EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. — One of the nation’s premier whitewater destinations is preparing to welcome elite paddlers from across the country after the United States Rafting Association announced the 2026 U.S. Rafting National Championships will be held on the South Fork of the American River next August.
The championship event is scheduled for Aug. 13-16, 2026, with competition centered along the South Fork corridor between Chili Bar Dam and Nugget Campground near Placerville. The event will serve as a national team selection competition, helping determine which American athletes will represent the United States in future international rafting competitions.
According to the United States Rafting Association, competitors will race in multiple disciplines, including sprint, slalom and head-to-head competition. Teams will compete in both four-person and two-person raft divisions, with identical rafts provided for the primary R4 category to ensure a level playing field.
The association described the event as a
“”National Team Selection Event” “featuring “three days of racing”
with the goal of identifying the country’s top rafting athletes.
The selection of the South Fork American River comes as little surprise within the whitewater community. Long regarded as one of the most popular rafting rivers in the United States, the South Fork attracts thousands of recreational rafters each year and has become synonymous with California whitewater rafting. The river’s mix of technical rapids, reliable flows and accessibility from the Sacramento region makes it an ideal venue for national-level competition.
For El Dorado County residents, the championship represents more than just a sporting event. The competition is expected to generate economic activity for local lodging providers, campgrounds, restaurants and outdoor recreation businesses throughout the Coloma, Lotus and Placerville areas.
The event also highlights the growing recognition of El Dorado County as an outdoor recreation destination. The American River corridor already draws visitors for rafting, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking and Gold Rush history tourism. Hosting a national championship places an additional spotlight on the region’s natural resources and recreation economy.
International teams are expected to participate as guests, although only U.S. teams will be eligible to claim national titles. Registration for competitors is already open through the United States Rafting Association.
The championship headquarters will be based at Nugget Campground along the South Fork American River, with organizers also seeking volunteers and event officials as preparations move forward over the next year.
Residents interested in learning more about the event can visit the United States Rafting Association’s championship information page at United States Rafting Association.
Sources
- United States Rafting Association 2026 National Championships announcement.
- Event registration information published by the United States Rafting Association.
