Trinity Heritage National Scenic Byway
Weaverville, Trinity and Siskiyou County, California. Scenic Drives.
Details
- Where
- Weaverville, Trinity and Siskiyou County, CA. No street address stated. Directions
- Getting there
- Begins in the historic mining town of Weaverville and ends on Interstate 5 just north of Weed.
- Fees
- No fee.
- Access
- Free self guided auto tour brochure available through the Weaverville Ranger Station. Driving tour of 17 stops along this scenic byway. Potable water is not available at this site.
- Phone
- (530) 623-2121
- Managed by
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
Trinity Heritage Scenic Byway follows Highway 3 south from Montague in Siskiyou County through the Scott River Valley and enters Trinity County over the Scott Mountain Summit, north of Weaverville. The Oregon-California Trade Route. Also known as the Siskiyou-Trinity Scenic Byway. Features travel through the Trinity Alps to Trinity Lake, with a loop through Lewiston before continuing on to Weaverville, then south through Hayfork to the end of the highway at its junction with Highway 36.
Notable Events
- 1830sTrappers of the Hudson's Bay Company may have used this route to some extent. visittrinity.com
- 1848The first definite knowledge of this route came from Major PB Reading. visittrinity.com
- 1850sHundreds of Chinese miners came to the Weaverville area and prospered despite hardships, discrimination, and the tax on foreign miners. noehill.com
- 1850The camp of Fortyniners named for John Weaver became the political, commercial and entertainment center of Trinity County. noehill.com
- 1850sThe need for safe transportation of gold led to express offices and Pony Express lines carrying mail and bullion from Trinity County on horseback. visittrinity.com
- 1858After disastrous fires destroyed the early wood buildings, about twenty-five brick buildings stood along Main Street. noehill.com
- 1859The Oregon Company spent $10,000 to improve the road over the Siskiyou's. visittrinity.com
- 1860A daily stage line was established between Sacramento and Portland on the road. visittrinity.com
- 1873The first house of worship burned; the Chinese continued their religious traditions in the present temple. noehill.com
- 1874The Temple of the Forest Beneath the Clouds was built as a replacement for another temple that had burned. parks.ca.gov
- 1880sThe road had been the main artery for interstate commerce between California and Oregon until the railroad up the Sacramento Canyon was built. visittrinity.com
- 1890The previous church, built in 1880, was destroyed in the 1890 fire except for doors, windows and furniture which were salvaged. noehill.com
- 1956In an effort to preserve this important part of California's Chinese tradition, the temple became a part of the California State Park System. parks.ca.gov
- 1990The Trinity Heritage Scenic Byway was designated a Forest Service Byway in 1990. nsbfoundation.com
- The toll road did not pay and the road was taken over by the county; today SR 3, a state scenic highway, follows the old route over Scott Mountain. visittrinity.com
People
- Moon Lim Lee, Trustee and grandson of one of the temple's contributors who gift-deeded the Temple Amongst the Forest Beneath the Clouds to the State.
- John Weaver, Fortyniner for whom Weaverville was named (1850).
- Jedediah Smith, Explorer who drove a herd of 300 horses through the Hayfork Valley to the Trinity River, twenty-five years before gold was discovered on the Trinity River.
- Major PB Reading, First definite knowledge of the Trinity Trail route came from him (1848).
Sources
- fs.usda.gov/r05/shasta-trinity/recreation/trinity-heritage-national-scenic-byway
- fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/bywaysp/byway/2193
- visittrinity.com/relax-enjoy/road-touring
- noehill.com/trinity/nat1971000209.aspx
- parks.ca.gov/?page_id=457
- noehill.com/trinity/cal0709.asp
- nsbfoundation.com/sb/trinity-heritage-scenic-byway-route-3
- scenicbyways.info/byway/2193.html