Jun 20, 2020

State: CA
Class: I-II
Distance: 17.6 mi
ROUTE: Map

River:
Trinity River (Wild and Scenic)

Section:
Trinity Dam Bridge to Douglas City

The website www.cacreeks.com rates this as one of the most scenic beginner runs in California. The route listed on the website is for a two-day trip but can easily be broken into day trips by either starting or ending at Douglas City. My very first time using a packraft had been on the section below Douglas City two years ago, so I had been looking forward to returning to check out the upper section that begins below the dam on Lewiston Lake.

After leaving a car in Douglas City near the fire station, we drove back to the put in near the Trinity Dam Bridge, getting started around 8:30 AM. The run lived up to the scenic reputation. There were large sections of the river that were completely undeveloped, with the occasional stretch of houses blending into the river landscape. There were a few short rapids, but for the most part, this was a scenic float. We finished up by 1:30 PM, which left enough time for a drive to Bully Choop Mountain.