| Date: November 17, 2009 | | Location Red Bluff Recreation Area Hike | | Where: Mendocino National Forest | We stopped for a night during our winter migration to Arizona to camp at the Sycamore Campground in the Red Bluff Recreation Area. Technically, Red Bluff Recreation Area belongs to the Mendocino National Forest, but it feels like it is a part of the city of Red Bluff. Located along the Sacramento River, it has a wide variety of trails, boat launches, picnic grounds, campgrounds, and a nature center.
|  | | Buster & Jeanette at the start of the Shasta View Trail It was still dry when we arrived in the early afternoon, so we got right out to explore the area. We were delighted to discover that this 488-acre park has over 5 miles of trails. Huge Valley Oaks, and California Sycamore trees make this a beautiful area to hike.
|  | | Buster & Jeanette check out a huge Valley Oak We also discovered it is a great birding area. We spotted and identified the following birds: Turkey Vulture, Scrub Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Oregon Junco, White Crowned Sparrow, Western Bluebird, Bushtit, American Kestrel, Northern Goshawk, Northern Flicker, American Robin, Western Meadowlark, and Canada Goose.
|  | | Red Bluff Diversion Dam Lake Red Bluff is very unique in that it is a sometimes lake. On May 15th the Red Bluff Diversion Dam lowers its gates to divert water for irrigation and Lake Red Bluff is formed, becoming the centerpiece for summer recreation. On September 15 the gates are raised for fish passage and the Sacramento River flows freely again as shown in the photo. |  | | Sycamore Picnic Area |  | | Shasta View Trail |
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