Greetings,
Happy Summer and early Fall from the Mother Lode River Center!
As the temperatures cool here in Lotus, it is the perfect time to visit the Lotus/Coloma Valley! Each season tens of thousands of visitors to Apple Hill and local wineries discover how beautiful Autumn is in the foothills. It may surprise you, however, that the South Fork continues to flow robustly by the MaLode camp, carrying rafters laughing and celebrating with hoots and high fives on Highway Rapid. Meanwhile, our challenge course participants are swinging in the tree canopy and campers are enjoying the evenings filled with stars. Yes, the 2024 season is definitely not over!
What’s New?
Not only is the Mother Lode celebrating its 50th Anniversary this season, we are pleased to announce our first year of year around operation. This 2024 season robust flows on the South Fork American will continue on weekends all year. This will allow Mother Lode to take River Rafting trips and Packrafting instruction course reservations. Not limited by river flows, our Ropes Challenge Course, Zipline and Outdoor Education Programs will be available by reservation on both weekends and weekdays.
To celebrate, we will host an Open House and Get Outdoors Day on Sunday, October 6th to allow schools, families and interested groups to explore the Mother Lode River Center. There will be opportunities to try out the Zipline, the Leap of Faith and the Climbing Wall on our Ropes Challenge Course. These activities will be at no charge, however, please RSVP to malode@malode.com and let us know your interests, numbers attending, or whether you wish to present an activity.
We also invite those interested to tour the camp which extends over 20 acres and a half mile of riverfront with stunning river views and a wide variety of attractions. Those hiking the Nature Trail will discover towering heritage oaks that provided acorns the local Native Americans, the Nisenan, gathered and ground into meal with chaw’se or grinding rocks. One large riverside granite outcropping on the trail features over 30 grinding holes or ‘bedrock motars’ which vary from a few inches to over a foot in depth. Since each fraction of an inch represents over a hundred years of use, the deepest hole represents several thousand years!
On your hike look out for a stand of the world’s oldest plants, no, not the redwoods! Check out Beaver Beach which features willow trees gnawed by beavers. Don’t forget ‘Desoto Tree’ on the old historic stagecoach road where local rancher Francis Bacchi used his lasso to prevent a Desoto car from being swept into the river in the flood of 1954. He lassoed its hood ornament and used his saddle horn and cutting pony to secure it to the tree. Don’t try this on any modern car! And then there is the secret River Sauna….
Other activities available include gold panning, volleyball, Cornhole or our own River Rescue 3 inspired throw bag toss. Since volunteer presenters are still signing up, who knows what you will encounter? Prepare to be pleasantly surprised!
We look forward to seeing you on the MaLode Green!
Please Note: Terms and conditions apply for participation. Please see relevant activity description.
