American River (South Fork)

Come see what all the hype is about by challenging the rapids on the Wild and Scenic South Fork American River with an America Outdoors outfitter! 

The Gold Rush river, the South Fork American, today still delivers its own special currency as the most popular (and most populated) whitewater run in California. Even before James Marshall's fortuitous 1848 find in John Sutter's mill race, the Rio de los Americanos flaunted its reputation as a wild and capricious mountain stream.

Today, tempered by upstream dams, the South Fork still lurches and bucks through cataracts of boulders, drops and chutes, on its headstrong plunge through Meatgrinder, Fowlers Rock, and Satan's Cesspool, then delivers a rough goodbye at Hospital Bar. Along with these heart-stopping rapids, you'll no doubt come to shore long enough to do some discovering of your own at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park. The twenty-one (21) mile river run can be made in a full day or a more relaxing two day trip.

• Rapids: Class III (Medium)
• Length: 21 miles