American, North Fork
1. Tadpole Creek to Euchre Bar(Generation Gap)
| Difficulty | IV-V |
| Length | 12 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Nf American R a North Fork Dam Ca |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 653 cfsrunnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 7, 2026 |
River Description
Put In
Beacroft Trailhead: google map.
Bottom of trail at Tadpole Creek: google map. Elevation = 2850 feet.
Take Out: Boaters can stop at Euchre Bar google map and hike up a trail to Euchre Bar Trailhead google map, but this forces a 50 mile shuttle that takes an hour and a half each direction. Most boaters continue on through Giant Gap to exit at Colfax-Iowa Hill Rd. google map. This shuttle is about 30 miles and takes about an hour each way. Others continue on through the Chamberlain Falls section to Colfax-Foresthill Rd. google map which reduces the shuttle to 28 miles and less than an hour each way.
See also:
...River Features
Beacroft Trailhead
This is the trailhead location where you park for the hike in.
Tadpole Creek Launch Area
Where the trip starts just downstream of Tadpole Creek on river left. Accessed by trail.
Euchre Bar Trail Suspension Bridge River Egress
Boaters can stop at Euchre Bar and hike up a trail to Euchre Bar Trailhead, but this forces a 50 mile shuttle that takes an hour and a half each direction. Most boaters continue on downstream through Giant Gap.
Euchre Bar Trailhead
This is the trailhead where you park for the hike out.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportChecked this one off the list, so to speak. Hiked in the Mumford Bar trail, which was overgrown and rife with poison oak. Low water for generation gap meant portaging a few within dream gap. First gorge was definitely the best quality. Thankful no wood in the portage (since i ran it on my head).
Camped somewhere above dream gap on river right.
Has anyone hiked into this run in 2012 or 2013? The information floating around the web seems to indicate the Beacroft trail is overgrown and nearly impassable.