Day Hikes
Beckoning You to the Next Turn
Weaverville Basin Trail System
Variable length: Up to 40 miles of trails around the town of Weaverville
Low and high elevation: —
Difficulty: Easy
Over 40 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, with multiple entry points around the town of Weaverville. Multiple loops are available from different parts of town so that you can customize your experience based on how much time you have and how much energy you want to exert. The trails welcome well behaved off leash dogs. You may pick up a map in town at Tammie’s Books, Trinity County Chamber of Commerce, or Mamma Llama Coffeehouse. You may also download the map here, Weaver Basin Trails
Boulder Lakes
One way length: 1 3/4 miles
Low and high elevation: 5,775 to 6,463 feet
Difficulty: Easy-to-moderate
A good hike for beginners. The distance is short and the 688-foot increase in elevation won’t leave anyone too exhausted to enjoy the scenery.
Boulder Lake and Little Boulder Lake are ideal destinations for families. There are plenty of campsites at the lake, and the fishing is always excellent. Boulder Lake is larger, but Little Boulder Lake is very pretty.
To get to Boulder Lakes take Highway 3 to Forest Service Road 37N52, 0.4 miles south of Coffee Creek Road. Drive 3.3 miles on 37N52, then make a sharp right onto 37N53, and drive 6.8 miles to the large parking area at the trailhead.
Granite Peak
One way length: 4 miles
Low and high elevation: 4,100 to 8,091 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
This hike is short—just four miles—with a climb of nearly 4,000 feet on countless switchbacks, but the views are worth it! There is a false summit 1,500 feet below the true peak, but the vistas of the surrounding mountains will keep your mind off the climb. The trail splits just before the final push for the top, with the left-hand fork leading to Red Mountain and Stonewall Pass and a traverse of high alpine country studded with lakes.
The trailhead is located 3.0 miles west of Highway 3 on a logging road that begins opposite the entrance for Bushy Trail Campground on Trinity Lake.
Lake Eleanor and Shimmy Lake
Lake Eleanor is easily reached within 1/2 mile of the trailhead. You continue 3 2/3 miles past this picturesque mountain lake until you reach Shimmy Lake.
This lake is surrounded by meadows and forests. The trip is relatively easy and can be enjoyed by the less experienced hiker and children.
Swift Creek Falls
One way length: 2 miles
Low and high elevation: 4000 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Swift Creek Falls is a small 20 ft. cascade along Swift Creek in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. It is a small, out-of-the-way best suited to avid waterfall collectors. If, however, you plan to continue on this trail to Granite Lake, a peek at Swift Creek Falls is worth the stop.
The Swift Creek Trail is a popular one for people backpacking in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. It is an easy one mile hike down to the waterfall. Swift Creek Falls is a bit off-trail, and you will need to scramble down to the creek to see it. Just before the trail starts to make a steep climb through a rocky gorge area, find a spot to get down to the creek and a view of the cascade. There is only one cascade here, 20 ft. high. But, admittedly, it is a pretty waterfall, even if it is a small one.
Turn left on Swift Creek Rd., and drive 6.5 miles to trailhead.
Ycatapom Peak
Ycatapom Peak is located near the eastern edge of the Trinity Alps Wilderness of northern California. Closest town is Trinity Center. The mountain’s name comes from the Wintu word meaning “leaning mountain”.
Ycatapom Peak’s northern face rises from the bottom of Poison Canyon. This 1200-foot wall is home to the longest technical rock climbs in the Trinity Alps. The rock is granite and solid. Most routes on the north face range in difficulty from easy to moderate. The area has been developed as a pure traditional climbing area and thus you will encounter no bolts. Non-technical scrambling routes (descent options) exist on the mountain’s west ridge and south face.
Given the fact that the technical routes on Ycatapom peak are located on its northern face, they tend to stay wet later into the season. The Forest Service locks the access gates to the area (on unpaved roads) from October 30 to May 1 regardless of weather conditions.
From CA 3 in Trinity Center, turn west onto Swift Creek Road. Follow it for approximately 1.4 miles to a signed junction and turn right toward Lake Eleanor and Poison Canyon Trailheads. In about 1 mile, turn right again onto FS road 37N55. Follow 37N55 passing a fork – keep right here. Keep right again at the next fork finally reaching a 3-way junction where you need to make a sharp left to stay on 37N55 (there should be a gate – possibly closed – on the minor road that goes straight). You’ll reach the inconspicuous trailhead (no large parking lot – just a widened pull out) – but it is marked with a sign – shortly after crossing North Fork Swift Creek. Park your car on the right side of the road (more parking space available a few hundred yards down the road) and look for the marked trailhead sign on the left side.
Follow the steep Poison Canyon Trail for about two miles to a signed junction with the Thumb Rock Trail. Nice views of the peak can be had within about 0.75 mile from the road. Stay left at the junction on Lilypad Lake Trail. Hike for approximately 0.3 miles further, passing through a small meadow. Look for a climbers’ camp on the far side of the meadow (fire pits visible from trail on right side).
