Middle Fork American River

Middle Fork American River
Middle Fork flowing through the Auburn State Recreation Area
Map of the American River drainage basin
Location
Country	United States
State	California
Physical characteristics
Source	Granite Chief Wilderness
• location	Placer County
• coordinates	39°11′39″N 120°16′49″W / 39.19417°N 120.28028°W / 39.19417; -120.28028[1]
• elevation	8,382 ft (2,555 m)
Mouth	North Fork American River
• location	near Auburn
• coordinates	38°54′55″N 121°02′14″W / 38.91528°N 121.03722°W / 38.91528; -121.03722[1]
• elevation	538 ft (164 m)
Length	62.3 mi (100.3 km)[2]
Basin size	616 sq mi (1,600 km2)[2]
Discharge
• location	near Auburn[3]
• average	1,332 cu ft/s (37.7 m3/s)
• minimum	23.2 cu ft/s (0.66 m3/s)
• maximum	253,000 cu ft/s (7,200 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Rubicon River, Otter Creek, Canyon Creek
• right	Duncan Creek, North Fork Middle Fork American River

The Middle Fork American River is one of three forks that form the American River in Northern California. It drains a large watershed in the high Sierra Nevada west of Lake Tahoe and northeast of Sacramento in Placer and El Dorado Counties, between the watersheds of the North Fork American River and South Fork American River. The Middle Fork joins with the North Fork near Auburn and they continue downstream to Folsom Lake as the North Fork, even though the Middle Fork carries a larger volume of water.

The Middle Fork was one of the richest gold mining areas during the California Gold Rush of the 1850s, and is still recreationally mined today. The river is dammed extensively to produce hydroelectricity and provide domestic water supply. Although long stretches of the Middle Fork have been dewatered by diversions, the portion of the river and canyon in the Auburn State Recreation Area is one of the state's most popular whitewater runs. Professional whitewater rafting companies offer guided trips on the Middle Fork American river from May to October. The Middle Fork canyon also has an extensive system of hiking and riding trails including the Western States Trail, which stretches 100 miles (160 km) from Auburn to Lake Tahoe.