Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area

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Map of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area (in yellow)

The Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area is a United States National Recreation Area in northern California. The recreation area was authorized in 1965 by the United States Congress. Recreational activities available include swimming, fishing, boating, camping, and hiking.

The Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area (WST-NRA) has a total of Template:Convert of land, which is divided into the Shasta, Trinity, and Whiskeytown Units. The Shasta–Trinity National Forest surrounds the Shasta and Trinity units, so they are managed by the United States Forest Service. The National Park Service manages the Whiskeytown unit.

Each of the units encompasses a large reservoir (man-made lake) and its surrounding natural features, habitats, and terrain. The WST-NRA has interesting wildlife viewing opportunities, including over sixty pairs of osprey, thirty pairs of nesting bald eagles, other resident and migrating birds, and deer and bear populations.

Plant communities include Riparian, Interior chaparral, Blue oak grasslands, Mixed oak woodlands, and Knobcone pine, Ponderosa pine, or mixed evergreen forests.

Forest Service areas

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Dock at Lake Shasta.

Of the eighteen National Recreation Areas under Forest Service management in the U.S., the Shasta–Trinity Units are somewhat unusual, being made up of three large reservoir lakes set in scenic and protected foothill locales with diverse recreation opportunities. The Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area section of the Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area, has Template:Convert managed by the Shasta–Trinity National Forest. It includes Shasta, Trinity, and Lewiston Lakes and their surrounding natural areas.

Trinity Unit

The Trinity Unit, centered on Trinity Lake and Lewiston Lake, has four subunits: the Lewiston Lake, Trinity Dam, Stuart Fork, and North Lake Units. They offer many opportunities for recreation, including trout fishing in Lewiston Lake, scenic driving on the Trinity Heritage National Scenic Byway, picnicking, camping, and hiking/riding on the multi-use trail system.

The Trinity Dam Unit has Trinity Lake reservoir, that when full has Template:Convert of shoreline, contains Template:Convert, and holds Template:Convert of water. Trinity Dam is one of the highest earth filled dams in the world.

Shasta Unit

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Sailing at Whiskeytown Lake.

The Shasta Unit, centered on Shasta Lake, has four tributary arms; Sacramento River, Pit River, Squaw Creek, and McCloud River. Each has distinctive scenic beauty and attracts outdoor recreation visitors. There are numerous facilities for water sports and boating, including private marinas. Public recreation facilities and amenities within the Shasta Unit include boat ramps, campgrounds, shoreline picnic areas, and hiking/equestrian/mountain biking trails.

Shasta Lake is the largest reservoir in California. When full, the lake has Template:Convert of shoreline, which exceeds that of San Francisco Bay. The reservoir contains Template:Convert, and holds Template:Convert of water. Shasta Lake is formed by Shasta Dam, which is the second largest (after Grand Coulee Dam) and second tallest (after Hoover Dam) concrete dam in the United States.

National Park Service area

Whiskeytown Unit

The Whiskeytown Unit of the Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area is Template:Convert in size, centered on Whiskeytown Lake of Template:Convert.

It also includes Template:Convert surrounding the reservoir. The backcountry, with mountain creeks and waterfalls, is accessible via Template:Convert of multi-use hiking, equestrian, and/or mountain biking) trails.

See also

• Trinity Mountains — in the southern and eastern sections in the recreation area, part of the Klamath Mountains System.
• Marble Mountains — in the northwestern section, are also part of the Klamath Mountains Range.
• Sierra Nevada — in the eastern section.
• Whiskeytown Falls
• Carr Fire

External links

• U.S. Forest Service: official Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area — Shasta, Trinity, and Lewiston Lakes areas.
• U.S. National Park Service: official Whiskeytown National Recreation Area website — Whiskeytown Lake area.
  • NPS: Discover Whiskeytown’s Biodiversity