Attractions and Places To See around Fall River Mills - Top 19

The Fall River Valley was once home to the Achomawi (Pit River) tribe. During the Gold Rush era when thousands of emigrants rushed to California’s gold country, the Native Americans were progressively pushed out of homelands they had occupied for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. The conflict over land disputes was often bloody with widespread destruction of property and loss of life on both sides. Shasta County fared no differently than other places in California. In 1855, Mr. Bowles and Mr. Rogers arrived with teams of oxen and wagons filled with machinery. They began immediately to construct Fall River’s first saw mill. Samuel Lockhart and his brother Harry developed a wagon road that stretched from the head of the Sacramento River at Red Bluff to the northern mining communities of Yreka. The Lockhart Ferry was a connecting link in the trail situated at the confluence of Fall River and Pit River. In 1856 the ferry began operation and the California Stage Company ran the Red Bluff to Yreka route for a short time. The Lockhart Ferry became an important station on the route. The Native Americans returned to the settler’s camp in the Fall River Valley during the winter of 1855-1856 when Sam Lockhart and other settlers left to search for additional provisions. Angry with the settlers taking over native lands, the Native Americans drove the five men who were left in the camp – Mr. Alva Boles, Colonel Jedediah H. Rogers, Harry A. Lockhart, and two brothers, Daniel and John Bryant – away from their homes and then murdered all of them. The Native Americans then burned down the saw mill. After what is called the “December massacre,” the ferry was re-established in 1857 below Fall River Falls. The Historical Marker is placed .25 mile away from where the "Pit River Massacre" took place.

Thanks to the damming of the Pit River, also Hat Creek, shortly before its confluence into the Pit River, is dammed a little above its natural water level. The Hat Creek Park offers rare ADA access to fishing on Hat Creek. A recently installed concrete pad extends almost to the water's edge. Renowned for its quality fly fishing, Hat Creek Park offers easy access to some of the most exciting fishing around, right off Highway 299 in Shasta County. This local favorite fishing spot is a County Park and includes ADA accessible fishing, toilet facilities, picnic areas and a beautiful setting right on Hat Creek. You can fish from the banks right in the park, or follow some fishermen trails to get to a slightly more secluded spot on Hat Creek. Several picnic tables and campfire rings are scattered across the grounds and make for good spots for a roadside picnic. A couple of the picnic areas are ADA accessible, while a few others are tucked away in the trees and offer more private settings. Hat Creek was the first Wild Trout Area in California's Wild Trout Program. Traditionally known as one of the premier spring creek fisheries in the state, Hat Creek suffered from invasive species and fishing pressure in the 1950s. Thanks to ongoing restoration efforts since the 60's and 70's and careful management and public education, Hat Creek is once again one of California's best fly fishing rivers. Dogs must remain on a leash. Regulations for Fishing: Catch and Release, barb less hooks only. Two trout limit per day. http://www.co.shasta.ca.us/index/pw_index/fac_mgmt/hat_creek.aspx

The water cache in this location is very small and you should never rely on a cache - especially not during the peak of the PCT hiker season, when 30 or more hikers a day pass through. The highway is a good spot to get a ride into the town of Burney.

There is space for at least 7 tents in this location around the 1,400 mile marker, but you will have no views like you had on the rim. The next water sources are 7 miles in either direction, so bring as much as you need from there.

There are at least two water sources between Old Station and this location: Lost Creek after 8 miles and Cache 22 after another 8 miles. You will not have to carry water for 30 miles! During hiker season there might also be a Trail Angel Café on top of Hat Creek Overlook. There is also potable water at the Subway Cave (detour). There is space for 3 tents at Rock Spring.

This is the first drinking water access after a 30-mile waterless section on the PCT going north from Old Station. It is also probably the best campspot with water proximity, as the other official campsite on the PCT on the north end of Baum Lake is about a half mile to a mile away from decent water access. Big boulders in the creek facilitate crossing with dry feet. The tall grass can obscure the fact that the trail crosses to the other side.

After paralleling the road for a mile, the PCT finally crosses to the other side on a straight stretch with good visibility, and some white footprints painted on the pavement for drivers to pay attention. On the north side of the road a metal cabinet stores water (only if urgently needed, be mindful of others) and some books to trade. It is about 6 miles to the water at Hat Creek / Crystal Lake fish hatchery from here.

Just where the PCT drops to the foot of the volcanic rim on the north end a small flat area in the otherwise rugged and sharp lava material offers space for a couple of tents under a tree providing a little shade. Thru-hikers have used rocks to mark the 1400-mile point along the trail.