Fly-fishing in the Trinity River

      Photo: Luther Linkhart

      Fishing in the Klamath River system, including streams that empty directly into the Trinity River below Lewiston Dam, and all the tributaries of these streams, is influenced by steelhead and salmon runs. You may see a few adult steelhead resting in the deep pools of these streams in the summer during spawning runs. If you’re particularly fortunate, you may even see a salmon or two, but they are becoming scarce. In an effort to sustain these fisheries, salmon and steelhead runs in the anadromous waters of the Klamath and Trinity Rivers are reviewed and regulated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife every year. Check with them for current quotas and regulations.

      Of course, none of the streams that empty into Trinity Lake or the Trinity River above the lake have steelhead or salmon runs any longer. However, all of these streams of any consequence harbor some native rainbow trout, and some of the higher tributaries have eastern brook trout. The lower, more easily reached stretches of these streams are badly overfished. Stuart Fork, Swift Creek, and Coffee Creek have been hit particularly hard.

      Some of the best fishing in the state occurs in the upper Sacramento River near Castle Crags. Fishing season on this stretch of the river, and nearby Castle Creek, runs from the last Saturday in April to November 15, and is restricted to artificial lures and barbless hooks.

      A few streams and lakes have been stocked with golden trout and these locations are noted in the trip descriptions. Almost all the fishing information in the descriptions was based on the personal experience of this guide’s former author, Luther Linkhart, and is biased toward dry fly-fishing. Of course, a valid California fishing license and compliance with California fishing regulations are required. Good luck!

      HUNTING SEASON

      If you prefer not to hike in the backcountry during general deer hunting season, avoid scheduling trips during the last week of September and the first three weeks of October. Bow hunting usually precedes the opening of rifle season by about a month, but there’s little chance that a bow hunter at close range would mistake you for a deer. The beginning of bear hunting season usually corresponds to the beginning of general deer hunting season, but either extends through the last Sunday in December, or until the yearly quota is taken. Check with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the actual dates of each season, as they tend to vary somewhat from year to year and district to district.

      Hiking in the Trinity Alps, Russian, and Castle Crags Wilderness areas during hunting season without experiencing any difficulties is quite possible. The number of hunters you encounter seems to diminish with the amount of distance you’re willing to put between yourself and the nearest road. Besides, most hunters you come across in the wilderness are typically competent and respectful backcountry users. In many ways, fall is the best season for hiking the trails in theses areas and should be enjoyed by all.

      TO SKI OR NOT TO SKI?

      Currently, there are no downhill ski areas operating near the Trinity Alps, Russian, or Castle Crags Wilderness areas, and there are no plans to build any in the future. The closest developed ski area is on Mount Shasta. Designated or groomed cross-country ski trails are also absent from this part of Northern California. Scott and Carter summits are about the only areas high enough for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing and reachable by car. Otherwise, you should expect to walk many wet miles in order to reach a sufficient amount of snow on which to practice these pursuits. Much of the backcountry is potentially avalanche prone as well.

The Trails

      FACTORS DETERMINING TRAIL DIFFICULTY

      The difficulty level of a trip is somewhat subjective and depends greatly on the weather, your physical condition, and your expectations. Of those three factors, the only one this guide can help influence is what you expect to find. For many of the same reasons, the number of days suggested for each trip is subjective as well. The fewer number of days listed is the minimum you should schedule in order to fully enjoy a trip. The greater number of days obviously includes a layover day or two when you can settle into a camp and do some nearby day hikes, or simply enjoy a rest day. Campsites and places to acquire water will be mentioned in order to help you plan your routes efficiently.

      FINDING THE TRAILHEADS

      All of the trailheads listed in this guide should be accessible to the average sedan. However, that sedan might be very dusty or mud-caked by the time you reach a particular trailhead. Some roads are narrow and winding, requiring a speed no faster than 15 miles per hour at times.

      Because of inadequate funding, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has had to curtail much of its road maintenance, so checking on the current conditions at a ranger station may go a long way toward preventing any prospective difficulties in accessing the trails. Keep a watchful eye whenever you drive roads near active logging operations, as the typical sedan won’t fare very well in a battle with a logging truck. Try to allow more time to get to a trailhead than you consider necessary, as many of the “highways” in the area can’t be driven at freeway speeds. The gravel and dirt roads beyond the highways will require even slower speeds.

      Some of the road and trailhead signs in this area have a habit of routinely disappearing (the TANGLE BLUE LAKE sign is a classic example), which can create obvious problems. Therefore, keep track of your odometer readings and have a map resource handy in case you reach an unsigned junction.

      While the safety of your vehicle when parked at a trailhead is always a legitimate concern, the chance of a break-in or other form of vandalism is quite remote in this area. Nevertheless, don’t leave valuables in your vehicle, and place any unused gear or extraneous objects out of sight in your trunk—what you may consider of little value, a vandal might deem worth stealing.

      WATCHING THE GRASS GROW

      Many miles of trail in the northwestern Trinity Alps are not covered in this guide for the not-so-simple reason that this area has long been a hotbed of illegal marijuana cultivation. During the 1970s and ’80s, pot growers virtually took over a vast area of territory that included East Fork New River, Pony Creek, Slide Creek, Eagle Creek, and Mary Blaine Meadow. USFS personnel did not patrol or maintain any of these trails, advising recreational enthusiasts to avoid the area altogether. In the course of events, two guard stations were burned down, shots were fired at or near USFS staff, and numerous vehicles were vandalized and burned while parked at trailheads.

      In the mid-1980s, a major law enforcement effort was carried out in this area by armed forest rangers, state and federal narcotics agents, and Trinity County deputy sheriffs. Marijuana plantations were destroyed, illegal structures torn down, and large amounts of trash packed out. Maintenance crews restored some of the trails, and they were subsequently declared safe for outdoor enthusiasts to use again. That said, growing operations likely still exist in many areas covered in this book, thanks to declining government budgets for both maintenance and patrols and in spite of the fact that marijuana grown for personal/medical use is now legal and regulated in California.

      Some pot farmers may arm themselves and may not appreciate your presence should you happen to stumble upon their illicit plantations. (Aside from the presence of marijuana plants, signs of illegal pot-growing activity include water lines, PVC pipes, generators, or water pumps—anything out of place in a wilderness setting, for that matter.) So check with the Weaverville Ranger Station (530-623-2121) about current conditions, and beat a hasty retreat if you stumble upon any suspicious activity.

Staying Safe

      Hiking in the Trinity Alps and the other areas covered in this guide should pose no special problems that you wouldn’t encounter in any other wilderness or backcountry area in the West. However, some precautions and pretrip planning can certainly save you some discomfort. Foolhardiness or panic can easily get you into trouble here, as is the case in any outdoor area.

      For instance, during the very hot and dry summer of 1981, a youth