North Fork American River

Along this 6.5-kilometer (4-mile) stretch of the North Fork of the American River a typical red fir forest of the western Sierra slopes gradually yields, downhill, to an equally fine representative of the yellow (ponderosa) pine forest. Among the prominent species in the former are the red fir, Abies magnifica, Jeffrey pine, Pinus jeffreyi, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ipomopsis aggregata, and some lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana, and quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides.

In the yellow pine forest the dominant species is the ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, with incense cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, white fir, Abies concolor, and California black oak, Quercus kelloggii, also present. Among the shrubs are Arctostaphylos patula and Ceanothus integerrimus.

There are several small meadows, primarily in the junctions of feeder creeks. Here the vegetation includes various grasses and sedges, skunk cabbage, Veratrum californicum, and Habenaria spp. Along the river, black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa, willows, Salix spp., and dogwood, Cornus sp., are found.

There is an abundant and diverse fauna in the area.

Integrity: The area, save for a little-used trail, is virtually undisturbed.

Use: Private

September 1975