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Map Satellite Located on the headwaters of the North Fork of the American River, this Reserve supports a variety of habitats. Much of the area consists of a montane coniferous forest, with white fir, Abies concolor, red fir, Abies magnifica, and Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi, the dominants. In the upper portions, this forest grades into a subalpine coniferous forest with mountain hemlock, Tsuga mertensiana, lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana, and occasional western white pine, Pinus monticola. There is also some montane chaparral, with huckleberry oak, Quercus vaccinifolia, associated with Arctostaphylos spp. and Ceanothus cordulatus.
A number of meadows are found in the area; corn-lily, Veratrum californicum, delphinium, Delphinium glaucum, and elephant head, Pedicularis groenlandica, are common in the meadows. Along the river and streams and in moist areas there are aspen groves, with Populus tremuloides, montane mixed riparian woodlands and willow thickets. Some alpine fell fields are present.
There is a rich fauna of vertebrates typical of the west slope of the Sierra. Mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, utilize the area as a summer range. Black bear, Ursus americanus, bobcat, Lynx rufus, gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus, red fox, Vulpes fulva, and coyote, Canis latrans, are among the larger mammals that occur here.
Mesozoic granitics and Jurassic metasedimentaries underlie much of the area. In addition to the river, there are several tributary creeks and a lake.
Integrity: Most of the area is virtually undisturbed.
Use: Research, educational.
June 1981
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
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