Peak of the Week: Coffee Creek

Jeri Rangel took to the air this past weekend to show us the glorious color percolating along Coffee Creek in the Shasta Cascade.

This is the best view of peak that we have seen of the Coffee Creek area, earning the area honors as, “Peak of the Week.”

Jeri continued her flight over Alpen Cellars, one of the few vineyards in the Shasta Cascade, its vineyards glowing golden below with the Trinity Alps seen in the distance.

Most of the trees creating the color are bigleaf maple, though some cottonwood, alder and birch are contributing to the show.

The Carville Loop Rd. was part of a fabled stage coach route through Trinity County during the California Gold Rush.

Serving travelers along the Loop, since 1854, has been the Carville Inn, now a resort.

Though gold is no longer being mined in the Trinity River and Coffee Creek, spots of gold can still be seen in the area’s trees.

However, very little gold is being seen along the Upper Sacramento River at Sims Flat, where many of the trees have dropped their leaves or had them turn without significant color.

Color spotter Jill Dinsmore sends a shot of Sims Flat.  Though the color is disappointing, there is hope that Indian Rhubarb growing at the river’s edge will brighten to orange-red in coming weeks.

Sherry Gardner found a stand of brightly colored birch along Old Stage Rd in the town of Mt. Shasta.

Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Coffee Creek

Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Carville Loop

Patchy (10-50%) – Sims Flat, Upper Sacramento River

Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Mt. Shasta