Walk in the footsteps of early American mountain men, prospectors, and settlers who sought opportunity and fortune in the untrammeled West. From Whiskeytown Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area to California's northern coast, Trinity Scenic Byway radiates with scenery, history and outdoor adventure. You may not find your fortune in gold, but the views, experiences, and memories are priceless.
Beginning on the eastern end of the byway near Shasta, visit the Shasta State Historical Park and stroll among the remains of a once booming gold rush town. History enthusiasts, photographers, and casual travelers alike find the ruins and restored relics haunting and fascinating.
A few miles farther takes you inside the borders of Whiskeytown Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area. Do yourself a favor and spend a day or two in the dense evergreen forests. Cool off in the placid waters of Whiskeytown Lake. Roast marshmallows with the family at Oak Bottom Campground. For a more in-depth look at the area's flora, fauna, and unique characteristics, take a ranger-guided tour. Tour adventures include kayaking, gold-panning, or junior firefighter training.
As you continue along Trinity Scenic Byway you'll enter Shasta-Trinity National Forest with its own outdoor activities, views and wildlife. Ascend Little Mount Hoffman and allow the 7,300 feet of elevation and 360-degree view of the area to take your breath away. Fish, water-ski or kayak in some of the area's lakes and rivers, backpack in one of the forest's five designated wilderness areas, or ride a horse or mountain bike along a scenic trail. The verdant forestland is interspersed with small towns whose residents welcome travelers with a variety of services and resort luxuries.
Perhaps the most alluring feature Trinity Scenic Byway offers is the congressionally designated Wild and Scenic Trinity River. Rafters and kayakers flock to the Trinity's waters for adventures for all levels. Enjoy a relaxing float or Class V rapids, catch trophy steelhead or salmon, or fill up a roll of film capturing the river's undulating beauty.
Just like all great trips, your journey down Trinity Scenic Byway must end, but it ends with a flourish. The byway ends in Arcata, on Northern California's world-famous redwood coast and just south of Redwood National Forest. Picnic among these ancient giants and contemplate their majesty while listening to ocean waves crash against the rocky shore. Reflect on the trip through history, wilderness and recreation that is Trinity Scenic Byway and promise yourself you'll return soon.
Trinity Scenic Byway