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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


California Nature: McCloud River Preserve


Located near the top of California, north of the Sierra Nevada and at the southern end of the Cascade Range, the McCloud snakes its way down a scenic canyon beneath the rugged slopes of 14,000-foot Mount Shasta. The cool waters of the river roil with life. In the spring, clouds of emerging insects dance across the waters as they hatch, and trout are driven to fits of feeding frenzy.

The McCloud has been a fisherman's paradise ever since its original inhabitants, the Wintu Indians, speared and trapped salmon and steelhead as the fish made their seasonal journeys from the sea.

The McCloud River Preserve, open only from sunrise to sunset, offers three miles of hiking trails and a self-guided nature walk. Hikers, birdwatchers, and wildflower enthusiasts are invited to visit.
Catch and release fishing is allowed in small numbers at the McCloud River Preserve On the canyon's limestone outcrops are found two species, the Shasta salamander and a plant named the Shasta eupatory, that occur nowhere else on earth. Along the river, otters searching for a meal glide through large pools lined with white alder, Indian rhubarb, and horsetail. Black bears lope along trails beside the river, and bald eagles and osprey soar overhead.

Also in that area you’ll find the McCloud River Trail, which takes you past waterfalls and through beautiful forest. If you really want to get out in the wilderness, the McCloud River Preserve Trail is way out in the woods where you’ll walk along the gorgeous river. The three-mile-long trail heading downstream from the buildings first crosses a creek and passes by remnants of pit dwellings constructed long ago by the Wintu tribe. Beneath the larger conifers, you'll find Pacific dogwood and big-leaf maple and an occasional yew. Look carefully on the moister areas of the forest floor and you'll see the heart-shaped wild ginger. The trail parallels the river for 2.6 miles. Although the trail only has one extended steep climb, it has rocky stretches. In several open spots, you'll find yourself far above the river in a drier ecosystem with canyon live oak. Poison oak is common on this trail, so consider wearing long pants.
The world-famous Shasta rainbow trout shares the waters with the exotic (non-native) brown trout, first introduced by sportsmen in the mid-1930s. The McCloud was formerly the southernmost refuge for the bull trout or "Dolly Varden," which is, like the Shasta rainbow, a member of the salmon family.

Although once a common sight, the bull trout has not been seen in the McCloud since 1975 and has been declared locally extinct. Riffle sculpin, another McCloud native species, abound in the cobble-lined portions of the river.

The preserve allows 10 anglers to fish using catch and release techniques at any one time. Five of these fishing places may be reserved a least a few weeks in advance through the Conservancy's San Francisco office.
Mccloud River Preserve is a great place to enjoy California nature A 19-mile drive from Highway 89 in the town of McCloud, California, on a rough road, this hidden treasure sits at the intersection of the Cascade Mountains to the north and Sierras to the south. The result is an exceptionally high diversity of plant and animal life. Visitor logs have recorded recent sightings of river otter, bear cubs, deer, rattlesnakes, quail, kingfisher and osprey. Even wolverine and spotted owls have been spotted here.

The Conservancy's initial objective for the McCloud River Preserve was to protect native fish and the watershed in which they occurred. An extensive biological study indicated that a portion of the preserve could be opened to carefully managed public use, including catch-and-release fishing.

Two and a half miles of the river were opened to the public in 1976; the remainder of the preserve is managed as a natural area and a locale for scientific research.
Walking along the river you may see a host of wildflowers, dogwoods in bloom, butterflies, osprey and eagles overhead, otters frolicking and the glimmering, clear waters of the McCloud River. Be prepared to be immersed in wilderness. While the Nature Conservancy does have a cabin for the caretakers, along with fish cleaning and picnic structures it is otherwise a setting free from the constructs of humans.

The McCloud River courses through this Preserve for a total of 5.5 miles, and drops about 400 feet. in this stretch. Below the Preserve, the McCloud River flows through privately owned land until it empties into Lake Shasta.

Spring, summer and fall offer unique experiences in the preserve, but check the weather first, as snow and wet conditions can make the already difficult road treacherous.
 
 
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