Fishing
Perhaps the most popular activity along the Trinity River is
fishing. The spring and fall salmon runs and the fall and winter steelhead
fishing have thrilled fishermen from ancient times right up to today. Weather,
with particular emphasis on rainfall and water temperatures, impacts the dates
and numbers of fish for the seasons. Spring salmon generally appear in the
Willow Creek area around the first week of May and the fishing stays hot
through mid June. Fall run salmon are plentiful in late September and early
October in the Willow Creek area. In recent years there has been a substantial
winter run from December into spring. Steelhead begin appearing in the Trinity
in mid August with a strong run in September and October with half pounders
arriving ahead of the bigger fish. In the winter months, drift boats take many
fish in the 7 to 15 pound category. Returning steelhead are fished through the
month of March. Local merchants, fishermen and drift fishing outfitters are
good sources of fishing information.
Paddle Sports
Willow Creek has many world class rivers to run, within a 45
minute drive. The legendary Klamath is California's premier multi-day river
trip. The Cal-Salmon offers a class V section of whitewater run by the experts.
The versatile upper Trinity offers a classic class III run of moderate rapids,
followed by the Burnt Ranch Gorge, one of the toughest runs in the state. The
lower Trinity is a wonderful, wild and scenic section that attracts canoeists
and tubers.
Swimming
The Lower Trinity is a superb swimming river. Warm clear
waters along with 90+ summer days allow you to spend an entire day at the
beach. If you like to people watch, try Kimtu or Bigrock Beach. If seclusion is
your choice, a spot might be Tish Tang, Horse Linto Creek, Sandy Bar or one of
the many side tributaries.
Golfing
For a change of pace, consider playing a round of golf at
the Willow Creek Golf and Country Club. The nine hole par 35 course is open
year round. Club & cart rentals are available.
Theater
First rate productions are held at the Redbud Theatre
located in Salyer, five miles east of Willow Creek.
Museums
The Hupa Tribal Museum is the finest, most complete, Native
American Museum in Northern California. The Willow Creek/China Flat museum
houses an extensive collection of historical artifacts, antique logging and
mining equipment, along with a miner's cabin, gold mine and blacksmith shop.
The museum is also home to the renowned Bigfoot Collection.
Farmers Market
Once a week during the summer months, Willow Creek offers an
intimate Farmers' Market where local produce, art, and food can be purchased.
In the park setting, next to the Willow Creek/China Flat Museum, you can shop
or simply pull up a bench and enjoy local musicians as they entertain the
community.
Farms
It's worth the drive over the mountain to enjoy the
delicious produce our valley provides. Roadside stands offer fresh-picked corn,
tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and beans as well as the best fruit you can find
anywhere. Peaches, cherries, melons, berries all are at their peak in the
summer in Willow Creek. Nurseries cater to the spring gardner and offer a
variety of locally grown plants and herbs.
Wineries
It all started with Ed Oliviera & Dean Williams
discovering that Willow Creek's rocky mountain soils, long hot sunny summers,
and cool nights all working together grow fantastic wine grapes. Today there
are numerous small vineyards situated along the magnificent Trinity River
valley and the surrounding mountains. Each in their own unique setting but all
enjoying what is proving to be an absolute perfect climate for wine grapes. We
boast several family operated botique wineries that offer informal testing of
their Estate wines. You will experience actually meeting the families who grow
the grapes and make the wine, sit with them in these refreshing natural setting
and enjoy the passions and flavors of their wines. By the way, you will not be
charged for tasting. In the Mountains
- Birding
- Scenic Drives
- Wildlife
- Day Treks
- Camping
- Hunting
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