American River at Sac State, from Guy West BridgeThe American River begins its descent from the Sierras as several forks which slowly combine and dump into Folsom Lake. Folsom Lake is held by the Folsom Dam, which releases water into Lake Nimbus, which is held by the Nimbus Dam. The Foresthill Bridge is one bridge that spans the river.
From the Nimbus Dam, the American River wanders approximately 21 miles to its confluence where it meets the Sacramento River. The confluence is near I-5 and Richards Blvd., inside of Discovery Park.
In Sacramento the American River is bordered on both sides by the American River Parkway, which consists of publicly and privately held properties, which serve as a buffer from the urban environment. This is the site of the annual Eppie's Great Race triathlon.
The American River has normal flows which range from 1000 cubic feet per second to around 10000 cubic feet per second, seasonally. During periods of heavy rains, the American River has topped 130000 cubic feet per second, which causes localized flooding, generally within the levee system that is common throughout Sacramento.
- American River Paddleboating Guide. Rafting, kayaking, canoeing & innertubing are popular on the North Fork, Middle Fork & South Fork American River.
- American River NF MF Conservation & Recreation Directory. American River SF Directory. Annotated list of river-related websites. Display options: alphabetical 100. Section 1=kayaking & flow information. 2=rafting-innertubing. 3=conservation. 4=fishing. 5=hiking & camping. 6=local information.
