Tributary - South Silver Creek
|
| Put-in: |
1.2 Miles above Ice House Reservoir (Autobahn) |
| Take-out: |
Ice House Reservoir |
| Difficulty: |
Class V, Granite Slides and Tea Cup Drops
|
| Length: |
1.2 miles |
Lovers Leap
|
| Put-in: |
Strawberry |
| Take-out: |
Kyburz |
| Difficulty: |
Class V
|
| Length: |
9.6 miles |
Kyburz to Riverton
|
| Put-in: |
Kyburz |
| Take-out: |
Route 50 Bridge |
| Difficulty: |
Class III-IV 700-1,200 cfs
IV-V 1,200-3,000 cfs
|
| Length: |
9.5 miles |
Riverton to Peavine
|
| Put-in: |
Route 50 Bridge |
| Take-out: |
Peavine Ridge Road |
| Difficulty: |
Class III, IV
|
| Length: |
3.5 miles |
Golden Gate
|
| Put-in: |
Peavine Ridge Road |
| Take-out: |
Forebay Road |
| Difficulty: |
Class V+
|
| Length: |
9.5 miles |
Tributary-Silver Creek
|
| Put-in: |
Camino Reservoir |
| Take-out: |
South Fork Confluence |
| Difficulty: |
Class V
|
| Length: |
9.2 miles |
Slab Creek
|
| Put-in: |
Slab Creek Dam |
| Take-out: |
White Rock Powerhouse |
| Difficulty: |
Class V
|
| Length: |
7 miles |
Tributary - Rock Creek
|
| Put-in: |
Near Dutch Canyon |
| Take-out: |
Rock Creek Road |
| Difficulty: |
Class IV+
|
| Length: |
6.3 miles |
Chili Bar
 
|
| Put-in: |
Chili Bar |
| Take-out: |
Highway 49 bridge NW of Coloma |
| Difficulty: |
Class III
|
| Length: |
5.8 miles |
Coloma Park to Lotus Campground
|
| Put-in: |
Coloma Park |
| Take-out: |
Lotus Campground |
| Difficulty: |
Class II @ 500 - 1,500 cfs, II+ @ 1,500 - 3,000 cfs, III > 3,000 cfs
|
| Length: |
3 miles |
South Fork Gorge
|
| Put-in: |
Marshall Gold Discovery State Park |
| Take-out: |
Salmon Falls Bridge |
| Difficulty: |
Class III
|
| Length: |
14.5 miles |
|
The South Fork of the American River is one of the most popular boating destinations in the entire country. It is located just outside of Sacramento, California in gold rush country and offers Class III rapids with steady flows throughout the entire summer. The season begins in April and continues through September, allowing for plenty of time to explore this classic whitewater run.
The South Fork of the American is surrounded by the rolling Sierra Nevada foothills. The rapids are fun and just the right challenge for an intermediate boater. In the summer months, the weather is warm and dry. In the early spring, the weather is cooler and the South Fork American River is usually higher and colder.
In the beginning of this run, the river drops quickly through a steep canyon made up of volcanic rock. There is a section of civilization about halfway through this stretch before the river winds through the gold country foothills, and thunders through a section of continuous Class IIIs before setting in the Folsom Reservoir.
If you are interested in the history of the area, a nice side trip could include a visit to the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. There are also plenty of nice trails along the South Fork of the American River from Lotus-Heningsen Park between Coloma and Lotus.
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