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Buccaneer Bay Wilderness
2-Day Women's Rafting Trip
A Paddle Adventure on the American River
Trip Overview
- Hiking
- 21 miles of river
- Two days rafting
- One night of camping
(the night during)
- Four great meals included
Buccaneer’s Bay is an incredibly beautiful beach area in a section of the river reachable only by boat. The land is administered by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management), and we have obtained a permit to use it. The BLM provides porta-toilets. Camping is on the beach; about 100 feet from the beach is a thick forest of cottonwood and pine trees. Sunday morning, while we are waiting for the dam-released water to reach us, we will have ample opportunity to relax, swim, and explore the area by foot.
Our wilderness camp, BUCCANEER’S BAY, is totally isolated from all civilization. We boat all of our gear in.
The first day we raft the upper 13 miles of river, from Chili Bar down into the inner canyon where the big sandy beaches are. We will have rafted by the Mariah basecamp heading for our private wilderness beach.
On the second day, you will spend the entire morning at BUCCANEER’S BAY, having plenty of time for fun, like hiking, swimming, birding, and relaxation.
Download: Women's 2-Day Buccaneer Bar Wilderness Rafting Trips DIRECTIONS and PACKING LIST. |
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Departures: June 23-24, 2012, maximum 24 women
Trip Difficulty: This trip is for the beginner to low intermediate rafter.
Type of Raft: We use paddle boats with 6-8 paddlers in each boat plus professional female guides. Our overnight gear is rowed down to our wilderness camp in oar boats rowed by female guides.
Age Range: Ages 7-96 years
Price: $290 per person plus 8% River Use Fee
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Camping at the Mariah’s South Fork of the American River Campground this night is not included in the price of your trip. However, we invite you to join us for a small additional fee. If you camp with us the night prior to your trip, we request that you come anytime after 5 PM. Our Camp Host/ess will greet you, give you any rentals you have reserved, and show you where you may camp. There are several nice restaurants nearby where you may enjoy a lovely dinner. Our Camp Host/ess will be on duty from 5 PM - 9 PM; however, you may come after 9 PM, just have your flashlight handy. A lantern will be lit next to our large campground map so you can see where you are. Also, if you have not arrived by the time the host/ess goes off duty, they will write you a welcome note which will be posted on the big white board next to the big camp map. The note to you will give you appropriate instructions regarding camping and any rentals you have.
"I just spent the weekend at your camp with the TableforSix group. Just wanted to mention that I had a fantastic time! Great hospitality from the moment I arrived and walked to my tent, which was all set up and ready to go (too easy)!!! Also, I wanted to say that the meals were all excellent!!"
"I rate Mariah in the top 5% of all the companies I have dealt with in my life, not just rafting but all companies, and I am a customer expert who teaches customer service to companies who need it. Your staff are professional in every way; they make you feel like you are rafting with friends instead of a company. The food is very good, and the portions are.....well....if you leave the table hungry, it is your fault. The campground is well-maintained and functional, while keeping the rustic setting. Please feel free to use this in all of your promotional materials."
D.H., South Fork American River, 2-Days, 5/23-24/09
"I wanted to send you a thank you note. My weekend at Mariah was phenomenal! I cannot tell you how much fun we had! Everything turned out perfect! All the food was good (banana pancakes, lobster, fresh fruit!), our guides were awesome! The first day we were on Mike's raft; he was knowledgeable about the area and told us a bit about the history of the area we were rafting through. The next day we were with Julie. She was fun, and explained how the water works and how to read it. Both guides were grade "A"! I still can't stop thinking about it, I didn't want to come home. I would say that this was an experience I will never forget; I just fell in love with everything and everyone."
D.M., South Fork American River, 2-Days, 5/06
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 First Day, June 23
The trip begins when we greet you at 9:00AM in the Mariah Campground Kitchen, for sign-in and trip orientation. You will be given a medium-sized dry bag in which you will pack your overnight gear. We provide 2-person tents and foam pads which will already be packed for the trip. We will board our river bus about 9:45AM and drive the 40-minutes to the beginning of the river at Chili Bar Put-In.
Start River Trip - CHILI BAR
Here is where we will start our river journey. The South Fork American River is 21 miles and we will raft the upper 13 miles on Saturday, and the lower 8 miles on Sunday. Your guides will give you a detailed description of your journey, how to stay safely in the boat, how to paddle, and even what to do if you take an unintended swim. We board our boats and for the first five miles we enter rapids such as Meatgrinder, Race Horse Bend, Maya Hole, and the Triple Threats. Do those names conjur up any images? When we reach Troublemaker Rapid, a big Class III+ rapid, we know we are almost at our lunch spot.
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 AFTER LUNCH
We raft several miles of calm, peaceful, and Class I and Class II water, to our new wilderness digs at Buccaneer’s Bay. The scenery in this stretch is absolutely beautiful and can be seen only from the river. We will pass under the Hwy 49 bridge, past a couple of private campgrounds, past several riverfront mountain homes, maneuver around sharp curves, and past lots of birds. Shortly before we arrive at our overnight camp we will glide past the Mariah base camp (at mile 10.5) -- it is kind of interesting to see it from the river.
Overnight at the Mariah Beach Camp
Mid-afternoon, usually between 3 P.M.-4 P.M. we arrive at our wilderness campsite. The guides will set up our kitchen while the guests set up their tents (with help from the guides) and get comfortable. There is plenty of time to take a stroll, pull out your binoculars, take photos, read, or just relax. The evening is spent enjoying a delicious dinner and spinning tales around the campfire.
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SECOND DAY
Second Day, June 24
Sunday morning you will be able to wake up leisurely, enjoy the absolutely pristine and quiet morning in this beautiful section of the river canyon. You may want to do some reading, relaxing, hiking, and swimming while we wait for the dam-released water to reach us.
Late morning and we raft to our private lunch spot and raft through the Gorge Section of the South Fork American River in the afternoon.
Today we raft nine miles of the Gorge section of the South Fork. After a delicious lunch at our private picnic site, we enter the narrow canyons of the Gorge. Rapids named Fowlers, Satan's Cesspool, Son of the Satan's, Hospital Bar, Recovery Room, test our skills and cause our adreline to flow wildly.
At approximately 2:30 P.M.
We will take out of the river about 2:30 P. M., drive you back to our main South Fork Campground where your gear awaits you. There will be a short slide show presentation of your two days of rafting. You will be ready to depart for home by 3-4 P.M.
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Mariah's Ultimate Tent Experience
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Mariah's campground is outdoor living in style with many of the same comforts you have at home. Rent one of Mariah's Luxury Tents and enjoy the riverfront view while sitting on your own private veranda. Wake up to a steaming hot cup of java at the Coffee Corner, or wind down after rafting at the Wine & Beverage Garden. For the ultimate peaceful moments, take a walk on our Sierra Nature Trail or find a private bench near the river that invites leisure activites.
Want some more excitement after rafting? Play a fun game of volleyball, ping pong, or horseshoes. On most Saturday evenings the crickets join in on live bluegrass music, soft guitar music, a jazz trio, or mandolin playing for your entertainment. On Thursdays Rodney, our resident goldpanner will demonstrate the art of goldpanning. And don't forget about all of the delicious fresh food that the Mariah Guides prepare outdoors just for you.
Our Camp Store is stocked with last minute items you may need for your American River rafting trip. We also have Mariah Gear for sale so you can take something home to remember your whitewater rafting trip. To keep informed about local events or the gold history of Coloma head over to the Guest Information Kiosk.
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Click the image above to view the gallery
Click Here for Accomodations, Equipment Rental, and Order Form
Click Here for the Mariah Camp Ground Map
Click Here for Area Information
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 Eagle's Nest & Falcon's Nest
Eagle's Nest and Falcon's Nest are each on a raised-platform. They are cabin-style tents each with 5 deluxe sleeping cots, 5 deluxe pads, and 5 deck chairs. These airy tents have lovely views of the tree-lined river and there's plenty of room on large verandas to enjoy visiting, morning coffee, an evening glass of wine, a peaceful bird calls.
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 Hawk's Nest
This is our brand new cabin-style tent with 4 deluxe sleeping cots, 4 deluxe pads, and 4 deck chairs. Hawk's Nest rests on the ground and has a nice canvas awning under which you can relax in your deck chair and listen to the sounds of the river.
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Sparrow, Kingfisher, and Hummingbird
Sparrow, Kingfisher, and Hummingbird are each on a raised-platform. They are cabin-style tents each with 2 deluxe sleeping cots, 2 deluxe pads, and 2 deck chairs. These airy tents have lovely views of the tree-lined river. Their verandas are perfect spots for enjoying the river views.
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Mulberry, Acorn, Poppy, and Berry
Mulberry, Acorn, Poppy, and Berry are each on a raised-platform with a small veranda. They are large family-style tents each with 4 deluxe pads, and lovely view of the river.
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 2 Person Dome Tents
2-person Dome Tents are comfortable and have enough space for 2 people, 2 of our deluxe pads (which you may rent for an additional price), and all of your personal gear.
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