Autumn Veatch had been on a small plane with her step-grandparents which crashed in the North Cascades National Park in Washington state.
She is being treated in hospital, but has no life-threatening injuries.
It is not known what happened to Autumn's step-grandparents, whom she attempted to pull from the wreckage.
Autumn's father, David, told reporters outside a hospital in the town of Brewster that his daughter was exhausted, but doing remarkably well.
He said she was able to joke with him about all the survival shows they watched together on television, according to the Associated Press news agency.
"She's just an amazing kid,'' he said. "There's more to her than she knows.''
Transport authorities said the Beech A-35, which was registered to Autumn's step-grandfather, left Kalispell in Montana at around 13:00 on Saturday.
It was due to land in Lynden, Washington, later on Saturday and family members raised the alarm when there was no sign of the plane.
Autumn left the scene of the crash after a day and followed the river, via a trail, downstream to the nearest road, family friend Santina Lampman told the Seattle Times.
A passing motorist spotted her on Monday and took her to the town of Mazama, where she received medical attention before being taken to hospital.
Doctors say she is suffering from dehydration and a treatable kind of muscle tissue breakdown caused by exercise without food or water, but that she is expected to make a full recovery.
"It's a miracle, no question about it," Lt Col Jeffrey Lustick of the Civil Air Patrol told reporters. "Moments of joy like this can be hard to find."
The plane's wreckage has not yet been found but the search was due to resume again on Tuesday.

At least 114 people died and some 700 were injured in last week's blast.
Residents are demanding compensation and firms have seen their assets damaged and production disrupted.
Thousands had to evacuate their homes after toxic chemicals were detected in the air following the blasts at the world's tenth-busiest port.
Based on official Chinese media reports, bank Credit Suisse estimates the losses could amount to $1-1.5bn (Â£640-957m).
Ratings agency Fitch though warned the bill could be much higher.
"Claims from the blasts are likely to undermine the financial performance of some regional players and those property and casualty insurers with high risk accumulation in the affected areas," Fitch said.
Local Chinese insurers are expected to bear the brunt of the costs.
Investigations into the cause of the blast are still ongoing and the damage is still being assessed.
Aside from the actual damage, a number of factories near the blast site have halted operations leading to losses that could also be compensated by insurers.
Japanese car maker Toyota said more than half its China production capacity would be affected at least through Wednesday.
The company said it had suspended all three production lines at its plant near Tianjin, which can produce 530,000 vehicles a year.
The car maker also said it could divert shipments to the ports of Shanghai and Dalian in response to the severe logistical problems resulting from the Tianjin damage.
Thousands of imported Volkswagen, Toyota, Hyundai and Renault cars, parked near the blast site were damaged in the explosion.
Operations of electronics company Panasonic, logistics firm Singamas Container Holdings and of US maker of agricultural machinery Deere & Co. have also been disrupted.
More on the deadly Tianjin blast:
China explosions: Doubts raised over chemical licences
Potent chemical mix behind blasts
What we know about explosions
The questions being asked by Chinese citizens
'Hero' firefighters hailed
'Like the end of the world': Residents' stories

Patterdale terrier Taz became trapped beneath a concrete terrace at Bath City FC on Thursday night.
Crews from Bath Fire Station had to remove part of the stand at the Twerton Park ground to get to the dog.
A spokesman for Avon Fire and Rescue said: "Once crews reached the terrier they found he was still pinched between the bottom of the stand and soil and rubble below."
The spokesman added: "Firefighters were able to dig out the ground around Taz before pulling him to safety through the gap.
"Once free, he was reunited, unhurt, with his extremely grateful owners."
Bath City have been approached for comment.
A 16-year-old girl has been found after hiking to safety from the scene of a plane crash in a mountainous area of the north-western US.
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Insurance claims after the deadly Tianjin blast could far exceed official estimates, Fitch ratings agency has warned.
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A dog has been rescued after getting stuck under a football stand.