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
The South Fork of the American has approximately eight sections of boatable whitewater ranging from class II to class V. The most commonly run section of river is the class III stretch between Chili Bar Dam and Folsom Lake.