Mother Lode River Center

Mother Lode River Center is a whitewater rafting and outdoor recreation outfitter at 6280 Highway 49 in Lotus, California, on 19 acres with about half a mile of frontage on the South Fork of the American River. Founded in 1974, the outfitter runs guided trips ranging from Class II wilderness floats to Class IV-plus rapids. Beyond rafting, the center offers a challenge ropes course, a zipline, outdoor education programs, and riverside camping. It describes itself as the only local outfitter offering rafting, ropes course and teambuilding, zipline and guide instruction together, making it a stop for riders looking to add river adventure to a Gold Country route.