Ahjumawi & Castle Crags State Parks

The  Pit River Tribe and its bands have lived in northeastern California  since ancestral times and named the area Ahjumawi, meaning "Where the  waters come together."  The waters which come together are Big Lake,  Tule River, Ja She Creek, Lava Creek and the Fall River. 

Together,  they form one of the largest freshwater spring systems  in the world.   Within the park, you'll find recent lava flows, lava tubes, craters,  fishing, animal life, a wide variety of birds, primitive camping and  environmental campsites.  

This State Park is located north of the town of McArthur,  California and is accessible only by boat.  From McArthur, take Main Street north off of State Highway  299 E, (just east of the Intermountain Fairgrounds).  After about 1/2  mile, bear right and cross over the McArthur Diversion Canal.  Follow  the dirt road another three miles to the Rat Farm Boat Launch and  parking area.  Question: Guess why they call it "The Rat Farm?"  

There  was a day long, long ago when an enterprising soul decided to raise  muskrats in the area.  He eventually turned them loose into the wild;  hence the name, "The Rat Farm."  

There  is currently no reservation system, so it's first come - first served.   There are nine campsites, spread from 1-1/2 miles from the boat launch  to 3 miles.  Each site has a food locker, a fire ring and a picnic  table.  You must bring your own water or filter available water at the  park.  Bring mosquito repellent and watch out for bears, (not  necessarily of the ticket-writing variety).  

Please be prepared to hike in and pack out... everything, with no trash left behind.  

The  lofty spires and granite dome of Castle Crags State Park rise more than  6,500 feet.  The park is located at the north end of the Sacramento  Valley off of Interstate 5 near the town of Dunsmuir.  Ancestral home of  the Okwanuchu Shasta people, the conspicuous crags were also revered  and worshiped by the other indigenous peoples of the area surrounding  them including the Wintu, Achumawi and Modoc tribes. The Okwanuchu  Shasta believed that spirits took human forms to live in the rocks,  cliffs and mountaintops of the Crags 

We have developed a separate website for our support of Castle Crags State Park. For Maore Information about Castle Crags State Park, click below: