Just south of the Northern California town of Weed, and east of the coastal town of Eureka, the magnificent Shasta-Trinity National Forest includes 2.1 million acres of conifer, oak, pacific dogwood and madrone trees. The glacier adorned granite peaks of the southern Cascade Mountains reach high into the sky, while a hundred miles of rivers flow through the rocky canyons. There are five large wilderness areas and some 400 species of wildlife. Black bear, ringtail cat, beaver, raccoon, deer, mountain lion, bald eagles, osprey, owls, falcons and hawks are among its residents. The Forest has 1,400 miles of hiking trails—including 154 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. A few miles east of Interstate 5, which bisects Shasta-Trinity, Mt. Shasta rises to 14,162 feet. It is the second highest volcano in the US and supports eight glaciers.
North of Redding, Ca.—and also on I-5—the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area offers a plethora of outdoor activities and phenomenal scenic delights. Its three main lakes are the centers of attraction. These are man-made reservoirs, which capture the waters of the Trinity, Sacramento and McCloud Rivers. The massive National Recreation Area (NRA) covers 203,500 acres and is heaven-on-earth to many campers, anglers hikers and water enthusiasts alike. The fall season here is a special time of year; a cool, clear, refreshing time, when nature prepares for the snowy winter to come, and in so doing, refreshes the human spirit as well.
Whiskeytown NRA
Managed by the National Park Service, and the southern most segment of the three areas, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area covers 42,503 acres. It provides outstanding water sports on Whiskeytown Lake as well as hiking, horseback riding, hunting and mountain biking. There are four small primitive campgrounds and a group picnic area. Shasta Bally—a 6,209-foot mountain—has backcountry trails and off-road opportunities. Whiskeytown is open all year and is located about eight miles west of Redding, Ca. on Ca. Hwy. 299.
Shasta-Trinity Area
The National Forest Service administers the Shasta-Trinity units of the NRA. The Trinity Section is located between Ca.Hwy.299, on the south and Ca.Hwy.3 on its western boundary. With its multitude of marinas, campgrounds, boat ramps and day use areas, the Trinity Lake area can be divided into four sub-units.
Lewiston Lake is south of the Trinity dam and north of Ca.Hwy.233 on Trinity Dam Blvd. Known for its great trout fishing, the lake is five miles long and has 15 miles of shoreline. The area provides four public campgrounds and a few private parks. The Trinity Heritage National Scenic Byway begins at historic Weaverville, Ca. and runs for 104 miles north on Ca.Hwy.3—ending north of the town of Mt. Shasta at I-5. Trinity County is loaded with historic museums and parks.
The copyright of the article Fall Camping at Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity NRA, California in Camping is owned by . Permission to republish Fall Camping at Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity NRA, California in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
1.
Feb 2, 2001 10:15 AM
I enjoy your articles and beautiful pictures.I particularly like this area. I have written about one of my favourite towns, Mt Shasta in a series called "Off the Beaten Track." I have just added your ...
-- posted by Maryel
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