NorCal Online

A Golden Land of Adventure!

Northern California consists of 14 counties, all of which have something unique to offer. The counties which make up northern California are Del Norte, Siskiyou, Modoc, Humboldt, Trinity, Shasta, Lassen, Tehama, Plumas, Butte, Glenn, Mendocino, Lake and Colusa.

Northern California is enriched with a variety of natural resources and has a well diverse social atmosphere that attract people from all walks of life to come and visit. Whether it's outdoor adventure, historical places, art, scenic beauty, community events, shows and concerts, or rodeo's that interests you... we have it all right here!

If you like history, then Northern California has lots to offer. The old west was home to Northern California with saloons, gunfights and even a stagecoach robbery by the notorious Black Bart, a.k.a. Charles E. Boles. Many items from those wild days are still displayed in museums and other locations as a reminder of the old west heritage. There's also lots of logging and timber history which is still ongoing today in the mountain areas, and plenty of gold mining history to enjoy.

Cultural history is no stranger to Northern California, mainly from the Chinese who worked in the gold mining industry. The Joss House, located in Weaverville, is California's oldest Chinese temple which was made part of the California State Parks in 1956. Guided tours display pictures, art objects, mining tools, and weapons used in the 1854 Tong War. The Chinese played a big part in California Gold Rush, and the Joss House stands as a reminder of those early years when the Wild West was young.

There are many tourist type websites that boast of promoting Northern California and the attractions within, but when you read through those sites you see only info about places as far North as Sacramento but no further. Granted, the wine country and places around the Bay area may be the most popular attractions North of Los Angeles, but there's many more attractions that lie North of Sacramento that are not always mentioned.

Counties North of Sacramento offer many attractions to see, both man made and natural. Whether you like man made structures like the Sundial Bridge located in Redding or natural made attractions like Mt. Shasta, you will find it in Northern California. To learn more visit the Northern California Attractions page.

If you like the great outdoors then Northern California has lots of outdoor terrain, recreational areas, and activities to keep you busy. The Shasta-Trinity National Forest which is the largest in California has everything for the outdoor sportsman - no matter if you like hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, boating, rafting and kayaking or just being one with nature.

The diverse wildlife offers many different types of game for the hunter from squirrells to bigger game such as elk and bear. The lakes, streams and rivers provide many different species of fish from blue gill to trout and salmon for the fishermen. The rivers offer miles of whitewater fun for rafters and kayakers. The lakes offer many acres of water for boaters and other watercraft owners. The forest offers miles of trails for the hikers, and many campsites for the campers.

There are also many golf courses in Northern California that cater to golfers from amatures to pro's. No matter what kind of outdoor recreation you enjoy, Northern California hasit covered.

Northern California is home to many great water resources, thus making it a true watercraft owners paradise.

Trinity Lake, Shasta Lake, Lake Almanor, Lake Oroville, and other smaller lakes all provide ample water acreage for boating, water skiing, jet skiing and fishing. The Sacramento Kalamath, and Trinity Rivers along with other rivers and area streams provide great rafting, kayaking and fishing. Visit the Parks and Recreation page for more information.

Northern California also has many outdoor events and activities to enjoy such as art shows, music concerts, rodeos, BBQ's, car shows, farmer's markets, and community events of every kind. Every weekend from early spring though Christmas has something happening, and some also during the winter months.

The smaller towns offer some of the same events and activities as the larger cities, and some events are unique to the areas at which their held in. The people in Northern California are very social, friendly and hold many community events. The people of these smaller towns welcome visitors, and will make you feel like a part of the community during your visit. People from larger cities who come and visit not only get to experience life in a small town, but also get to be a part of it.

The California Gold Rush story has been told  in many ways over the years through movies, TV shows, documentaries, and the internet. It all began January 24, 1848 when James W. Marshall found gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. From that day began the Gold Rush which brought some 300,000 people from the United States and abroad. The people that came to California for the gold were called "forty-niners" from the year 1849 when the majority of people began their journey..

Today there are many people living in California who search for gold, and some who come from other states and countries seeking a golden dream. The most popular and inexpensive way to find gold is by "panning", which is the most used method by visitors. Residents who live in California have evolved to more advanced methods of finding gold. Northern California is the most popular area for gold searching, usually in the mountain regions where winter snow capped mountains release new water flows down streams to the rivers and lakes. The new water rushing down the mountains errodes the landscape every year bringing new gold flakes and nuggets to the lower elevations. With this comes new opportunity for people to find gold, or just have some fun looking for it.

The Shasta-Trinity National Forest has lots of outdoor terrain to keep you busy. The Trinity Alps Wilderness (in photo) is part of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest which is the largest in California with a diverse landscape ranging from 1,000 to 14,162 feet. The 2.1 million acre forest encompasses five wilderness areas, hundreds of mountain lakes and 6,278 miles of streams and rivers for lots of outdoor fun and adventure.

The wildlife is so diverse that you're sure to see many different species each time you visit. The vegetation is also as diverse, and combined with the landscaping gives the eye much beauty to behold.

With so much wilderness to offer, it's no wonder why the Shasta-Trinity National Forest is the most visited recreational area in Northern California. Beautiful scenery, hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, white water rafting and more await you here!