Auburn State Recreation Area extends about 40 miles along the North and Middle Forks of the American River near Auburn in California’s Gold Country. Once heavily worked during the mining era, these river canyons are now protected for recreation and relatively natural river scenery. The area is popular for hiking, camping, fishing, boating, mountain biking, horseback riding, gold panning, and notable whitewater runs, and it has become a major venue for endurance events. The recreation area exists because the proposed Auburn Dam was abandoned after geologic fault concerns and fears of a reservoir-induced earthquake, leaving a large protected river landscape instead of a reservoir.