Conant The Barbarian
Savage beauty is seen from Conant (I-5 Exit 721) beside the Upper Sacramento River, north to the town of Mt. Shasta. It pillages the hillsides and drips into the Upper Sacramento.
Philip Reedy was there yesterday and reports the mountainsides behind Castella and Dunsmuir, as well as the towns themselves, are “gold with oaks” and declares this section of the Upper Sacramento River a definite GO NOW!
Phil estimates peak color has but a few days, perhaps a week, then it’s anyone’s guess how long it might survive. So, hurry.
What’s exceptional in these photographs are the orange and red tones seen in the bigleaf maple at Conant.
Conant, Upper Sacramento River (11/2/20) Philip Reedy 
Upper Sacramento River (11/2/20) Philip Reedy 
Upper Sacramento River (11/2/20) Philip Reedy 
Fly Fishing, Castle Crags, Upper Sacramento River, (11/2/20) Philip Reedy
You won’t find Conant on most maps. It’s a town that no longer exists. Named after William Conant, the town disappeared some time ago. Nevertheless, take the exit and begin at Conant to hike the tracks north, beside the river, for a quarter-mile to find a great view of the Crags.
(Editor’s Note: Always be on the lookout for trains when on these tracks, as this is a very active line and trains approach quickly and with little sound).
Presently, many fly fishers are working the stream near Conant. Local river conservator Scott Embrey served as a model for magazine covers Reedy was shooting, but soon after Phil gave Scott “a rare break from posing,” he caught a trout.
Mossbrae, near Dunsmuir, has improved a lot since last week and is at peak as well. Bright yellow bigleaf maple grow along the tracks and at the falls.
- Conant (1,890′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Castella (1,900′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Mossbrae Falls (2,529′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
- Dunsmuir (2,290′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
