First River with timid wife?

SixPek said:

Head up to Coloma, get a camp spot at Camp Lotus for a few days, and start running the C to G (Coloma/Marshall Discovery Gold Site to Greenwood). Super easy shuttle, only minor thrash is the takeout at Greenwood is a small hike up a trail - but lots of people do it. With 4 people and a 12 foot RMR, even with cooler, some drybags, paddles, etc....you're fine.

South Fork of the American River: Coloma to Greenwood (C to G) | Outdoor Project

Very easy Class I/II stuff and warm summer days. Camping at Camp Lotus - hot showers, great spot. You could even use that as a put in for a very short warmup run to Greenwood from there.

If/when you start feeling frisky - maybe try Chili Bar all the way back to Lotus. You'll have to run Meatgrinder and Troublemaker (Troublemaker is definitely a scout). This is known as the upper.
The lower SoFo will take you through Satan's Cesspool, Fowler's/Lost Hat, and Hospital Bar. These can all have some big teeth depending on where you are on the flow/wave from the dam release.

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SixPek said:

If you're considering the Truckee (I live in Truckee, FYI) - the float section from Tahoe City to River Ranch is pretty much a booze cruise/party scene in the summer. It's fun, don't get me wrong...but it's not really a day on the river like you might want to introduce. There are "commercial" companies in TC where you rent a raft and get your own way down or launch your own 'craft'. People roll with tubes, Sevylors, SUP's, inflatable giant unicorns...all of it. Again, in the summer - very much a big party on flatwater with a small rapid/finish at a big pool right by River Ranch.

Many locals will float (tube, ducky, rafts, etc) the "town run" which puts you in on West River Street/Hwy 89 where Donner Creek flows into the Truckee River. Take out can be all the way out to the Glenshire Bridge on Glenshire Drive - which is a nice, longer float than taking out in the middle of town or midway through Glenshire Drive. 3 hour casual float with one small rapid (class II-ish) called 'Truckee Falls' which flushes into a big open pool. Shuttle isn't difficult, you can stay in Truckee and get a beer at Alibi Ale Works, dinner at Moody's after...all that good stuff.

DM me if you have questions and I can guide you further.

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Cydney said:

CA Creeks is a great resource and you can look at the Recommended Runs page which has them sorted by difficulty. I’d be sure to be cognizant of spring flows though with the big winter we’ve been having.

https://cacreeks.com/irecom.htm

The Tahoe City float on the Truckee is a booze cruise till River Ranch. I did it as a work team bonding thing and we only had cheap Walmart pool floaties. Our accountant got ran over 2x by rafts. It was a fun time!

Coloma to Greenwood (C to G) on the South Fork American would have a bit more class II rapids to navigate than the Tahoe City Truckee section. It’s especially popular for people learning to kayak.

For your wife’s enjoyment, I’d recommend going in the middle of summer when it’s warm and the flows have come down a bit. Having a comfortable PFD for your wife could help with the overall experience as not all male/unisex fit the female frame comfortably. Astral and NRS make good women-specific PFDs for whitewater.

I’m also a big fan of getting some sort of formal training. In addition to learning the basics of reading/navigating water, they teach you how to manage the people in your boat, trip logistics, gear, etc. Most guide schools on the South Fork American focus on paddle rafting with customers. We did Oars’ rowing clinic on the Rogue and that was geared towards private boaters. So depends on what you’re planning on what you want to do.

I’m from Lotus/Coloma so if you have any questions about the area, feel free to reach out.

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Job.21 said:

a basic river “float” first with wifey.

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