NW California Hike Series Announced
Your Public Lands — NW California is excited to announce our first hike and outing series! Join local experts to float the Sacramento River or explore other local treasures like the South Spit Wildlife Area, Grass Valley Creek, Butte Creek, and Beegum Gorge.
Saturday March 10th
Sacramento River Bend
In Tehama and Shasta Counties just north of Red Bluff, visitors can experience what California’s Central Valley once looked like before it was developed for agriculture and cities. In this 19,000-acre area, the Sacramento River meanders through a dramatic volcanic rim-rock canyon. Segments of the river and its two tributaries — Battle and Paynes Creeks — support threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead and were identified by the BLM as eligible for Wild & Scenic River protection. Adjacent wetlands attract migrating sandhill cranes and other waterfowl and riverside trees provide nesting sites for bald eagle and osprey. Hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers enjoy the trails throughout the area and the river itself provides outstanding boating and fishing opportunities. The area’s spring wildflower display is spectacular and visitors enjoy views of Mt. Lassen, the Trinity Alps, and the Coast Range.
Outing:
See spectacular wildflowers at the Sacramento River Bend Area near Red Bluff and learn how you can help protect these important local public lands.
Lead by:
Ryan Henson — California Wilderness Coalition. Please email Ryan to RSVP and to get meet up directions: rhenson at calwild.org
Saturday March 24th 8:45am
South Spit Wildlife Area with Pac Out Green Team Stewardship days
This special 90 minute event is a collaboration with BLM California. The event will focus on the south spit area with an emphasis on recovering plastic shot gun shells and wadding cups that often litter the bay side of the spit due to waterfowl hunting in the area. This event is timed to occur after the water fowl season has ended.
We will meet at the first beach parking area (see “directions” in link below) at 8:45 am. to sign in. We will start the cleanup at 9 am, meet for a group photo and raffle at 10:15 am, then finish up at 10:30 am.
We look forward to seeing everyone there, tell your friends, share the link and show some love! If you missed our last clean up no worries, there will be many more. All clean ups for the Humboldt chapter are every Saturday from 9am to 10am.
Saturday April 14th
Grass Valley Creek
The BLM is a primary manager of nearly 21 miles of the Trinity Wild & Scenic River. Located in Trinity County, the river is popular for fishing, boating, swimming and other activities and is among the county’s most important natural assets. Anglers, boaters, and campers who visit the river generate millions of dollars of economic activity annually. These waters are home to bald eagles, osprey, river otters, beavers, and migratory birds and efforts are underway to restore the river’s once-legendary salmon and steelhead runs. The historic mining town site of Helena, located on the North Fork Trinity just upstream of its confluence with the main river, demonstrates the area’s deep connection to Gold Rush. Formerly owned by a private logging company, Grass Valley Creek is a major source of fish-destroying sediment into the Trinity River. BLM acquired this area to restore the watershed and future management should continue to focus on protection and restoration.
Outing:
Visit the Grass Valley Creek area between Redding and Weaverville and learn about one of the most successful watershed restoration efforts in California history.
Lead by:
Ryan Henson — California Wilderness Coalition. Please email Ryan to RSVP and to get meet up directions: rhenson at calwild.org
Saturday, April 21
Forks of Butte Creek Outstanding Natural Area
Join us on John Muir’s birthday to explore the Forks of Butte Creek Outstanding Natural Area in Butte County near the community of Paradise, CA. Butte Creek has carved a dramatic canyon through volcanic rock in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Clothed in conifers, oaks, and chaparral, the canyon also puts on a fine spring wildflower display. The public lands in this area are administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), which is managed for its scenic and recreational values. The BLM also found 19 miles of the creek to be eligible for National Wild & Scenic River protection due to its outstanding scenic, recreation, geology, and historical values. This will be a relatively easy round-trip hike of 2–4 miles. Hike meeting time and place TBD.
Outing:
Visit the scenic Forks of Butte Creek Outstanding Natural Area in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Butte County.
Led By:
Steve Evans — California Wilderness Coalition. Please email Steve to RSVP and to get meet up directions: sevans at calwild.org
Sunday, April 22
Beegum Gorge Outstanding Natural Area
Join us on Earth Day to explore the Beegum Gorge Outstanding Natural Area in western Tehama County near Red Bluff. Beegum Creek has carved a dramatic canyon through the Coast Range on the way to its confluence with Cottonwood Creek. The public lands in this area are administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and 4.4 miles of the creek were determined by the BLM to be eligible for National Wild & Scenic River protection due to its outstanding scenic and recreation values. Beegum Gorge also supports an important population of threatened Central Valley steelhead trout. This will be a moderately strenuous hike of up to 6 miles roundtrip, much of it cross-country. Hike meeting time and place TBD.
Outing:
Visit the scenic Forks of Butte Creek Outstanding Natural Area in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Butte County.
Led By:
Steve Evans — California Wilderness Coalition. Please email Steve to RSVP and to get meet up directions: sevans at calwild.org
Saturday, June 2
Sacramento River Bend Float Trip
Join us on a beautiful float trip through the Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area. The Sacramento River has carved a scenic canyon through volcanic rock upstream of Red Bluff in Tehama County. Clothed in oak woodlands, the canyon and river is home to bald eagle, osprey, and threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead. The river offers some of the best class I-II canoeing, kayaking, and rafting in California. We’ll stop and take a short hike up to the canyon rim to view the river. The public lands in this area are administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and 25 miles of the river were determined by the BLM to be eligible for National Wild & Scenic River protection due to its outstanding scenic, recreation, fish, ecological, and Native American cultural values. Float trip participants must know how to swim, feel comfortable on moving water, and be able to physically use a paddle. We’ll provide rafts, raft guides, and personal flotation devices, as well as a limited number of inflatable kayaks for experienced paddlers. Float trip meeting time and place TBD.
Outing:
Float California’s largest river through the Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area.
Led By:
Steve Evans — California Wilderness Coalition. Please email Steve to RSVP and to get meet up directions: sevans at calwild.org
