The North Yuba River, long, rises at Yuba Pass along California State Route 49, near the eastern boundary of the Tahoe National Forest. It flows southwest then west through a canyon past the communities of Downieville (where it receives the Downie River from the north) and Goodyears Bar. Its main tributaries, Canyon Creek and Slate Creek, join from the north shortly downstream of there. The river turns south near Clipper Mills and flows into the New Bullards Bar Reservoir, impounded by -high New Bullards Bar Dam. About below New Bullards Bar Dam, it joins with the Middle Yuba River to form the Yuba River.