The aftermath of the 2018 Carr Fire and the heavy winter that followed presented massive challenges to both the park and surrounding communities. One of the hardest hit areas within Whiskeytown was the Brandy Creek Falls Trail that historically wound its way from the lake and followed Brandy Creek up the slopes of Shasta Bally to the spectacular five-step cascade that is Brandy Creek Falls. During the fire, the Brandy Creek drainage served as an expressway for flames climbing the slopes of the mountain. While some of the trail was spared the intense, all consuming fire damage, much of the mountainside above was not. Then, threats from flooding and debris flows (fast-moving landslides with refrigerator-sized boulders bulldozing their way down) meant that the area had to be closed for safety until the land stabilized, a process that both our park geologist as well as a team from the U.S. Geological Survey agreed could take several years. Post-fire threats were realized the winter after the fire when the trail washed out in several sections, causing extremely dangerous conditions at creek crossings and along steep slopes. The delay and the washouts didn't stop park personnel from starting to plan and pursue funding for the eventual reopening of the trail. Always with an eye to the future, the planners looked at ways to not only return the trail to use but also how to improve safety and accessibility for the trail, campsites, and road to Brandy Creek Falls Trailhead. Aside from financial and survey work that occured, plans for reaching out to the community are also being looked at to help with some trail restoration labor. Now, three years after the fire, resources are available in terms of money and manpower to begin the arduous task of rebuilding and rerouting the trail. Multiple retaining walls, four bridges, and 1,600 feet of handrail will recreate the Brandy Creek Trail system in its entirety. This is a two-year project, and the first part of the project is repair and safety work of the trail stretching from Kennedy Memorial Drive to Brandy Creek Falls Trailhead. The park hopes to have this section completed by fall 2021. The second segment of this ambitious plan will see the trail restored to the actual falls, allowing visitors to return to the second-most popular trail in the park. Maintenance staff hope to have this completed by fall 2022. |
Last updated: July 22, 2021