Print it. Bag it. Bring it.Phones die, screens crack, and most of this water has no signal. Print this map, fold it into a zip-top bag or dry bag with your license, and you have a backup your electronics can’t give you. Every marker is numbered so you can say exactly where you are.
| # | Point | Type | Lat, Lon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Pine Campground Public campground | Campsite | 40.63327, -121.46657 | Hat Creek Recreation Area, Lassen National Forest; upper Hat Creek. |
| 2 | Hat Creek Campground Public campground | Campsite | 40.66683, -121.44893 | Hat Creek Recreation Area, Lassen National Forest. |
| 3 | Cave Campground Public campground | Campsite | 40.68430, -121.42376 | Hat Creek Recreation Area, near Subway Cave. |
| 4 | USGS streamgage – Hat Creek USGS streamgage | USGS gauge | 40.68911, -121.42281 | Real-time flow gauge on Hat Creek. |
| 5 | Rocky Campground Public campground | Campsite | 40.72579, -121.42883 | Hat Creek Recreation Area, Lassen National Forest. |
| 6 | Bridge Campground Public campground | Campsite | 40.73011, -121.43808 | Hat Creek Recreation Area, on Hat Creek. |
| 7 | Honn Campground Public campground | Campsite | 40.77925, -121.50300 | Lassen National Forest, lower Hat Creek. |
| 8 | Hat Creek Powerhouse 2 Diversion Dam Diversion dam | Dam / hazard | 40.94988, -121.54609 | PG&E Hat Creek Powerhouse 2 diversion; marks the top of the Wild Trout Area. |
| 9 | Hat Creek Wild Trout Area Special-regulation reach | Regulation section limit | 40.96900, -121.56100 | Wild Trout Area, Powerhouse 2 downstream to Lake Britton (CDFW). |
| 10 | Hat Creek Park Day-use park | Park / conservation area | 40.97703, -121.55785 | Near the Lake Britton confluence. |
Gauge: USGS 11355500 — HAT C NR HAT CREEK CA. Live flow on the web page.
Species: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Regulations: wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Regulations
Emergency: call 911 and give the number of the nearest point on this map plus its coordinates.
Powerhouse 2 riffle - the top of the Wild Trout section and the traditional starting point.
Hat Creek Park off Highway 299 - easy bank access on the upper creek.
Cassel Bridge and the Cassel campground - the year-round open water above the Wild Trout reach.
Baum Lake and the outlet channel - still water and the short connecting stretch.
Carbon Bridge - mid-section access to the Wild Trout flats.
Highway 299 crossing near Cassel - roadside parking and walk-in water.
Lower Hat Creek near the Pit River confluence - the last public access before private ground.
Spring: opening-week fishing on the Wild Trout water, with strong afternoon mayfly activity.
Summer: green drakes into June, then technical flat water, weed beds and an evening caddis game.
Fall: October caddis, cooling water and fewer anglers on the famous flats.
Winter: the Wild Trout section is closed - fish the year-round water above Cassel instead.