News Release

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Announces the Re-Opening of the Princess Ditch Trail

NPS

News Release Date: November 24, 2019

Contact: Josh Hoines, 530-242-3460

The National Park Service is excited to announce the re-opening of the Princess Ditch Trail on Monday, November 25th, 2019. This trail connects to a network of trails on the west side of Redding, including the Bureau of Land Management’s Mule Ridge and Swasey Recreation Areas.

Two bridges along the Princess Ditch Trail were burned in the Carr Fire, which limited access along the trail. With rehabilitation funding from the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Program, Whiskeytown’s trail crew worked alongside personnel from the Redding SMART Business Resource Center, Northern California Indian Development Council, and Lassen Volcanic National Park’s trail crew in rebuilding the two burned bridges and rehabilitating the 1.9 mile trail. Hazard trees along the trail still exist and visitors are advised to be alert while using the trail, especially during windy days.

The Princess Ditch Trail joins the list of ten other trails open to the public at Whiskeytown. Please visit the following website for a list of open and closed trails: https://www.nps.gov/whis/planyourvisit/hiking.htm

After hiking the trail on Friday, Superintendent Josh Hoines said “I continue to be amazed by the dedication and commitment of our staff to open the park to the public. I am excited to work with park staff and the community in the upcoming year towards making Whiskeytown National Recreation Area safe and accessible.”

The park is still conducting post fire damage assessments, which includes impacts from erosion due to last winter’s storms. The park is doing its best to safely open areas as quickly as possible while planning for longer-term repair needs. Depending on available funding and the post fire effects of this winter’s storms, some areas of the park, including trails to some of the waterfalls at the base of Shasta Bally, may remain closed during this winter. National Park Service staff enthusiastically invite visitors back and to celebrate this step forward in providing recreational opportunities to the public.

Please check the park website https://www.nps.gov/whis/index.htm or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/whiskeytownnationalrecreationarea for the latest information.