The North Fork of the American River offers some of the best and most popular class IV and V whitewater rafting and kayaking in California. Boating is optimal on the North Fork from April through June, depending on the winter snow pack and spring runoff. The spring is a spectacular time to raft or kayak the North Fork because wildflowers abound and spring rains keep the vegetation lush and green. The North Fork American is free-flowing, so the water reduces to merely a trickle in the summer and fall months.

There are several options for intermediate and advanced boating on the North Fork of the American. Generation Gap, the highest run in elevation and in difficulty, offers 12 miles of solid class V whitewater. Just below Generation Gap is Giant Gap, 14.5 miles of class II-IV rapids. Giant Gap flows directly into the Chamberlain Falls run, and many boaters choose to continue downstream the 9 miles to an easy take-out.

Generation Gap (above Euchre Bar) is only run by expert kayakers and some expert rafters. The only way to put in is a 3-mile hike that takes boaters to a wonderland of whitewater, scenery, and solitude. The water is crystal-clear, the rapids are steep, and there is no way out of this spectacular, remote canyon except downstream. The whitewater is so exciting on this section of the North Fork, that you will hardly have a moment to enjoy some of the most breathtaking scenery in California.

Just below Generation Gap is the more popular class V Giant Gap section (Euchre Bar to Iowa Hills Rd). It is mostly run by private boaters, however, a few commercial rafting companies still offer trips on “The Gap.” The two-mile hike to put-in at Euchre Bar is a workout, but not as difficult as the three tumultuous class V rapids: Nutcracker, Locomotive, and Dominator. There are numerous fun class II-IV rapids as well. The Giant Gap section requires lots of maneuvering and there are few places to hike out of the canyon or to portage the rapids, so boaters must commit to running the entire stretch.