Recreation Located Within and Around the
Cottonwood Creek Watershed
Middle Fork Cottonwood Creek
The Cottonwood Creek Watershed is an area rich and diverse in recreation, from white water rafting, hiking, gold panning to historic points of interest and culture. The Cottonwood Creek Watershed stretches from the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness to the south, up to the Bald Hills and even further north to the border of the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
The Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness Area has a plethora of recreation activities and points of interest such as Mt. Linn which is the highest point in the Cottonwood Creek Watershed, Yolla Bolly Middle Eel waterfalls, and extensive hiking trails. Due to fishing closures on the majority of the Middle Fork Eel and the North Fork of Middle Fork Eel Rivers, and on the Balm of Gilead Creek please consult the California Department of Fish and Game regulations before fishing and planning your trip. More information such as fees, permits/ access information and available water can be found here.
A few historic points of interest in the watershed are Harrison Gulch, Cottonwood, CA as well as the numerous ghost towns left over after the mining boom. Harrison Gulch is about 50 miles out from Red Bluff if you follow highway 36. Harrison Gulch was named after W.R. Harrison. In 1850 W.R. Harrison became first Judge of Shasta County. In 1894 the small town started to boom after gold was discovered by L. Benton. The mineral right to the area was purchased by the Midas gold company and the population boomed to 1500. In 1914 there was a fire in the main mine shaft, and the mine filled with water. The water that flooded the mine couldn’t be pumped out and subsequently the town began to dwindle. Currently the population of Harrison Gulch is only 223. Near Harrison gulch is a short trailhead that leads to the Hall City Caves. There is a story/ curse involving the Hall City Caves, stolen gold, Indians and a lynch mob. The cave actually considered bottomless and has yet to be completely explored, so far, the furthest dive into the cave has been 270 feet.
Cottonwood, CA was established in 1852 with its first postal office. In 1859 an individual by the name of Jacob Foster Purchased 240 acres of Cottonwood Creek, current now where Cottonwood area now lies.
Cottonwood has a rich culture and history. It makes for a sight to see. Down the historic Main St. a Cattle drive used to be held from the train depot to auction yard. Today the cattle drive still lives; there is now metal sculpture of a cattle drive running down Main St. paying tribute to the historic events that once were everyday practices.
The Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness Area has a plethora of recreation activities and points of interest such as Mt. Linn which is the highest point in the Cottonwood Creek Watershed, Yolla Bolly Middle Eel waterfalls, and extensive hiking trails. Due to fishing closures on the majority of the Middle Fork Eel and the North Fork of Middle Fork Eel Rivers, and on the Balm of Gilead Creek please consult the California Department of Fish and Game regulations before fishing and planning your trip. More information such as fees, permits/ access information and available water can be found here.
A few historic points of interest in the watershed are Harrison Gulch, Cottonwood, CA as well as the numerous ghost towns left over after the mining boom. Harrison Gulch is about 50 miles out from Red Bluff if you follow highway 36. Harrison Gulch was named after W.R. Harrison. In 1850 W.R. Harrison became first Judge of Shasta County. In 1894 the small town started to boom after gold was discovered by L. Benton. The mineral right to the area was purchased by the Midas gold company and the population boomed to 1500. In 1914 there was a fire in the main mine shaft, and the mine filled with water. The water that flooded the mine couldn’t be pumped out and subsequently the town began to dwindle. Currently the population of Harrison Gulch is only 223. Near Harrison gulch is a short trailhead that leads to the Hall City Caves. There is a story/ curse involving the Hall City Caves, stolen gold, Indians and a lynch mob. The cave actually considered bottomless and has yet to be completely explored, so far, the furthest dive into the cave has been 270 feet.
Cottonwood, CA was established in 1852 with its first postal office. In 1859 an individual by the name of Jacob Foster Purchased 240 acres of Cottonwood Creek, current now where Cottonwood area now lies.
Cottonwood has a rich culture and history. It makes for a sight to see. Down the historic Main St. a Cattle drive used to be held from the train depot to auction yard. Today the cattle drive still lives; there is now metal sculpture of a cattle drive running down Main St. paying tribute to the historic events that once were everyday practices.
