Recreation Region: Trinity Lake, Trinity River, and Trinity Alps Wilderness

Trinity Alps Wilderness

The second largest wilderness area in California, the Trinity Alps Wilderness nearly doubled in size by the 1984 California Wilderness Act. In that same year, it was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System. It currently has over 600 miles of trails and embraces over 500,000 acres of land.

Chiseled granite peaks and alpine lakes dot the Trinity Alps Wilderness, with elevations from 2,000 feet in creek drainages to 9,000 feet at summits. This wilderness offers many different trails ranging from 1.5 miles to 15 miles at varying levels of difficulty.

Management of the Wilderness is shared by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Klamath National Forest, and the Six Rivers National Forest. Information about this wilderness can be found at wilderness.net, a website jointly managed by the University of Montana and the four federal agencies that manage Wilderness.

Trail and Lake Information PDF

Please practice Leave No Trace ethics while in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. Leave No Trace describes how to dispose of waste properly, where to travel and camp and other ways to minimize your impact on the land and your impact to other hikers.

Current Conditions

This 517,000 acre wilderness changes along with the seasons. For Trail Conditions call 530-623-2121 and listen to recorded message for most common topics. Also, check the Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/833529483700502/ Trinity Alps Wilderness Pictures, hiker-posted conditions and photos. These are as current as is possible. Purchase a Trinity Alps Wilderness Map https://store.usgs.gov/product/116404.

General Information

Please practice Leave No Trace ethics while hiking or horseback riding in the Trinity Alps Wilderness.

Many trailheads may be inaccessible by car or truck due to snow during the winter month.

To stay overnight in the Trinity Alps, you will need both a wilderness permit and a campfire permit. These are available at outdoor “kiosks” located at the Weaverville Ranger Station (360 Main St), at the kiosk outside of the Supervisor's Office in Redding (3644 Avtech Parkway), at the Shasta Lake Ranger Station (14225 Holiday Road), and at the Fire Stations (Mule Creek & Coffee Creek off Hwy 3 and Junction City & Big Bar off Hwy 299). Campfire permits are also available online at www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/campfire-permit/

Campfire restrictions may be in place so please check before you go!

Groups are limited to 10 persons. Campfire restrictions may be in place so please check before you go! Wilderness travel is limited to foot or horseback. NO gliders, drones, bicycles, motorized vehicles or mechanized equipment of any kind are allowed within the wilderness areas. Wheelchairs are allowed. Please familiarize yourself with Leave No Trace Ethics by taking a course before your trip.

Weaverville Ranger Station is a green building with brick stairs into the front doors.

Address: 360 Main Street Weaverville, CA 96093
Phone: 530-623-2121
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm and 1:45 pm - 4:30 pm; Closed Saturday and Sunday (Closed on federal holidays)