Highway 3, the access to Trinity Lake and Trinity Center from Weaverville is closed due to a major roadway collapse. A 40 foot chasm has replaced the roadbed north of the Rush Creek Road and Trintiy Dam Blvd intersections of Highway 3 in the Tannery Gulch area. This all but isolates the lake, many resorts and those at Trinity Center for the time being. Those in the area are limited to a long route north over Scott Mountain and accessing Highway 5 via the Gazzele Callahan Road. For those in Weaverville, the route through the area is now a 5 hour detour.

Efforts are underway to clear the route of Trinity Mountain Road to East Side Road out of French Gulch to shorten the detour route for those accessing the North and West shore of the lake from the south. This is a slow high ridge line route with many curves and switch backs. Rough, early estimates for repairs on Highway 3 is about 2 months.

This will definitely impact the early season access to Trinity where bass fishing has been exceptional for those in the know of late. At this time only the Trinity Alps Marina Fairview Resort (530-286-2282) is readily available for anglers coming to Trinity from Hwy 299. The ramp which opened up just a couple of weeks ago with rising lake levels is operational. The marina and resort are reached by traveling through Lewiston, continuing along beautiful Lewiston Lake and up past Trinity Dam.

The lake level, down about 100' is still well below seasonal average but is improving daily with vast snow pack in the watershed . The lake will continue to rise with forecast rain as well as expecting a drastic influx of water once the snow begins to melt.

By Memorial Day the lake levels should be in great shape with the majority if not all of the ramps and resorts open for the summer season. Hopefully the highway repairs will provide easy access to this great fishing and vacation getaway. As I have often noted there are fewer prettier lakes than Trinity when at or near full pool and the lake is just far enough away that the crowds found on Shasta and Oroville do not compete with the beautiful natural backdrop.

Gary Heffley has been a valued contributor to MyOutdoorBuddy for over 10 years serving as manager, sales representative and reporter for much of Northern California. He is an avid outdoorsman and loves to fish and write about his adventures. He has a long history in the Sporting Goods field and uses that extensive experience to impart his wisdom in his writing.