Squaw Valley Creek

One of my favorite places on earth. The area around the McCloud reminds me a bit of Big Sur in that it isn't just a monotonous forest of a few types of trees or plants. Because it sits in kind of the geographical zone between mountains and foothills, and because of the fact that it is blessed with lots of water in the form of numerous cold water springs and good winter precip, the McCloud area is rich and diverse. It just feels like a healthy landscape, and if you get out enough, you know what that means.

THE three rivers of the North State.

Thanks to a friend, we got to spend two nights at the Nature Conservancy cabin on the famous McCloud River near Mt. Shasta.





The McCloud was milky with glacial silt from Mud Creek, so we spent the day fishing the Pit River instead. This is as good as it gets, really. Fall colors, fishing with friends, and a soak in the streamside Kosk Hot Springs on the hike out of the canyon.



Kosk Creek.



The caretakers cabin on the McCloud.



After fishing the Pit and staying down on the McCloud, we went up to the old standby--the Upper Sac--to fish the Sunday away. The colors up on the Sac are amazing right now, and the October Caddis hatch was on. Unfortunately, the fish weren't eating them today.

Heading in to the CalTrout Trout Camp.




Wow.

McCloud River Falls and Fishing