Trinity River

Remote lower river from Burnt Ranch through Willow Creek, the Hoopa Valley, and downstream to the Klamath confluence at Weitchpec. Big water with the South Fork Trinity and New River adding volume. Jet boats are common for accessing distant runs through the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation.

Best for: Winter steelhead (Nov-Mar). Fall salmon runs. First fish of the season often show here. Larger steelhead.

California's second-longest Wild and Scenic river. Flows from Forest Glen through Hyampom to the mainstem near Willow Creek. Smaller freestone water through remote Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Good access from Forest Glen Campground through Hyampom to Big Slide. Winter steelhead runs with ongoing restoration work.

Best for: Winter steelhead (Nov-Mar). Remote, uncrowded fishing. Small-water wading. Access from Forest Glen and Hyampom.

Backcountry tributary flowing south from the Trinity Alps to the mainstem at Helena. Wild trout water with rugged canyon terrain — expect hiking and rock-hopping. Access via Hobo Gulch Road and trailhead off East Fork Road from Helena. Remote and uncrowded.

Best for: Wild trout. Backcountry fishing. Summer steelhead hold in deep pools. Rugged adventure fishing.

The river enters a deep canyon below Junction City, passing through Helena and Big Bar. Increasingly remote with rapids between good fishing runs. Highway 299 provides access but pulloffs are limited. The North Fork Trinity enters near Helena.

Best for: Fall steelhead and salmon. Adventure float fishing. Less crowded canyon water.

Wider river with larger pools and runs. Some boulder garden sections. Good steelhead holding water with less crowding than the upper section. BLM access points along Highway 299.

Best for: Steelhead and salmon. Drift boat fishing. Swinging flies through long runs. Less pressured than the Lewiston stretch.

Classic tailwater below Lewiston Dam. Includes the fly-fishing-only section immediately below the dam with cold, clear water year-round. Riffle-run-pool structure with excellent gravel bars for wading. The core guided drift boat section with the best resident trout habitat on the river.

Best for: Salmonfly hatch (late May). Resident trout year-round. Steelhead (fall/winter). Drift boat trips through prime holding water.