Trinity County

Region · California

Trinity County

Best timeMar–May, Oct–Nov
From you
Nearest airportRDD · 45 mi
On this page

Overview

Trinity County is inland in the Shasta Cascades region of California. It lies among the Salmon and Klamath Mountains along the Trinity River, and draws visitors looking for outdoor adventure including camping, backpacking, rock climbing, boating, rafting/kayaking, hunting, and fishing, with Trinity Lake in particular a favorite spot for houseboat rentals.

5 sights · 3 things to do

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Trinity County

Jorstad Cabin

Located along the Hobo Gulch Trail, it is only accessible by walking on an unpaved trail.

The La Grange Hydaulic Gold Mine

Although not open to the public there is marker on the side of the road with one of the water cannons used for gold mining, located between Weverville and Junction City.

Trinity Dam

World War 2 Japanese Incendiary Balloon landing Site

Scott Museum

Lake Trinity

The third largest reservoir in California, with over 147 miles of shoreline, great for boatings, jet ski's and other pleasure craft. Also a great spot for fishing.

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 100°F; winter lows dip to about 37°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby Redding)

Jan: 6.0 in rain6"Jan: high 57°F, low 38°F57°38°JanFeb: 5.5 in rain5.5"Feb: high 61°F, low 40°F61°40°FebMar: 4.6 in rain4.6"Mar: high 66°F, low 43°F66°43°MarApr: 2.4 in rain2.4"Apr: high 72°F, low 47°F72°47°AprMay: 1.8 in rain1.8"May: high 82°F, low 54°F82°54°MayJun: 0.8 in rain0.8"Jun: high 92°F, low 62°F92°62°JunJul: 0.1 in rain0.1"Jul: high 100°F, low 67°F100°67°JulAug: 0.1 in rain0.1"Aug: high 98°F, low 64°F98°64°AugSep: 0.5 in rain0.5"Sep: high 92°F, low 58°F92°58°SepOct: 1.9 in rain1.9"Oct: high 79°F, low 50°F79°50°OctNov: 3.5 in rain3.5"Nov: high 64°F, low 42°F64°42°NovDec: 6.3 in rain6.3"Dec: high 56°F, low 37°F56°37°Dec

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

  • From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
  • RDD Redding Municipal Airport, Redding — 45 mi away. Directions
  • ACV California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport, Arcata/Eureka — 56 mi away. Directions
  • SMF Sacramento International Airport, Sacramento — 158 mi away (major hub). Directions

Highway 299 goes thru Trinity County is the most heavily used way of getting around.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Sample 3-day trip

  1. Day 1: Weaverville — Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park, Weaverville Drug Store, J.Jake Jackson Memorial Museum and Historical Park.
  2. Day 2: Junction City — Trinity River.
  3. Day 3: Hayfork — Trinity County Fair.

Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.

Places in Trinity County

Cities

  • Hayfork
  • Junction City
  • Mad River
  • Weaverville

Get in

By car

Highway 299 goes thru Trinity County is the most heavily used way of getting around.

By plane

Trinity County has five airports that service it

  • Trinity Center Airport/John Swett Field
  • Weaverville Airport/Lonnie Pool Field
  • Hayfork Airport
  • Hyampom Airport
  • Ruth Airport

Get around

By Car

See

See Jorstad Cabin

Located along the Hobo Gulch Trail, it is only accessible by walking on an unpaved trail.

Maps

See The La Grange Hydaulic Gold Mine

Although not open to the public there is marker on the side of the road with one of the water cannons used for gold mining, located between Weverville and Junction City.

Maps

See Trinity Dam

Maps

See World War 2 Japanese Incendiary Balloon landing Site

Maps

See Scott Museum

located in Trinity Center
Maps

Do

Do Lake Trinity

The third largest reservoir in California, with over 147 miles of shoreline, great for boatings, jet ski's and other pleasure craft. Also a great spot for fishing.

Maps

Do Trinity River

Maps

Do Ruth Lake

Maps

Stay safe

Trinity County has a very low crime rate does not have a police department but does have a County Sherriff and the California Highway Patrol. Also of note there are few gas stations outside of Weaverville so it would be wise to get gas there, as cell phone service is spotty as you are in the mountains and would not want to be stuck for a long period of time.

Go next

  • - Trinity County's northern neighbor is dominated by 14,179 ft Mount Shasta, the west coast's second-tallest volcano, towering nearly 10,000 ft above its surroundings; while a summit climb requires advanced mountaineering skills, its lower slopes are great for hiking, backpacking and cross-county skiing. The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway links Mount Shasta to Lava Beds National Monument in the county's northeast, home to over 800 lava tube caves, several of which are open to exploration. The county is also a premier destination for birdwatchers, with nearly two million birds passing through Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge during migrations, and North America’s largest concentration of snow geese arriving in spring.
  • - Trinity County's eastern neighbor is a land of mountains, lakes and rivers. Massive Shasta Lake, California's largest reservoir, is the "houseboat capital of the world", with rentals available for those who want to vacation on the water. Several spectacular waterfalls can be found in the county, including the 129 ft Burney Falls, which Theodore Roosevelt described as "the Eighth Wonder of the World", and McCloud River Falls, which is actually three scenic waterfalls. In the county's southeastern corner, Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to a geologic hotspot highlighted by 10,457 ft Lassen Volcano. The mountain can be summited via a steep trail, but plan to do so in the summer - the park's 600 - of annual snowfall make it the snowiest place in California.
  • - Trinity County's southeastern neighbor, Tehama County has a quintessentially "western" feel, with most county residents employed in ranching, timber or farming, and most tourists drawn to the region for fishing, boating, hiking, and other outdoor activities. The county's largest town, Red Bluff, has a population of only about 15,000 inhabitants, but hosts the Red Bluff Round-Up, one of the west's largest annual rodeos, each spring. While there are numerous streams and rivers, the Sacramento River is the largest, intersecting the county and offering excellent fishing for rainbow trout, king salmon, chinook salmon, steelhead, smallmouth bass, sturgeon, and striped bass.
  • - Lying halfway between San Francisco and the Oregon border, Trinity County's southwestern neighbor boasts redwood forests, wineries, breweries, and remote, untouched coastline. In addition to its natural features, the county is home to the largest Buddhist Temple in the Western Hemisphere, the 400+ acre City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah. The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, located near Fort Bragg, is a 47 acre public garden with oceanside views. While hikers and backpackers will find no shortage of options, those looking for less strenuous ways to enjoy the scenery can ride the Skunk Train, a railroad that has been in operation since 1885 and takes riders 40 miles through old growth forests and across historic trestles between Fort Bragg and Willits.
  • - Located to the west of Trinity County, rural Humboldt County is a land of giant trees, seaside mountains, and quirky towns. Redwood National Park lies in the county's northern region and is home to the world's tallest trees; a walk among the redwoods is an experience that won't soon be forgotten. Backpackers will delight in hiking the remote 25 mile Lost Coast Trail in the county's southwestern corner, a three-day trek through the Kings Range along a roadless and undeveloped section of rugged coastline. For those looking for more urban activities, the towns of Arcata and Eureka feature an impressive number of Victorian homes that date back to the late 1800s.

Nearby

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