Attractions and Places To See around Cassel - Top 20

Thanks to the damming of the Pit River, also Hat Creek, shortly before its confluence into the Pit River, is dammed a little above its natural water level. The Hat Creek Park offers rare ADA access to fishing on Hat Creek. A recently installed concrete pad extends almost to the water's edge. Renowned for its quality fly fishing, Hat Creek Park offers easy access to some of the most exciting fishing around, right off Highway 299 in Shasta County. This local favorite fishing spot is a County Park and includes ADA accessible fishing, toilet facilities, picnic areas and a beautiful setting right on Hat Creek. You can fish from the banks right in the park, or follow some fishermen trails to get to a slightly more secluded spot on Hat Creek. Several picnic tables and campfire rings are scattered across the grounds and make for good spots for a roadside picnic. A couple of the picnic areas are ADA accessible, while a few others are tucked away in the trees and offer more private settings. Hat Creek was the first Wild Trout Area in California's Wild Trout Program. Traditionally known as one of the premier spring creek fisheries in the state, Hat Creek suffered from invasive species and fishing pressure in the 1950s. Thanks to ongoing restoration efforts since the 60's and 70's and careful management and public education, Hat Creek is once again one of California's best fly fishing rivers. Dogs must remain on a leash. Regulations for Fishing: Catch and Release, barb less hooks only. Two trout limit per day. http://www.co.shasta.ca.us/index/pw_index/fac_mgmt/hat_creek.aspx

The one way trip to the spring is a quarter mile down an unmaintainted dirt road. If you are not completely out of water, continue for 2.5 miles (northbound) to a campground with a spigot that provides potable water.

The water cache in this location is very small and you should never rely on a cache - especially not during the peak of the PCT hiker season, when 30 or more hikers a day pass through. The highway is a good spot to get a ride into the town of Burney.

Don’t rely on the water cache at this location. It was bone dry during hiker season. A ride into the town of Burney will take roughly 20 minutes. Burney has some motels that belong to the same owners, a Safeway grocery store, a Subway store, a Rite aid and a small outdoor store.

There are at least two water sources between Old Station and this location: Lost Creek after 8 miles and Cache 22 after another 8 miles. You will not have to carry water for 30 miles! During hiker season there might also be a Trail Angel Café on top of Hat Creek Overlook. There is also potable water at the Subway Cave (detour). There is space for 3 tents at Rock Spring.

Short detour option to a spring about 400 yards off the PCT if you are desperate for water. Access to water is closer at Arkright Spring about 0.5 miles southbound on the PCT, or 2 miles northbound, at Burney Creek. Burney campground, about 2.5 miles northbound, also has a potable water tap that doesn't require treatment.

This is the first drinking water access after a 30-mile waterless section on the PCT going north from Old Station. It is also probably the best campspot with water proximity, as the other official campsite on the PCT on the north end of Baum Lake is about a half mile to a mile away from decent water access. Big boulders in the creek facilitate crossing with dry feet. The tall grass can obscure the fact that the trail crosses to the other side.

After paralleling the road for a mile, the PCT finally crosses to the other side on a straight stretch with good visibility, and some white footprints painted on the pavement for drivers to pay attention. On the north side of the road a metal cabinet stores water (only if urgently needed, be mindful of others) and some books to trade. It is about 6 miles to the water at Hat Creek / Crystal Lake fish hatchery from here.