Ruth Lake - Trinity County, California

Visited on 3/29-4/1/2018, Jeff and I loaded up our two pups, Summer and Skye and went on a weekend camping trip in Northern California.  We found this wonderful gem in southern Trinity County half way between Eureka and Red Bluff on a very twisty with a lot of hairpin curves on Highway 36.  We were the only one camped in the campground on the first day of our trip and only three peaceful fishing boats were fishing on the lake.  This is quite a drive on a narrow road at times, but well worth the trip if you plan to stay awhile in this beautiful country.  Jeff and I totally enjoyed our two nights at Ruth Reservoir (also known as Ruth Lake).  It is the only reservoir on California's Mad River. At an elevation of 2,657 feet above sea level this 2,650 acre reservoir and adjacent community were named for early settler Ruth McKnight. Ruth Reservoir is a seven-mile long reservoir located in the southern portion of Trinity County. The reservoir was formed by the damming of the Mad River in 1962, and has served both as a functional supplier of water to Humboldt County and a recreational area for fisherman, boaters, water skiers and swimmers alike. The reservoir lies in calm, beautiful surroundings of hills covered by Ponderosa pine and white fir. The reservoir sits at an elevation which affords cool winters, warm summers, and amazing springs and falls.

The reservoir was formed by construction of R. W. Matthews Dam in 1962 primarily for domestic and industrial water supply to Arcata, Eureka, and other communities around Humboldt Bay. The reservoir was not designed for flood control storage, but limited December, 1964, flooding to 51 percent of 1955 flow at Forest Glen (on California State Route 36) and 90 percent of the 1955 flood flow at Arcata. A 2-MW hydro-electric plant with two 1-MW turbine generators is powered by water released from the reservoir. The plant generates 5 GWh during an average water year.   Dry-weather releases flow down the Mad River from the reservoir to be recovered by Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District's Ranney collectors near Essex, California. 

Visited on 3/29-4/1/2018, Jeff and I loaded up our two pups, Summer and Skye and went on a weekend camping trip in Northern California.  We found this wonderful gem in southern Trinity County half way between Eureka and Red Bluff on a very twisty with a lot of hairpin curves on Highway 36.  We were the only one camped in the campground on the first day of our trip and only three peaceful fishing boats were fishing on the lake.  This is quite a drive on a narrow road at times, but well worth the trip if you plan to stay awhile in this beautiful country.  Jeff and I totally enjoyed our two nights at Ruth Reservoir (also known as Ruth Lake).  It is the only reservoir on California's Mad River. At an elevation of 2,657 feet above sea level this 2,650 acre reservoir and adjacent community were named for early settler Ruth McKnight. Ruth Reservoir is a seven-mile long reservoir located in the southern portion of Trinity County. The reservoir was formed by the damming of the Mad River in 1962, and has served both as a functional supplier of water to Humboldt County and a recreational area for fisherman, boaters, water skiers and swimmers alike. The reservoir lies in calm, beautiful surroundings of hills covered by Ponderosa pine and white fir. The reservoir sits at an elevation which affords cool winters, warm summers, and amazing springs and falls.

The reservoir was formed by construction of R. W. Matthews Dam in 1962 primarily for domestic and industrial water supply to Arcata, Eureka, and other communities around Humboldt Bay. The reservoir was not designed for flood control storage, but limited December, 1964, flooding to 51 percent of 1955 flow at Forest Glen (on California State Route 36) and 90 percent of the 1955 flood flow at Arcata. A 2-MW hydro-electric plant with two 1-MW turbine generators is powered by water released from the reservoir. The plant generates 5 GWh during an average water year.   Dry-weather releases flow down the Mad River from the reservoir to be recovered by Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District's Ranney collectors near Essex, California. 

Since we were the only ones camping at the Lake we had our choice of over 90 camping spots we selected Camping Spot #9 right on the Lake.  It was peaceful and an awesome space right on the Lake for two nights.

 

This was campground spot #9 at the Ruth Recreational Area Campground, located right on the lake with plenty of firewood for Jeff to make his yummy fire grilled steaks and the dogs enjoyed just jumping in the lake just for fun!  It was a very peaceful and an awesome space for two spectacular nights in Trinity County.