American River

The American River is a left tributary of the Sacramento River in northern California, United States. Its three headwaters, the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork, rise in the northern Sierra Nevada west of Lake Tahoe. The Middle Fork joins the North Fork, and the two remaining branches join at Folsom in what is now Folsom Lake. The American River proper flows out of this reservoir before joining the Sacramento River at the center of California's capital city of Sacramento, 48 km to the southwest.

Already the headwaters are dammed to produce electricity and drinking water in the mountains. Folsom Lake, formed by the Folsom Dam built in 1955 and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, is the largest reservoir on the river, covering 46 km2. In the urban area of Folsom, on a historic side channel, is the Folsom Powerhouse, built in 1895, which provided the first electrical power for the California capital.

In January 1848, carpenter James W. Marshall built Sutter's Mill on behalf of landowner Johann August Sutter in the valley of the South Fork of the American River near Coloma and discovered gold nuggets in the riverbed. He thus triggered the California Gold Rush.

In addition to hydropower and drinking water production, the American River serves recreational uses. All headwaters are outstanding whitewater areas. Below Folsom, the river becomes calmer, and the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, named after the trapper and fur trader Jedediah Smith, runs along 50 km of the river, a combined hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking trail. Large portions of the riverfront are designated as the American River Parkway, are used for recreational purposes, and connect points of historical and scenic interest.

A 37 km stretch of the river above the mouth of the American River is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River in the "recreational" category.

The 137 km North Fork American River is also protected as a National Wild and Scenic River. 61 river kilometres carry the category "wild" ("whitewater").

The Middle Fork American River flows into the North Fork and has a length of 105 km.

The South Fork American River originates in Echo Lake. It is 145 km long and meets the North Fork in Folsom Lake.

The Silver Fork American River has its source south of Silver Lake in Amador County. From there it flows in a northwesterly direction for 32 km to the South Fork. The Silver Fork is popular with fly fishermen. Brown trout are typically caught here.

Name variations

The river bore different names in several languages over time:

• American fork
• Rio de los Americanos
• Rio Ojotska
• Wild River