Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Infobox_protected_area | name = Shasta-Trinity National Forest
iucn_category = VI

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caption = Map of the United States
locator_x = 10
locator_y = 60
location =
nearest_city = Redding, California
lat_degrees = 40
lat_minutes = 44
lat_seconds = 07
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 122
long_minutes = 56
long_seconds = 31
long_direction =W
area = 2,209,832 acres
established =
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = USDA / US Forest ServiceThe Shasta-Trinity National Forest is a federally designated forest in northern California, USA. It is the largest National Forest in California and is managed by the United States Forest Service. The 2.2-million acre (8,942.87 km²) forest encompasses five wilderness areas, hundreds of mountain lakes and convert|6278|mi|km of streams and rivers. Major features include Shasta Lake, the largest man-made lake in California and Mount Shasta, elevation convert|14162|ft|m. The 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.

The forest is located in parts of Humbolt, Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Tehama and Modoc counties.

History

In 1905, the first timber sale under the new US Forest Service agency occurred on what was then called the Shasta Reserve. [ Godfrey, Anthony, PhD "The Ever-Changing View-A History of the National Forests in California" USDA Forest Service Publishers, 2005 p. 92 ISBN 1-59351-428-X] The Shasta National Forest and the Trinity National Forest were consolidated in 1954 and officially became the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The more westerly section of the forest (formerly the Trinity National Forest) is located in the eastern portions of the California Coast Ranges, primarily in Trinity County. The more easterly part of the forest (formerly the Shasta National Forest) section is located between California's Central Valley and the Shasta Valley to the north.

Wilderness areas

The forest includes portions of five federally designated Wilderness Areas: Castle Crags, Chanchellulla, Mount Shasta, Trinity Alps and Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel.

Lakes and rivers

The main branch of the Trinity River is a designated a National Wild and Scenic River which runs through the forest.

Shasta Lake is part of the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area.

Shasta Lake itself is convert|365|mi|km of shoreline made-up of many arms and inlets for explorers and boaters alike. The four major arms of the lake are: Sacramento, McCloud, Squaw Creek and Pit and have scenery as well as unusual geologic and historic areas of interest.
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 National Recreation Area. Iron Canyon, Lewiston, Lake McCloud, Shasta Lake and Trinity 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 forest, most of which support trout. 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.

Peaks, trails and byways

From a height of convert|7309|ft|m, Little Mt. Hoffman offers a view of Mt. Shasta, Lassen Peak, 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 notable and beautiful scenery. Shasta-Trinity National Forest has over 460 miles [ [http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/recreation/ Official Forest Service website, list of recreation activities.] ] of trails including a convert|154|mi|km|sing=on section of the Pacific Crest Trail in an east - west direction.

The 500-mile Volcanic Legecy Scenic Byway is a auto tour of northern California's volcanos and begins at Mount Lassen, then to Mount Shasta and ends at Crater Lake National Park.

Lookouts and cabins

In the lavaflow area of Medicine Lake Volcano, 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. There is also Hirz lookout near Lake Shasta and the Post lookout.The Forest Glen cabin is an historic guard station, the oldest Forest Service building on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It was built in 1916 under the direction of John T. Grey, District Ranger of the Mad River Ranger District on the old Trinity National Forest. It is available for rent all year.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/ US Forest Service official website on Shasta-Trinity NF] . accessed 9-2-08