Middle Fork American River Area-South:

This sweeping Area climbs from the foothills above Auburn up the Middle Fork American and the Rubicon Rivers until it tops out below the Sierra Crest and Granite Chief and Desolation Wildernesses.

Based on historic access in the early 1900s the Middle Fork American River was split geographically into two National Forests. The Tahoe National Forest essentially on the north and the Eldorado National Forest essentially on the south. This discussion concentrates on the Eldorado NF on the south side of the river.

Georgetown sits well into the heart of the foothills and serves as the gateway to most of this area. The rustic but booming community is the one prominent town in this portion of the Eldorado National Forest.

This is the rugged canyon country of the Middle Fork American and Rubicon Rivers. Except for the canyons themselves the terrain is relatively gentle, and roads are frequently spaced into the area that is the heart of timber country. Although there are a couple of great trails, non-motorized use trails are few in number, but the famed Rubicon OHV Trail snakes from Loon Lake to Lake Tahoe.

The upper end of the watershed around Loon Lake and Gerle Creek Reservoirs are often referred to as the northern end of the Crystal Basin Recreation Area. The high country where the Rubicon River begins drains from the heart of the Desolation Wilderness and the Crystal Mountains.

The Dru Barner equestrian campground and adjacent trails and primitive roads are popular with trail riders.

The paved Wentworth Springs Road, FS #1, was recently extended to the paved Ice House Road and make for pleasant, scenic drives to either Loon Lake or south by Union Valley Reservoir to Highway 50 east above Placerville.

Only the Middle Fork American below Oxbow Reservoir sustains a popular whitewater recreational opportunity. Above there including the Rubicon River, access is either difficult or flows are affected by the reservoirs and the river runs are doable but not commonly floated.

Fishing can be quite good below Oxbow, but the same flow and access problems that deter whitewater advocates decrease the fishing use. Dominant reservoirs are Hell Hole, Loon Lake, Gerle Creek Divide, and Stumpy Meadows and all are loved by anglers with small fishing boats. Gerle Creek Divide also makes an idea opportunity to fish for the resident Brown Trout from the trail around the shoreline. Swimming is very popular. There is both a great campground and picnic area making this a favorite for families.

Both the headwaters of the Middle Fork and South Fork American Rivers offer a unique recreation opportunity through overnight rental by the Eldorado National Forest of several rustic accommodations ranging from fire lookouts, a bunkhouse, a ski lodge and the summer home of a timber baron.

Directions: Highways 49 plus 193 between Auburn, Georgetown and Coloma serve the foothills region on the west side of the Area. The paved Wentworth Springs Road, FS #1, climbs near the southern boundaries until it and feeder roads serve the high-country near Hell Hole and Loon Lakes.