South Slope of the North Fork American River:

Three of the trails are direct discendents of orignal Gold Rush mining trails and are some of the most challenging.

From the south, the Foresthill Divide Road above Auburn and Foresthill will take you up and down the south rim -- thankfully, much more slowly and with a more relaxed attitude.

The South Slope of the North Fork American River offers more options than from the north and generally more easy access to the bottom of the canyon. Then again, three of the trails are direct discendents of orignal Gold Rush mining trails and are some of the most challenging.

In all though access from the south and the Foresthill Divide Road are the most popular ways to access the wild canyon and the Wild River.

Check out which trail meets your needs and ability first. It's a long ways back out!

Sugar Pine and Big Reservoirs lie above the south rim and are accessed most easily from Foresthill. French Meadows Reservoir lies within the Middle Fork of the American River drainage, but within the mapped area of the North Fork American River - East Map.