As of April 2022, we’ve provided downloads of some maps below, but things do change. So if you require the most up-to-date access information, we recommend checking with the source.
The American River watershed can be found in California, U.S.A. It begins in the heights of the Sierra Nevada just west of Lake Tahoe and travels west, joining the Sacramento River in California’s capitol city of Sacramento. See the watershed map for an overview of the relationship of the different sections of the river to Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, and other landmarks.
Most of the upper stretches of the South Fork of the American River, along with the Rubicon tributary of the Middle Fork, are located within the El Dorado National Forest. Their website has links to fire and aviation, maps, FAQs, and permit information for the Forest. Most of the North Fork watershed and the rest of the Middle Fork are located within the Tahoe National Forest, whose website is also a great resource.
We recommend the printed maps and guidebooks published by PARC (Protect American River Canyons). Many of their materials cover the Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA), which encompasses much of the North and Middle Fork watersheds. You’ll find river maps, hiking trails, nature guides, and the comprehensive An Insider’s Guide to the North, Middle and South Forks of the American River and Canyons, now in its 3rd edition.
El Dorado County’s South Fork American River Whitewater Recreation Program.
In addition to the PARC guide referenced above, there are several printed guidebooks aimed at paddlers. Unfortunately, none have been recently published, but they are still useful and make for great reading. You can find used copies on Amazon and elsewhere:
Main Stem of the American River: Interactive map from the American River Parkway Association.
Many of the rafting outfitters have river maps on their websites.
If you have maps or other information to share, please contact us.
