The Drive » Leaving
Whiskeytown Lake, Hwy 299
enters more remote country –
say goodbye to that cell service.
About 10 miles west of the lake
the road is steep with white-
knuckled turns and excellent
lake vistas. Cut north on Trinity
Dam Blvd.5 Lewiston
Blink and you might
miss Lewiston (www.
lewistonca.com), a
collection of buildings
beside a rushing stretch
of the Trinity River
known for fishing. If
you’re passing through
town, stop at the
Country Peddler (4
Deadwood Rd), a drafty old
barn filled with antiques
that seem as if they
have been plucked from
some long-lost uncle’s
hunting cabin. The
owners, avid outdoor
enthusiasts, know the
area like the backs of
their hands. Lewiston
Lake is about 1.5 miles
north of town and is aserene alternative to the
other area lakes. Early
in the evening you may
see ospreys and bald
eagles diving for fish.
Still, the best natural
sights are deeper afield- particularly the Trinity
Alps Wilderness, west of
Hwy 3. Look no further
for rugged adventure:
it hosts excellent hiking
and backcountry
camping, and 600 miles
of trails that cross
granite peaks and skirt
deep alpine lakes.
4 p139
The Drive » Take Lewiston
Lake Rd back south for about
15 minutes and you’ll enter
Weaverville, the final village of
the trip.6 Weaverville
Of all California’s historic
parks, the walls of
the Joss House State
Historic Park (cnr Hwy
299 & Oregon St; admission$3; h10am-5pm Sat
winter, Wed-Sun rest of yr)
actually talk – they’re
papered inside with
150-year-old donation
ledgers from the
once-thriving Chinese
community, a testament
to the rich culture of
immigrants who built
Northern California’s
infrastructure and all
but disappeared. The
rich blue-and-gold
Taoist shrine contains
an ornate 3000-year-old
altar, which was brought
here from China. Sadly,
state budget issues have
made the future of this
park uncertain, but it
still makes a surprising
gem within this far-flung
mountain community.54 p139
The Drive » Gas up and get
ready for awe-inspiring views
of the granite mountains, the
Wild-and-Scenic-designated
Trinity and sun-dappled forest
are in every direction. There areTRIP HIGHLIGHTRedding Sundial BridgeJERRY MOORMAN / ISTOCKPHOTO ©