Diane Nelson and Friends - Two Day/Two Night Rafting Trip
Friday August 16th - Sunday August 18th, 2024
We can't wait to have Diane Nelson and her crew of lovely folks over for a few days of rafting again this year! Most of you know the drill...two days of rafting two nights of camping with great company and so much fun you won't want to leave. For you first timers and those that need a refresher, scroll down below the payment area for more information.
Arrive Friday any time after 4 pm
Camp Friday and Saturday night (One tent provided and set up per two people)
Raft Saturday and Sunday
Check out Sunday at approximately 3 pm
Parking and use fees at Camp Lotus are included
All government fees included
Tax is included
Price is per person. Guide gratuity not included.
Itinerary and Description
Shed your worries. Have some cold drinks. Take off your shoes. Go swimming. Go berry picking. Sit in the front of the raft and forget everything. Sit in the back of the raft and watch everyone else forget everything. Skip a rock. Skip a phone call, or five of them.
The South Fork 2-Day is our specialty. It's much more than river rafting. We are excited to show you all of the special places on the river. The places where you can drift in the currents. The places where the turtles rest. The places where a bird nests and a beaver gnaws. The places you can jump off of rocks. The places where you can stick your face out the front of the raft like a giant human hood ornament.
This is where river time takes over and all you have to worry about is whether you can fit in seconds at dinner and still have room for dessert.
Arrive the night before and set up your camp (one tent per 2 people will be provided and set up for you prior to your arrival).
Wake up in the morning to a coffee call and stumble out of bed in the beautiful Camp Lotus. Watch your guides whip up a storm in the kitchen to serve you a fresh hot breakfast.
Take some time to chill out and get river ready while the guides take care of cleaning up. Once they are done the river will begin to call.
The first day begins with a fun class 2 stretch before lunch giving you time to relax, play, swim or experience adventurous antics depending on your tastes. Your guides will prepare a fresh deli style lunch that will leave you satisfied and ready for the adventure ahead. After lunch you will have time to digest before hitting the class 3 gorge. The gorge is an exciting and beautiful place where the river has carved through rock deep below the chaparral covered hill sides forming incredibly fun rapids. If you are lucky on a quiet day you may see a great blue heron, a bald eagle, deer and sometimes even mink, beaver and river otter.
After a long day on the river a 20 minute bus ride will take you back to camp where you can grab a cold beer or soda and your tireless guides will prepare an epic dinner to follow up an epic day.
The next morning your guides will re-enact their breakfast performance mixing it up for variety and you will hop in a bus to take you 9 miles upstream.
After you slide your boat into the water at Chili Bar it is not long before you drop down into what feels like wilderness. Steep canyon walls loom high above as you crash through the class 3 rapids that begin almost immediately. With great scenery, rapids and fascinating gold rush history this section has something for everyone. The rapids mellow out in the Coloma valley before you reach Camp Lotus where your guides will have their last hurrah and prepare a delicious and well deserved lunch.