After Your Trinity Visit…

Take Another Turn from Trinity County…

Take a trip west to the Redwood Coast…

This tour starts by heading west from Trinity County on Highway 299, a scenic, curving road along the Trinity River used by locals, tourists, RVers and  commercial trucks.  There are many passing lanes, pull-outs and rest areas.  Gas stations can be found along the way about an hour apart in Weaverville, Willow Creek and Arcata on the coast.

Leaving Weaverville towards the west, you will ascend Oregon Mountain (watch for historical markers beside the road, the first is the large monitor to the left which was used for hydraulic gold mining near Weaverville and Junction City), then descend quickly into Junction City and along the winding Trinity River.  At Helena and up Canyon Creek Road, you can  access hiking trails and swimming holes.  There are several campgrounds and RV parks and lodging near the river, some with activities such as, rafting, kayaking, laser tag, swimming pools, or fishing.

Stop by the Strawhouse Café in Big Flat , a 2000 square-foot straw bale structure with a commanding view of the Trinity River.  The Strawhouse Cafe’ is known for its exceptional, all-organic gourmet coffees roasted on the premise. There is a nice selection of simple meals, micro brews, and several local wines.

If you are planning on doing some fishing, you will find a variety of options.  The vast watershed of the Trinity River drains out of the Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests. For those who take the time to learn about the nature of the ecosystem it offers a diverse year-round fishery. It is a place where all kinds of fishermen can pursue up to eleven different species of game fish: Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown and Eastern Brook trout are found in Trinity River.  Many of the private campgrounds  can set you up with a guide and/or information to provide a successful fishing excursion.

Stop for some river rafting, a must adventure while you are in the area.  Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or prefer a quiet float, one of our rafting companies can help you out and give a day of excitement and fun.  There are several small communities along this drive, they may have grocery stores, snacks and restrooms available to the public.  The next “big town” is Willow Creek, which is about an hour away from Weaverville.  This is a full-service community.  Another 45 minutes to an hour brings you to Arcata, the Pacific Ocean, California’s Redwood Coast and Highway 101, which runs North/South along California’s coast.

Head north:
…on Highway 101 and you will find a spectacular network of parks protecting nearly half of the world’s coast redwoods, the world’s tallest living things, which grow over 350 feet/107 meters high. But there’s more than giant trees in this lush land. Here, majestic (and big) Roosevelt Elk graze in grassy prairies. Wild beaches are dotted with weathered driftwood, and rivers tumble into the sea. Three state parks work in consort with Redwood National Park to protect the region, and all offer a remarkable number of ways to explore, learn, and discover; Jedediah Smith State Park , where you may find spawning salmon in the last major free-flowing river in California, the Smith River;  Del Norte Coast State Park , where you can stroll by the tide pools at Wilson Beach; and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, where you can visit beautiful Fern Canyon and see Roosevelt Elk up close and personal.  You will see the communities of Trinidad and Crescent City before you reach the Oregon border.  Head farther north to Southern Oregon and find even more natural beauty and excitement.

Head south:
…on Highway 101 and you will come to the college town of Arcata  and then on to Eureka, a former logging town, followed by the Victorian village of Ferndale, an historic farming community, Shelter Cove, perched on the remote Lost Coast (famous for its Tour of the Unknown Coast bike race) and Fortuna, an all-American town with plenty of old time hospitality.  All have cozy B&Bs and plenty of rural tranquility.   Continue south to a portion of historic Highway 101, The Avenue of the Giants, which runs parallel to the modern Highway 101 and is accessible by most vehicles, it is surrounded by Humboldt Redwoods State Park, which has the largest remaining stand of virgin redwoods in the world.  Going farther south you will find much to do in Mendocino County, Napa County, and Sonoma County before you arrive in San Francisco.

Take a trip south to Hayfork, Mad River & the Pacific Coast…

Highway 3 and Highway 299 merge between Weaverville and Douglas City.  Highway 3 south splits off at the Douglas City Bridge and heads toward Hayfork, home of the Trinity County Fair which occurs in August.  This is a full, old-fashioned style fair with a carnival, food booths, music presentations, livestock show, art, garden and food competitions.  Hayfork also hosts a Century Ride in June, through the beautiful forests of Trinity County.  Restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, and children’s’ playground are a few of many reasons for a stop in Hayfork.
Highway 3 south meets up with Highway 36 which is a narrow winding road (single lane in some places) through very rural and picturesque scenery, best to drive in the daytime.  There will be no services until Mad River, where you can turn off to Ruth Lake on Lower Mad River Road for fishing, camping and water recreation.  Highway 36 is much loved by motorcyclists.   Its narrow, curviness through beautiful scenery between Red Bluff (on Interstate 5) and Fortuna (on Highway 101) make for a pleasant adventure.

Take a trip north to Trinity Lake, Trinity Center/Coffee Creek & the Trinity Alps Wilderness…

Highway 3 north and 299 west split at an intersection in the middle of Weaverville.  Follow Highway 3 north along Trinity Lake, which is about 20 minutes from Weaverville.  On Trinity Lake, in the spring, summer and fall,  you will find campgrounds for tents and RVs, lodging, swimming holes, fishing, boat docks and rentals, restaurants, wine tasting, lodging and backpacking trails.  Trinity Center and Coffee Creek are communities at the north of the lake which provide all the amenities a visitor could need.  Many trailheads into the pristine Trinity Alps Wilderness begin near here.  Highway 3 continues as a very winding road over Scott Mountain, which is a great place to cross country ski in the winter, and down into the beautiful Scott Valley and on to Interstate 5 at Yreka, where you can turn north to Oregon or south to travel through California.

Take a trip east, with a stop in Lewiston & on to Redding, Mount Lassen and Mount Shasta…

Leaving Weaverville you will follow part of the Trinity River towards Redding and Interstate 5.  Highway 299 is a wide mountain road with many passing lanes and turnouts.  It is approximately an hour from Weaverville to Redding.  One side trip to enjoy is to Lewiston and Lewiston Lake.  Take one of the Lewiston turn offs (there are two) and follow the signs to Lewiston, where the Lewiston Peddlers’ Faire is held on the first Saturday in June.  This is an open market of antiques, crafts, and food items, with music and food booths.  Historic Lewiston provides comfortable lodging and  sits next to the Trinity River and is a haven for fishing enthusiasts.  Not far away is Lewiston Lake, a quiet setting for fishing, boating and camping.

Get back on Highway 299 heading east and you will find easy mountain driving.  Pass Whiskeytown Lake and on into Redding.  Follow Interstate 5 and make the scenic drive loop that takes in Mount Shasta and Mount Lassen and brings you back to Redding.