Upper McCloud River Falls Overlook - off Calif. Hwy 89 - Scenic Roadside Look-Outs on Waymarking.com

Upper McCloud River Falls is located on the McCloud River at an elevation of about 3440 feet where it spills over a ledge of basalt. The falls is about 50 feet high with a large plunge pool.
The river enters a narrow gorge cut into the basalt and cascades over several small steps before exiting the gorge and spilling 25 feet into the plunge pool.
There is an interpretive sign, parking area and picnic area near the falls and a short trail leads to overlook.

Text sign at viewpoint:
Upper Falls has been a place of sustenance for Native peoples.
For several thousand years, Native Tribes lived near Upper Falls in the late spring, summer and fall.
The Winnemem Wintu came from the south, the Shasta Tribe came from the north, and the pit River Tribe came from the east.
They came from their permanent valley homes to hunt elk and to fish. Rainbow trout were caught in great numbers in the pools at Upper and Middle Falls. Elk once wandered all over the lush meadows of the McCloud River and in the Squaw Valley Creek area.
In the early 1900’s there were reports of temporary camps along the McCloud River that were occupied by a “transition people” who spoke all three languages and who lived peacefully with all tribes.
“The Native people have a great respect for the land and water of which they are so much a part. Water is one of the most important sustainers of our life. The other sustainers of life are the air we breathe, the food we eat, and our spiritual connection to the creator of all things.” -- Floyd Buckskin, Pit River Tribe.
It ta choo’mah is the Pit River Tribes’ name for the McCloud River. Iko-si-wi-se were the Pit River Tribe people living along the river.
The McCloud River offered water, protection and food. The Iko-si-wi-se used many plants along the river for food, medicine, tools, clothes and temporary houses.
They ate acorns, pine nuts, wild onions, wild plums, chokecherries, mushrooms, elderberries, currants, watercress, and wild tubers. Women made baskets from many of the Native plant materials along the McCloud River.
Because of their respect for the land and water, the Pit River Tribe has helped the US Forest Service with native plant restoration. They have collected native plant seeds and cuttings from Upper Falls, worked in the greenhouse, and planted native plants at Lower and Upper Falls.

Describe - Highway or Road number: Calif. Hwy. 89 Closest town or city: McCloud, California Number of parking spots available: 20 Summer View: yes Year around access ?: no Comfort station on site: yes Is a photo of an "Information Sign"included?: Yes Name if a website describes this location.: Not listed Winter View: Not Listed

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   09/23/2012 Volcanoguy visited it