California whitewater rafting on the American River - South, Middle, North Fork American raft trips

CBOC Whitewater gives you the best rafting on
Northern California's three forks of the American River

General Information

River Classification Scale

California whitewater rafting on the American River Rapids are often classified according to their level of difficulty using a scale from one to six in Roman numerals. Class I is flat water. Class II is an easy, straight forward rapid that may occasionally bounce someone out of the raft. Class III is a rapid we pay close attention to, but one that only rarely causes problems for competent guides. A Class IV rapid is very difficult with a complicated route that requires a high level of maneuvering. Class VI is considered unrunnable--a mandatory portage for all but the clinically insane.

When we rate a river trip as a Class III run, we are saying there are many Class III rapids, which are great for almost any group. Novices will have no problem and experienced boaters will have a blast. Our Class IV+ Middle Fork American trips have numerous Class IV or IV+ rapids. These trips are intended for experienced rafters in good physical condition who are planning to pump adrenaline!

The classification scale is not an exact science--river flows vary, the rapids themselves change, and personal opinions differ. It is intended as a rough guide to understanding the difficulty of the rapid or section of river. Without taking it too seriously, use the classification scale as an indicator of what level of effort you can expect on your trip.

What To Bring

Packing for your trip is really quite simple if you keep this in mind: anything you bring with you will get wet and may get lost. You will notice that our guides bring very little other than the clothes they wear and a few special pieces of guide equipment.

Here are a few suggestions:

Shorts or swimsuit
Light T-shirt (avoid heavy cotton)
Shoes that won't slip off your feet (river sandals or old tennis shoes)
Sunglasses with a strap
Hat with a strap
Small tube of sunscreen
Change of clothes for after rafting (to leave in your car)

P.O. Box 456
Coloma, CA 95613
1.800.356.2262 - 1.530.621-1236 - fax 1.530.622.6104
e-mail: malode@malode.com