Whiskeytown Lake, Oak Bottom Water Ditch Trail.

This weekend is going to be a great one for hiking and getting outdoors.  We went for a hike last weekend out at Whiskeytown lake and it was quite warm.  The trail we chose was a beginning level trail, mostly shady and very pleasant overall.

Whiskeytown lake is full up to the shore with water, as well as other lakes in northern California.  Lot's of rain and snow this year, and late in the season. This is going to be an excellent year to enjoy our rivers, creeks and lakes for sure.  

Oak Bottom Water Ditch Trail was originally a  canal system that provided water to the mining operations in Clear creek.  The Water Ditch Trail, meanders, along the lake and also highway 299 west towards Clear creek.  The trail is well shaded, and right on the lake for the most part.  We did not hike the whole trail, it is 2.75 miles one way.

 

Beautiful day on Whiskeytown lake in Shasta county.

Portion of the Oak Bottom Water Ditch Trail.

We found these quaint man made steps from stone and cement.

A dead tree in the sea green colored part of the lake.

 

Lots of wild flowers in the spring at Whiskeytown lake.

Here is a link to the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area website.  There you can view information about the different trails and more.

Whiskeytown Hiking Trails

Old Historic Tower House District near French Gulch off Highway 299

Historically, this was known as a stop over for people heading east and west via the old 299 route.  An old neighbor once told my dad, that hat he used to stop for a bed, meal and shower, all for only $3.00.  The man used to run sheep from Cottonwood to Hayfork back in the early 1900's.  I imagine that back then  it took days to travel that distance with sheep and no automobiles.

Also this was land of the Wintu native Americans.  It is a beautiful little valley where two creeks converge.  There are open pastures, and mountains on all sides, and lots of trees.  

view of highway 299

This is the view (the photo to the right) as you are standing in front of the house.  Beyond the fence is highway 299 and also a creek, there are two creeks which converge on this historic location.  That is part of the attraction of this little park.  It also has picnic tables, a walking bridge or two, and you can continue hiking back to the historic mining areas.  

Walking bridge.

This photograph is of the walking bridge.  The views are spectacular in all directions here.

As you cross the  creek and head back towards where the direction of the old mines are, you can see a barn and another house is to the left of it. 

 

old rock oven and stove

This is a beautiful little valley with two creeks, and mountains protecting the sides.  It's no wonder the native Americans lived here.

Information about the toll bridge.

Highway 299 Buckhorn Summit Road Construction

Be prepared this spring and summer for road work being done on Buckhorn Summit, Highway 299 West. Which means waiting for the pilot truck both ways in the commute.  

I went by there a week or so ago and there were three particular bends that are going to be "straightened out".  They took down many trees, I stopped at just one of the sites to take photographs.  It hurts to see all old trees being cut down. 

Buckhorn Summit road construction, Shasta county side, 2011.

Trees cut down on Highway 299 for road widening.

Whiskeytown Lake, Shasta County, Oakbottom

I went to Whiskeytown Lake off of Highway 299  a while back.  It was a very hot day and the lake was spectacular as usual.  We swam near the same spot that my parents would sometimes stop at during my childhood.  It is the north end of the lake, near Oakbottom Recreational Area.

I was almost to my neck in water with this shot.

Pizza dinner at Marino's, in Weaverville.

This was delicious sausage and mushroom pizza from Marino's Italian Restaurant in Weaverville.  The waitress said they made their own sausage and we tried it out.  It was quite delicious.

Fox in the Morning on the Trinity River

Good Morning! Happy Weekend everyone. I saw a fox out the window, this morning. Of course as soon as I opened the door to take a photograph of it I startled him/her. Then I managed to get these two shots.