Rossmoor Bar has river access on both sides of San Juan Rapids

Rossmoor Bar is a peninsula with the American River on three sides. It is useful for river access, but the launch choice matters. One launch is above the Class II San Juan Rapids. Another is below the rapids for boaters who want to avoid that section.

The bar is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. The access trail is for people on foot. The standard parking fee is $8 per vehicle, $15 for a vehicle with a trailer or an RV, and $30 for a bus. Summer-holiday rates can be higher. Use the self-pay station when no fee collector is present.

Treat this as moving river water, not a swimming pool. Wear a properly fitted life jacket. Children age 13 and younger must wear one on Sacramento County public waterways. The nearby El Manto river-access point has a life-jacket borrowing station with child and adult sizes.

Cold water, changing current, sharp drop-offs, and hidden debris can turn an easy-looking edge into a hard exit. Avoid the river after heavy rain and review the latest park and water notices before leaving home. Decide which side of the rapids you need before unloading a raft.