Auburn State Recreation Area (American River)
Auburn · near Auburn · Gold Country & Central Valley
Camping
At a glance
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Elevation
- 1000
- Campsites
- Various
- Season
- Year-round (hot summers)
- Fee
- ~$0–25/night
Permits and booking
- Reservation required
- No
- How to reserve
- Mix of first-come and reservable; dispersed and developed river sites along the North and Middle Forks of the American River. Whitewater rafting, swimming holes, gold panning, trails. Primitive facilities. Hot in summer. Check current access.
What is here
- Setting
- lake-river
- Amenities
- American River canyon · Whitewater rafting · Swimming holes & gold panning · Extensive trail network
- Best for
- River recreation + gold-country history
- Features
- North & Middle Fork American River · World-class whitewater · Gold-panning & swimming holes · Miles of trails
Worth knowing
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Good for a first timer
- No
Camping detail
- Camp type
- developed · dispersed
- Intl tip
- Mix of first-come/reservable and dispersed river sites — check current access. Whitewater rafting (outfitters), emerald swimming holes, and gold panning on the American River. Miles of historic trails (Western States/Tevis route). Hot in summer (spring/fall best). Primitive facilities. Combine with the gold-country towns. Rugged river recreation.
The guide
The Auburn State Recreation Area sprawls across the deep canyons of the North and Middle Forks of the American River in the hea…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Auburn State Recreation Area (American River) — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 38.913, -121.035