The South Fork is 87 miles (140 km) long.
It originates at Echo Summit near Echo Lake south of Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County, just south of where U.S. Route 50 makes a sharp curve northward to descend into Tahoe Valley.
The South Fork has multi-use recreational areas, including the Rubicon Trail for motorized adventuring and whitewater rafting venues.
 The South Fork also features the historic town of Coloma, where the California Gold Rush began in 1848.
Trout fishing and recreational gold panning are popular activities on the South Fork.

The Silver Fork American River is a 20-mile-long (32 km) tributary of the South Fork American River, that has its origin at Silver Fork Lake
The South Fork is 87 miles (140 km) long. It originates at Echo Summit near Echo Lake south of Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County, just south of where U.S. Route 50 makes a sharp curve northward to descend into Tahoe Valley. The South Fork has multi-use recreational areas, including the Rubicon Trail for motorized adventuring and whitewater rafting venues.  The South Fork also features the historic town of Coloma, where the California Gold Rush began in 1848. Trout fishing and recreational gold panning are popular activities on the South Fork.
The Silver Fork American River is a 20-mile-long (32 km) tributary of the South Fork American River, that has its origin at Silver Fork Lake
American River