River Tubing

Floating down the American River in a river tube is a great way to cool off on a hot summer day! Go with the flow of the water and ride your tube down the American River while taking in the beautiful scenery of tall oaks, pines, buckeyes and scenic river boulders. The stretch of river just below Troublemaker Rapid at the Resort is perfect for tubing in the months of May through September. Put your lifejacket on and slide your tube in the river at the Resort right below the Troublemaker Rapid and float the current all the way to James Marshall Park or to Henningson Park in Lotus.

River Tubing from American River Resort to James Marshall Park or Lotus Henningson Park

This is a nice, relaxing and sometimes exciting 1 mile to 2.5 mile section of river for a river tube float with some class 2 rapids. You can walk back to the Resort and do it again without a shuttle. This section of river starts off in a straight path and just before Coloma the river makes a long oxbow so the walk back is much shorter than the float. On the longer float you have the option to walk back, stage a vehicle at the park or jump on the Coloma Shuttle which at times offers a shuttle service between the Resort and Lotus Park. This run has increased in popularity over the years with tubers because of its easy access and the float itself is great. You can get out at the bridge or continue to Lotus park for a longer walk.

From the Resort to James Marshall Park the float is just around a mile, which at normal summer flows will take between an hour to an hour and half. You can then walk the 15 minutes back to the Resort with your tubes and do it again! This is where gold was discovered in 1848 so you should also spend time at James Marshall Gold Discovery Park doing a self guided walking tour of the Gold Rush History.

The river tube float trip from the Resort to Lotus Henningson Park is roughly 2.5 miles and takes anywhere from 2 to 3 hours depending on the flow and river traffic. This is the most popular river tube float on this section of the American River. Once at Lotus Park you can walk the 1.8 miles back to the Resort which takes around 30 to 40 minutes or you can even stage a vehicle at the Park and drive back. Check in with Coloma Shuttle for their daily shuttle schedules.

Floating in the water of the American River through historic James Marshall Gold Discovery State Park and the town of Coloma is a wonderful way to relax, relieve stress, and be outside with your friends. If you prefer to recreate at a lake then head up to the many mountain lakes in the Sierras or drive down to Folsom Lake. Grab your paddle board or kayak and head up to Ice House Lake or Union Valley Reservoir for stunning mountain views and crystal clear lakes.