Lower American River

The American River starts high in Sierra Nevada mountain region, west of Lake Tahoe. There are three main forks in the river and they flow through the foothills and converge east of the city of Sacramento. The river is a popular rafting destination and offers rapids, lakes and reservoirs. There is a lot of exciting whitewater action, as well as calm areas for boating and fishing. There are places along the river for hiking and camping and may groups make their way from the start to the end of the river in a combination of hikes, overnights, and boating expeditions. Travelers can take rafting and tubing trips that are self-guided or led by touring companies. The Lower American part of the river is below the Folsom Reservoir dam and is considered the main stem of the river. There are a number of trails along this part of the river and the river is a part of an extensive public park system. Most of the Lower is quite but there are parts that provide rough rapids for riders. More people drown in the Lower American than anywhere else on the river. This is due to a combination of more visitors, the steady current and the cold temperature. The Fair Oaks Bridge is located over the lower banks of the river and connects Fair Oaks to Sacramento. The current bridge is the third in the area and was completed in 1909.