The Fast Lane is Overrated

Memorial Day weekend has a way of sneaking up on us. One minute summer feels far away, and the next you’re realizing the long weekend is here and wondering where to go. If you’re still making plans, you’re not alone.

Before you spend the weekend sitting in traffic or squeezing into crowded vacation hotspots, consider slowing things down this year.

Because sometimes the best weekends happen when you do less rushing and more reconnecting.

Trade packed destinations for mountain air, wide-open spaces, and the kind of place where kids put down their screens because there’s simply too much happening outside. Come somewhere the Wi-Fi gets a little weaker, conversations last a little longer, and memories seem to happen naturally.

Bring your family. Call up old friends. Pack up the dogs. Make the drive.

Welcome to Trinity County.

Set Up Basecamp

In Trinity County, we don’t really do “crowded.” We do room to spread out.

Whether you’re planning a family getaway, meeting up with friends, or simply looking for somewhere everyone can relax, there’s space here to make yourself at home.

Looking for a cabin, resort, or lake stay? Trinity Lake Marina offers nearby vacation rentals just up the hill from the water, while places like KOA, Pinewood Cove Resort, Ripple Creek Cabins, and LakeView Terrace Resort make it easy to settle in.

Want something unique? Historic mountain stays like Whitmore Inn and Carrville Inn offer the kind of experience that makes a weekend feel special.

Prefer sleeping under the stars? Camp beside the water at Tannery Gulch, Fawn Campground, Pinewood Cove Campground, or discover peaceful camping opportunities around Ruth Lake and throughout Hayfork Valley.

Because around here, campfires replace notifications and stargazing replaces screen time.

Choose Your Own Adventure

The best part about Trinity County? There isn’t one perfect weekend. You get to create your own.

Trinity Lake Weekend

Start your day with a peaceful lakeside walk and ease into vacation mode. Grab any last-minute essentials from Trinity Center General Store before heading to Trinity Lake Marina.

Spend the afternoon out on the water—rent a patio boat, find a quiet cove, swim, fish, or simply float and relax.

Wrap up the day with locally sourced food at Yellow Jacket Eatery or wood-fired pizza beneath the trees at Trailhead Pizza.

Ruth Lake & Hayfork Weekend

If your version of a getaway means quieter roads and fewer crowds, head toward Ruth Lake and Hayfork Valley.

Ruth Lake offers calm water perfect for kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and easy family days by the shoreline. Nearby Hayfork provides a slower pace and easy access to hiking, camping, and scenic backroads that feel far removed from everyday life.

Spend your day exploring, casting a fishing line, or simply enjoying the kind of open space that’s getting harder to find.

Down River Weekend

Head west and discover Trinity County’s Down River communities, where the river winds through mountain canyons and the pace naturally slows.

Spend the day exploring swimming holes, relaxing riverside, or driving one of California’s most scenic routes. Small communities along Highway 299 each offer their own character, local stops, and access to unforgettable stretches of river and forest.

This is where spontaneous roadside pull-offs become favorite memories.

Lewiston Weekend

Take things slow with coffee by the river and a morning walk around Lewiston Lake. Bring the dogs, rent kayaks from Pine Cove Marina, or spend a peaceful morning paddling.

When temperatures warm up, Old Bridge Rafting can turn the afternoon into an unforgettable river float.

Finish the day with BBQ from JJ’s Smokehouse or enjoy dinner overlooking the river at the historic Lewiston Hotel.

Weaverville Weekend

Start with coffee and breakfast downtown. Grab the Double Dias at Mamma Llama or fuel up with the organic Brekky Bowl from Moonhouse.

Then explore the Weaver Basin trail system, where miles of trails give kids room to roam and everyone a chance to stretch their legs.

Grab lunch at Trinity County Brewing Co., discover local history at the Weaverville Joss House or Jake Jackson Museum, and finish the day with ice cream and mountain views from UpNorth Confectionery.

Because the best Memorial Day weekends usually aren’t the busiest ones.

They’re the ones spent floating on the lake, sharing stories around a campfire, and reconnecting with family and friends.

Bring the people you love. Slow down. Find your trail.