Sacramento, dubbed as the “hipster capital,” offers more than contemporary culture. Sacramento possesses a wealth of waters with its three longest rivers coursing through the landscape of California and surrounding regions. The Sacramento, San Joaquin, and American River offer significant value to the agriculture, wildlife, and tourism industry of the capital.
The Sacramento River boasts of supporting massive lands and hosting over 200 species of birds and fishes. Meanwhile, San Joaquin provides irrigation and drainage system to agricultural lands, making San Joaquin Valley a leading agricultural region.
On the other hand, the American River has historical value with the discovery of gold in one of its forks in 1848. More importantly, the river is known as a tourism hotspot with its vast array of recreational opportunities for locals and tourists; ranging from fishing to a white water rafting family trip Sacramento CA.
White Water Rafting in Sacramento
Going for a white water rafting family trip in Sacramento is one of the most popular tourist river attractions to both visitors and locals. The river trail which runs 23 miles offers numerous riverfront parks and access points. The Discovery Park converges both Sacramento and American rivers; and provides scenic value with its picnic and swimming areas, playground, and boat launches.
The American River offers downriver trips from Folsom to Sacramento, which makes it the most popular rafting destination among the three rivers. Tours of varying difficulty levels are available through outfitters in the outskirts of the city.
Everything to Know About White Water Rafting
White water rafting is an extreme sports activity where a group of people navigates through the varying river currents called whitewater. It is considered as one of the most challenging water activities, with a difficulty classification ranging from Level 1 (for beginners) through Level 6 (for experts).
Class 1 through 3 of the rafting requires necessary paddling skills and little experience in rafting. Therefore, it is an ideal family outdoor activity where everyone can relax without putting in much effort. Meanwhile, Class 4 through 6 involves paddling through substantial whitewater, large waves, and huge rocks.
Where to Raft in Sacramento Based on Skillset
South Fork (Class 2-3) – It consists of a Chili bar stretch that has 21 miles of whitewater and nine named rapids, making it an ideal place for a family outing and even team building activities. On the other hand, the Gorge stretch has narrow rapids that provide challenging rafting skills for those with experience. A day trip in this river offers time for both intense rafting and swimming.
North Fork (Class 4) – Located between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, the North Fork exudes the Sierra Nevada beauty. It is considered the most scenic with its emerald green waters. However, it is only recommended for experienced rafters as the river delivers rapid whitewater.
Middle Fork (Class 4) – Just like the North Fork, The Middle Fork has rapid and currents that are only manageable by rafting experts. This Fork is one of the most popular destinations because of the scenic mining remnants throughout the river canyon.
Sacramento is the home of some of the most abundant rivers in the world. Sacramento does not only satisfy needs in terms of agricultural, economic, and wildlife sustainability aspects. It is also a tourist hub that has so much potential because of its wide array of outdoor activities.
White Water Rafting Family Trip Sacramento CA
