mother lode river center

The river is a blast. Our experience was that Heather, the guide, was so skilled at being a guide that it made the day fun, exciting, and even interesting as she was a wealth of knowledge. The ropes course was not my thing, but other members of my group enjoyed the challenge. I tried climbing the wall and that was cool, but the real fun was the river. It's like a 4 hour ride at Disneyland. The water was perfect, in the 100 degree heat, and I was comfortable all day long getting in and out of the water. I as concerned about doing a lot of activity in high heat but I couldn't have been more comfortable. A good clothing choice was Underarmour heat gear, long sleeve, with some board shorts and keen sandals. Motherlode, Heather is a great asset for you!

I purchased this get-away through an online discount. We received 1/2 off on the ropes challenge course and a half day of rafting the South Fork of the American River. I opted to pay extra to spend two nights in a "glam" cabin tent and relax before and after our adventure. Upon arrival we were greeted at the car door and an offer was made to help with our luggage. We were escorted to our tent and given a thorough tour of the center. Since dinner was not being served that evening we were directed to a fabulous funky local place. Next day ropes course was explained and the guides patiently encouraged us to challenge ourselves but did not push. Very height phobic so we only managed to climb two of the structures. The afternoon spent on the river was a blast. Only 6 of us in the raft and we had the front row. Very experienced river guide that kept us safe but got us in some awesome rapids. Food at camp was delicious - fresh fruit and salads and grilled chicken for lunch and choice of pulled pork or salmon for dinner. Outstanding camp chef. Had one concern about our glam cabin tent- height of tent floor and ground was a bit steep so we told staff a step was needed for safety especially at night. They were going to address this issue. Beds were incredibly comfortable and a lantern was made available after we requested one. All in all - a fun weekend spent with my best friend. Would love to come back and raft the Middle and North Forks.

We liked they set up our camp for us! Also, we like the meals pretty much ready when we got done or got up. The staff was friendly. We were only there 1day and 1nite.

My family of four (including two 8-year-old girls) purchased a deal through TravelZoo, which we learned about when contacting MaLode to make a reservation. The staff here is wonderful. Everyone - from the reservation desk to our river rafting guide - was friendly and helpful. We had great fun on the high ropes course (our first time) and, after lunch, we took to the white water in a raft. This was SO MUCH FUN!!! Highly recommend the experience!

Had a great time on the river...camp over night and do the zip-line/ropes course! You'll be so glad you did!

My son and I did an afternoon trip and then camped that night.The entire staff were helpful and friendly.Our guide ,Austin,was top notch. I would recommend this adventure to everyone !!!

Rafted with Mother Lode two years ago and had an amazingly fun, exciting experience so went back for more this past week. The company has a great balanced focus on safety and fun and delivers a wonderful experience. Our guides (Scotty two years ago and Courtney this year) were both exceedingly knowledgeable about the river and surrounding areas and offered colorful history. We camped for two nights and rafted two days. They have a lovely facility along the river and even have free hot showers! They cook a mean BBQ, but be prompt for meals or you'll miss you. I can't wait for our next trip!

Fantastic adventure. Having rafted the American before, with a different company, I foundthat the personnel at Mother Lode went out of their way,( far out) to be the best they couldbe. Our guide, Heather was everything, great raft guide, instructor, and then cook andbottle washer, then nurse, all combined. Some of us on this trip will come again, I'm sure.

The folks at Mother Lode were all attentive and made sure we had a good time. Our rafting guide obviously knew the river and let us know when to get to work paddling and when we could just have some rowdy fun. Good ambiance in the camp, lots of natural beauty. It was hot but the river water ( we got soaked!!!) kept us cool. Had a great rafting trip! Looking forward to next time.

Mother Lode River Center has provided a great experience for our group. We started out with the long zipline, which was nice and quick. Then we met with our incredible guide, Eva, and started our rafting adventure. It was fun and really relaxing for the most part for our South Fork level III trip. Eva made the most of our experience and really wanted to show us a great time. I love Evas surprise right before the end!! I love thrills so I will definitely be looking into doing a level IIII or V trip. Hopefully Eva can guide us by next year!

Great time on my 2 day, 2 night business Mastermind retreat at Mother Lode. What an awesome way to mix business and pleasure. Staff, food, riverside (and shaded) setting, customer service and more - all great. Really a friendly experienced team. We even threw in a Zip line and small ropes course for excitement and diversity. What I most appreciate about Mother Lode is the beautiful shaded grounds that are huge and well kept. Lots of private zones for camping, hanging out at river, quiet and solitude.If you want an awesome quick get-away for business, family fun and just yourself with friends, you are in good hands with Mother Lode.

Just got back from a great trip with Mother Lode River Center. Willy was our guide for the day and what a great day we had. We started on the ropes course where he was fun and encouraging when we needed it (Leap of Faith) with our fears of heights. Then a fabulous lunch and on to the river for a spectacular river ride. Willy was fun and engaging with stories and jokes, our whole family had such a wonderful time we will be back for sure.Thanks so much for everything.The Camozzi Family

Just ran the South Fork of the American with Mother Lode, and we had a blast! Our guide Heather was sweet and helpful, knowledgeable and kind. We stayed in the main house, enjoying a comfortable setting, super-friendly staff, and perfectly delicious meals!My only recommendation would be to better SIGN the entrance, so when one arrives, they know where to check in and which company to connect with. It was hard to distinguish between Oars and Mother Lode--and where exactly to meet. Otherwise a great operation! Thanks for a fun day!

We spent a day at the River Center with a large group of people with a wide range of prior experiences. The staff were great in making all feel safe while helping us push up against our comfort-zone boundaries. We spent the morning on the ropes course and the afternoon on the River. Nice lunch in between and delicious dinner that night. Relaxing evening and full breakfast before sending us on our way the next morning. Very professional but also paid a lot of attention to making sure all had a good time. Many thanks! We'll be back!

If you are looking for a super fun, exhilarating, entertaining, adventuresome, educational, safe for kids, filled with incredible memories and tons of laughter, rafting with Mother Lode is for YOU!!! We went on the Gorge Run with guide Scotty. We had 3 adults and one 13 yo boy and a 12 yo girl. Everyone had a blast. We had tons of fun, and feel like we had the best guide ever. Scotty not only guided us though a ton of super rapids he also showed us where we could swim in a cool warm water creek, get carried up and down river in a giant eddy (swimming), swim a rapid, and told us lots of history and infromation about the river and its varied wildlife. He was the best, super friendly, and enthusiastic. We felt totally safe during the trip while still having some intense thrills! Clearly he loves what he does and knows what he is doing. Penny did a great job making our reservations and giving us lots of great suggestions on places to stay and eat in town. Do yourself a favor and raft with Mother Lode!!