NFAR2: Generation Gap

Sailors Flat Trail – Euchre Bar Trail: The North Fork of the American River is wild. In fact, Congress selected it as an instant “Wild River” when the Wild and Scenic River Act was designated as law in 1968. “It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States that certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their immediate environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values, shall be preserved in free-flowing condition, and that they and their immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.” The North Fork above Auburn, CA with headwaters near the crest of the Sierra Nevada Range south of Soda Springs, was one of only eight rivers in the U.S that were recognized for their pristine, wild nature and designated as an "instant Wild River." Little has changed.

A wildfire started by a lightning has gutted much of the vegetative cover...

 

...snags will continue to fall for dozens of years.

 

DESCRIPTION:

Except: several miles in the upper half of this segment, at this mid-July 2008 writing is being once again totally changed by Mother Nature. A wildfire started by a lightning has gutted much of the vegetative cover along this segment over the past three weeks. And there is a strong chance it’ll continue to burn for weeks yet. Within the deep roadless canyon, there is little man can do to stop it. Instead, the primary goal is to stop the fire from slopping over onto the ridges both on the north and south sides of the river.

Mother Nature has repeated this pattern in the canyon for hundreds of thousands of year. And she will again.

Water quality will decrease somewhat for several years, but as brush, then new forests returns to the canyon walls, the cold clear waters will return. The greatest effect is foremost the lush scenic beauty of the forests. It is too early to tell where the fire created a mosaic of patches of green trees, and totally denuded the forest of anything but black snags. In a dozen or so years, the green vegetation will return, but the snags will continue to fall for dozens of years. Several will clog the free flowing nature of the river as the debris piles onto itself. After each spring runoff, whitewater runs will change for generations Catchable trout will remain in the river, but the fun of angling through the burned area will be missed for generations.

Several of the access trails into the canyon have been wiped clean of shade and color. Downfall of snags will impede access for years.

SierraOutdoorRecreation.com will update the description once the fire finally cools this fall, and the Tahoe National Forest will be able to assess the changes.

DIRECTIONS:

To NFAR2: Generation Gap

Several trails provide access to the river from the canyon walls thousands feet of elevation above. In fact, this is this is the most accessible section of the Wild River. It was, anyway. Most likely, it will be again, but which trails remain relatively useable will not be known for some time. Stay tuned.

ACTIVITIES:

Hiking - Dayhikes (Rating: Good)

This segment of the river is/was the only fairly accessible area, and the only one where two separate trails followed the river canyon with fishing access at several points and, with a little scrambling through the forest, anywhere along the several miles of trail.

As of this writing in mid-July, 2008, the Euchre Bar Trail, American Eagle Trail and the historic, but gated, Dorer Ranch road lay down-river of the fire and hopefully will remain unchanged. This time.

The Mumford Bar Trail and Beacroft Trails, as well as the superb American River Trail as it paralleled the river connects the two, all lie within the heart of the burned area. Today the fire is approaching eastward to the Sailor Flat Trail.

My advice: go somewhere else at least until we know the extent of the changes.

Hiking - Backpacking (Rating: Good)

The opportunity still is available from the Euchre Bar Trail. Backpacking and camping can be done year-round although occasionally some snow will interfere with road access to the trailhead for short periods. You can do the trip in a single day in and out, but I prefer to camp alongside the wild river. Take your camera and fishing pole—if you want fresh trout for supper.

Fishing (Rating: Poor)

Access via trails will be poor for sometime. But the fish will just get bigger and fatter.

Whitewater Thrills (Rating: Poor)

Until the canyon recovers to its more lush nature, debris in the river, as well as partially blocked access trails, will make this a poor opportunity for a fun adventure. But it will be back.

OHV - Motorcycles (Rating: Prohibited)

Wild River

Mountain Biking (Rating: Prohibited)

Wild River

NEARBY LOCATIONS:

Campgrounds

Communities

River-Stream Access

Trails