Copyright: USDA Forest Service
Mt. Shasta, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
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Description - The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is located in the central part of Northern California between the interior Coast Range on the west and the Cascade Range on the east. Elevations range from 1,000 feet along the southern and eastern edges of the Forests to 14,162 feet at the summit of Mt. Shasta. The Shasta National Forest was established in 1905 and the Trinity National Forest in 1907 by proclamations of President Theodore Roosevelt. The two Forests were combined into one administrative unit in 1954. The Shasta-Trinity National Forest lies within portions of Humboldt, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity Counties. The Forest is divided into seven ranger districts. In the last few years, the districts have been combined into 'management units.'
Attractions
- The Shasta-Trinity National Forest covers over 2 million acres. It is home to outstanding places such as Mt. Shasta, Castle Crags, the Trinity Alps, Whiskeytown - Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, and the Trinity River, as well as spectacular forests, and many other natural wonders. The Forest includes portions of five designated Wilderness Areas: Castle Crags, Chanchelulla, Mount Shasta, Trinity Alps and Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel. The New River and the main branch of the Trinity River are two designated Wild and Scenic Rivers which run through the Forest. A 154 mile section of the PCT runs in an east - west direction across the Shasta-Trinity National Forests. The Trinity Heritage and the Trinity River Scenic Byways are two scenic drives in the area. The most diverse and least visited of the five volcanic centers in California is the Medicine Lake Highlands Volcanic Area, a portion of which located on the Shasta-Trinity National Forests. Medicine Lake Highlands is the largest identified volcano (in area) within California and is one of the most unique geologic features in North America. Volcanic formations, such as glass and lava flows, pumice deposits, lava tubes, cinder cones, craters, and faults are found throughout the Medicine Lake Highlands Volcanic Area. The area landscape varies from rugged lava flows, barren of most vegetation, to highly timbered mountain peaks. Small lakes, such as Little Medicine Lake, Bullseye and Blanche, are set among the trees, and the view from the higher peaks and cinder cones is breathtaking. Shasta Lake's many arms and inlets make it a paradise for explorers and boaters alike. The four major arms of the lake, Sacramento Arm, McCloud Arm, Squaw Creek Arm, and Pit Arm offer spectacular scenery as well as unusual geologic and historic areas of interest. Much of Shasta Lake's 29,500 acre surface area is accessible only by boat. Lewiston Lake lies just downstream from Trinity Dam and just north of the town of Lewiston and is a constant level lake. It lies within the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area. From a height of 7,309 feet, Little Mt. Hoffman offers a spectacular view of Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen, Mt. McLoughlin and a variety of other interesting landforms. From the Tulelake Basin in the north to the Fall River valley in the south, the 360 degree view offers a peek at some of Northern California's most unique and beautiful scenery. Located east of majestic Mt. Shasta, in the lavaflow area of Medicine Lake, is the Little Mt. Hoffman fire lookout. Restored to its original character, the lookout is now being offered as an overnight retreat for personal recreation use.
Recreation - The huge Shasta-Trinity National Forest offers a wide range of recreational activities. Some of these include hiking, backpacking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, camping, boating, fishing, sightseeing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Iron Canyon, Lewiston, Lake McCloud, Shasta Lake, Trinity, and Whiskeytown are the large lakes and reservoirs in the area for fishing, boating and camping. There are many alpine lakes in the Trinity Divide area of the Forests, most of which support trout. Some of our smaller mountain streams are too steep to maintain fish life, but where the water is suitable, fine fishing is usually to be found. The Trinity River is very popular for salmon and steelhead angling, as is the Stuart Fork of the Trinity River and such streams as Canyon (closed to fishing below Canyon Creek Falls), Coffee, Grizzly, Rush, and Swift Creeks, all of which drain the Trinity Alps Wilderness, are all good trout streams. Climate - Climate on the Shasta-Trinity varies greatly with elevation. Higher elevations tend to have much cooler temperatures and higher precipitation. Summer weather is usually hot and dry with lower elevation temperatures ranging from 85° - 100°+F and lows from 60° - 70°. Fall days are usually mild and warm, with cool nights. Winter is when most of the precipitation falls, averaging over 55 inches per year, much of it in the form of snow in the high elevations. Highs range from 40° - 60° and lows from 30° - 40° in the lower elevations. Spring weather is variable with many pleasant days. Location -
The Shasta-Trinity National Forests are located in north-central California and headquartered in the city of Redding. Interstate 5 runs north-south through the Forest.
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