American River
The North Fork is the longest tributary of the American River, at . It begins at an elevation of about near Lake Tahoe in Placer County at Mountain Meadow Lake, just northeast of Granite Chief and immediately due west of Squaw Valley Ski Resort. It flows westward through remote wilderness areas.
South Fork American River
Meandering through the Sierra foothills this 20 mile section of river has a lot to offer. Thanks to the efforts of local communities and advocacy groups the riperean eco-system of the South Fork remains despite the destructive effects of the gold rush and other developments. The river is home to a wide array of flora and fauna such as bald eagles, golden eagles, beaver and river otter. In Spring the hillsides of the upper Chili Bar section are adorned with stunning California poppies and other wild flowers. There are also interesting historical sights on the river such as grinding holes made by the Nisenan people that once inhabited the area and diversion channels blasted out during the gold rush.