North Fork American River {N.Fk.Am.R.}) MAP
Hike # 2 (For Foresthill Trailhead, see Hike # 13)
Directions to trailhead: Follow I80 and take the Alta exit (30 miles from Auburn). Set your trip meter. Turn right at stop sign, then immediately left onto Casa Loma (signed). You will now again be traveling east, parallel to I80. At 0.9 mile, bear sharply right to go over the one-lane bridge (don’t go straight, which would take you under RR bridge). Stay on pavement and cross RR tracks at 1.3 miles. Pavement ends at 2.4 miles. At 2.8 miles, cross RR tracks again, after a sharp turn to the right. Bear left at the fork, and park at trailhead, where you will find an outhouse.
Trailhead UTM: 10 S 06 92 582 43 40 547
Topographic Map: Dutch Flat 7.5’
Elevation: 3688’ to 1916’ (3827’ total elevation gain)
Distance: 2.8 miles to foot bridge round trip
8 miles to Humbug Bar round trip
10 miles to American Eagle Mine round trip
Difficulty: Strenuous
Jurisdiction: Tahoe National Forest
Trail description: “Euchre” was the name for a French card game once popular among miners of the region. Trail blazes reveal this to be an old mining trail. After crossing the footbridge built in 1965, continue upstream. Taking the left fork at the junction near the bridge will quickly lead to a dead end. (CAUTION! This trail segment ends abruptly at a ledge high above the river! The Memorial on a tree here is for Jeff Alan Blondell, 1956-1980, “Good miner, better friend.”) Take the right fork to continue upstream past white riffles, mining equipment, and turquoise pools.
Campsites: Several choice campsites are available nearby.
Get Off Your Gass 