American River Middle Fork in Placer, California For Fishing & Camping

Fish Species

• Brown Trout
• Rainbow Trout

While the Middle Fork originates near the source of the North Fork, it is characterized by somewhat broader steep canyons interspersed with manmade reservoirs, natural waterfalls, and quiet riparian areas. The Middle Fork is used extensively for both motorized and non-motorized recreation, including fishing, white water adventuring, bicycling (mountain and road), horseback riding, trail running and hiking. It contains areas used for hydroelectric generation, mining, and agricultural timber cultivation and harvesting. The Middle Fork features the Western States Trail that hosts multiple annual endurance events including the prestigious Tevis Cup equestrian trail ride and the world famous Western States 100 Mile Trail Run, both beginning at Squaw Valley and leading to Auburn via remote wilderness trails. From the Confluence at Auburn, the combined North and Middle Forks river flows at an elevation of 600 feet (200 m) in a forested canyon 800 feet (240 m) deep and is called the North Fork. It meanders through additional wilderness recreational canyons past the site of the abandoned Auburn Dam, and back into wilderness, onward to where it meets the South Fork at Folsom Lake