free and pescatarian. We will definitely be booking other outdoor adventures with this company! read more

My 2 boys (10 and 12) and I went twice this summer. It was so fun the first time we wanted to go back! The guides are knowledgeable about the river and how to make the experience fun. Riding the rapids in the boat, splashing, diving in or just swimming - all was fun. Guides know safe places to do a little rock jumping as well if you want to. On the Chili Bar run, there's a spot where you can "Surf" and boat stays in one spot rocking back and forth while you try to not get tipped over. The sandwich spread with lots of variety for lunch was actually pretty good as well. We'll come again, and be looking for other Oars locations. read more