Tag: American River
Foresthill Bridge: California’s Tallest Bridge Over the American River
Few landmarks in the foothills make you feel the scale of the American River canyon like Foresthill Bridge. One moment you are driving out of Auburn on Foresthill Road, and the next you are hundreds of feet above the North Fork American River, looking across one of the most dramatic bridge crossings in California. Also …...
No Hands Bridge in Auburn: Visiting the Historic Mountain Quarries Bridge
No Hands Bridge is one of Auburn State Recreation Area’s most recognizable landmarks, a historic concrete railroad bridge turned scenic trail crossing in the American River canyon. Its official name is Mountain Quarries Bridge, and it was completed in 1912, for the Mountain Quarries Railroad, which hauled quarry material out of the...
Lake Clementine Trail: A Guide to Auburn’s Best Waterfall Hike
Lake Clementine Trail is one of Placer County’s most rewarding hikes, leading from the North Fork American River canyon to the dramatic spillway of North Fork Dam. Along the way, the route passes beneath the towering Foresthill Bridge, follows a corridor tied to Gold Rush travel, and stops near Clark’s Hole before climbing toward the...
Clark’s Hole: A Historic American River Swimming Spot Near Auburn
Located along the North Fork American River, just upstream from the confluence in the Auburn State Recreation Area, Clark’s Hole is one of those spots that’s easy to overlook but unforgettable once you experience it. Also known as Clark’s Pool, this swimming hole has been part of Auburn’s outdoor life for more than a century....
Iowa Hill Bridge: The Old and New Bridges Near Colfax, California
Iowa Hill Bridge is one of those Placer County points of interest where a simple river crossing turns into a wonderful piece of Gold Country history. Placed along Iowa Hill Road between Colfax and the ghost town of Iowa Hill, this crossing over the North Fork American River gives visitors a rare side-by-side look at …...
Pennyweight Falls Trail: Hiking to a Hidden Waterfall Near Colfax
Pennyweight Falls is one of those Placer County waterfalls that’s often overlooked for other falls nearby. Yet, Pennyweight Falls is a wonderful addition to any Auburn State Recreation Area visit. Tucked below Colfax, near Iowa Hill Road, Mineral Bar, and the North Fork American River, the trail gives you a quick dose of Gold Country...
Codfish Falls Trail: Auburn SRA Waterfall Hike
Codfish Falls Trail is one of the easier waterfall hikes in Auburn State Recreation Area, but the drive to the trailhead is what most visitors remember first. The hike follows the North Fork American River before turning up Codfish Creek to a seasonal waterfall, with spring wildflowers, canyon views, river access, and a rough final...
Yankee Jims Bridge: A Walk Through Placer County History
At first glance, Yankee Jims Bridge looks like a quiet backcountry crossing suspended above the North Fork American River in the Auburn State Recreation Area. But this narrow bridge in Placer County stands on a route with roots deep in California’s Gold Rush era, when the nearby mining camp of Yankee Jim’s helped turn the …...
South Fork American River: From Iowa Canyon Waterfalls to Slab Creek Dam
Along the South Fork American River, in El Dorado County, sits the Slab Creek Dam which was built in 1967. This dammed portion of the river creates the Slab Creek Reservoir and just a little ways down from the reservoir is where the Iowa Canyon Creek flows into the American River. This creek spans roughly …...
