Trinity County: Discover History, Lakes, and Trails
Accommodation in Trinity County
Trinity County in California offers a wide variety of travel experiences: historic sites in Weaverville, expansive waterscapes around Trinity Lake and Lewiston Lake, and trails through forests and higher elevations. Those looking for a vacation rental or holiday home can therefore choose their accommodation based on their own vacation priorities – such as culture, fishing, lake experiences, or hiking days.
Historic Weaverville and Unique Cultural Experiences
Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park is home to the Temple of the Forest Beneath the Clouds. The Chinese temple was built in 1874 and is considered California’s oldest continuously used Chinese temple. Tours of the temple are offered from Thursday to Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. These fixed times are important for trip planning if a visit to the Joss House is to be part of your itinerary.
The Weaverville Historic District also offers a distinct cultural focus. The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes more than 35 designated historic buildings that can be explored. They represent typical architectural styles of Northern California’s 19th-century Gold Rush towns, as well as Chinese adobe and temple buildings. The district can be discovered on a self-guided walking tour. For a trip focused on history, this creates a different daily rhythm than an excursion to a lake or river.
Another unusual destination is Rigdzin Ling, home to a Guru Rinpoche statue. It was carved from a single block of western red cedar and consecrated in the fall of 1994. Such distinctive cultural impressions complement the historic buildings with a single, striking work of art.
Trinity Lake, River, and Forest Trails
Trinity Lake has a water surface of approximately 26 square miles and a shoreline of 145 miles. The lake can be reached via State Highway 299W and California Highway 3. Lewiston Lake is a reservoir in Trinity County created by Lewiston Dam on the Trinity River. Together with the Trinity Wild and Scenic River, this creates a destination centered on waterscapes and river experiences, without every activity having the same starting point.
The Trinity Wild and Scenic River offers opportunities for salmon fishing, steelhead fishing, and fishing for trophy brook trout. This is possible both from a drift boat and at riverbank locations accessible on foot. Along the river corridor there are also campgrounds managed by the BLM and many undeveloped public access points. Those who enjoy spending their days actively outdoors can take these differences into account when choosing their travel area.
The Weaverville Community Forest manages 14,963 acres of federal land in Trinity County. It is home to the Trinity Children’s Forest and the Weaver Basin Trail System. One trail begins at the Low Gap Trailhead on Weaver Bally Road at an elevation of 5,200 feet and descends for approximately five miles to East Weaver Creek at 3,400 feet. The shaded trail runs through forest on the slopes above the lake. Another trail in the Weaver Basin Trail System lies on the edge of the Trinity Alps Wilderness. The approximate trail length, elevation figures, and downhill route are specific points to consider when planning your day.
The Right Base for Your Trip
When looking for accommodation, it is worthwhile to first determine your preferred focus. A trip involving historic walking tours and scheduled temple tours raises different questions about location than a stay focused on river fishing, lakeshores, or forest trails. Trinity Transit serves Trinity County and other locations beyond it and can play a role in finding your way around the area. Maps for the Weaver Basin Trail System are available at Tammie’s Books, the Trinity County Chamber of Commerce, and Mamma Llama Coffeehouse; all three are located on Main Street (Hwy. 299) in Weaverville.
For further regional orientation, you can also explore Weaverville, Hayfork, Trinity Center, Coffee Creek, and Big Bar.
For the overarching travel overview: California.
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