River Runners Camp at Camp Lotus
Camp Lotus is a spacious and lush riverfront campground nestled in the Coloma-Lotus Valley.
River Runners has been proud to partner with Camp Lotus since 2005 to provide a premier camping experience to complement our premier rafting experience.
Camp Lotus is a family-owned and operated campground offering over 20 acres of camping and recreational facilities alongside a calm section of the South Fork of the American River.
River Runners and Camp Lotus are united in the common goal of providing a family-friendly and community-conscious camping experience for all participants. Quiet hours are strictly enforced from 10 PM to 8 AM to ensure that all campers get a good night’s rest.
Core Values
One of Camp Lotus’s core values is cultivating a low-impact campground that facilitates unique interactions between campers and the natural beauty of the setting. You will find naturally-occurring vegetation “fences” between the campsites which encourage wildlife and native plants and trees to thrive.
Mule deer, quail, raccoons, lizards, turtles, and birds of all kinds are frequently seen throughout the campground. You might even catch a glimpse of a river otter or beaver on the one-mile nature trail that encompasses the campground!
One of our favorite things about Camp Lotus is the extensive river access found throughout the campground. River Runners launches Gorge rafting trips directly into the river at our campsite at Camp Lotus, and Chili Bar trips end in the same location, eliminating the extra bus ride that many rafting companies require.
Camping Accommodations
If you choose a 2-day camping and rafting trip with River Runners, you will arrive to find your tents set up in a spacious and grassy campsite just steps from our commercial kitchen and dining room. Camp Lotus provides flush toilets and hot showers, and wifi can be found at the Camp store. The Camp store is fully equipped with camping essentials like snacks, drinks, toiletries, hats, apparel, and river play items.
Camp Lotus also offers RV camping sites, cabins, yurts, and even a riverside bell tent! These accommodations can be booked through the Camp Lotus website.
Check out Camp Lotus’ FAQ about your stay in the Camp Lotus campground!
Meals & Cooking
If you booked meals with us, get ready to eat well!! River Runners meals are prepared and served in our commercial kitchen located at our campsite in Camp Lotus. Check out our menu here!
River Runners does not offer any refrigeration or cooking facilities to be used by guests, but the Camp Lotus store does keep a large stock of ice to replenish coolers, and there are a number of local restaurant options available for guests who have not booked meals through River Runners.
Check out our FAQs for more information about what to expect on a River Runners trip!
Camp Lotus Address and Map
Camp Lotus is located at 5461 Bassi Road, Lotus, California 95651. River Runners is located at campsite “I”, at the back of the campground.
All River Runners South Fork American River trips meet at our campsite inside Camp Lotus. When arriving, please check in at the Camp Lotus store. Let them know that you have booked a trip with us, and they will issue you a parking pass (you already paid for this with your reservation). They will give you directions through the campground to our basecamp.
