Stories

Beauty Meets History – Hiking Tahoe’s Rubicon Trail

Tahoe’s Rubicon Trail might sound familiar to you as it’s become a very popular destination for hikers throughout Northern California,…

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Northern California is Experiencing a Modern-Day Gold Rush. Here’s Where You Should Pan for Gold.

Northern California has recently been subjected to a harsh winter, with the Sierra Nevada bearing the brunt of severe storms.…

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Unveiled FBI Documents Reveal Plot to Kill Queen Elizabeth on Her Trip to Northern California

In 1983, Queen Elizabeth II undertook a tour of California, marking her only visit to the state during her lifetime.…

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Here’s the Secret to Snagging Northern California’s Most Popular Campsites

Camping in Northern California can be a challenging task as the high demand for state park campsites often results in…

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This Fascinating Northern California Lake Sits at 125 Degrees Year-Round

Boiling Springs Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo: National Park Service The outdoor destinations in Lassen Volcanic National Park…

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The ‘Triathlon of the Art World’ Returns to Humboldt County

Photo: Kinetic Grand Championship The Kinetic Grand Championship, often referred to as the “Triathlon of the Art World,” is an…

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Proposed American River Reservoir Could Bring Significant Water Storage to Northern California

Folsom Lake In response to ongoing calls for greater water storage capacity, a study of the American River Basin has…

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How the Lake Almanor Earthquakes are Related to Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Peak looks over Lake Almanor. Photo by Ryan C. Two magnitude 5 earthquakes hit the Lake Almanor area over a…

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Remembering the Serial Killer Who Terrorized Northern California Hikers in the 1980’s

A trail in Point Reyes National Seashore. Photo by Alexis Marts. In the wake of the arrest of the notorious Trailside…

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Trash to Treasure: Exploring Nature’s Art at Fort Bragg’s Glass Beach

Photo by Joshua Sortino It was common practice in the early 1900’s to just throw your trash in the ocean. Today,…

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The Unexplained Mysteries of Lake Tahoe

It’s said that French Explorer Jacques Cousteau did a deepwater dive into Lake Tahoe in the 1970’s, only to emerge…

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Did You Know There’s More Than One Volcano in Lassen Volcanic National Park?

Photo by Austin Schmid Did you know that Lassen Peak is not the only volcano in Lassen Volcanic National Park? While…

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Missed the Northern Lights? Here’s How to See Them in Northern California.

We’re often asked how people can see the Aurora Borealis in Northern California. It’s not easy to see, but there…

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This Waterfall Was Once the Hideout of NorCal’s Most Notorious Stagecoach Robber

Every bandit needs a hideout, and it just so happens that one of the most prominent waterfalls in Northern California…

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How Star Wars Transformed the Northern California Redwoods into Endor for ‘Return of the Jedi’

In the early 1980’s, the third installment of the wildly popular Star Wars franchise was in production, and creator George…

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Mysterious Disappearance of Young Boy at McCloud Falls Adds to the Aura of Mt. Shasta

Mount Shasta is known for its natural beauty, along with its spooky reputation of paranormal activity. Many visitors have shared…

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Where is Northern California? The Answer Depends on Who You Ask.

There’s a long-standing question of where exactly Northern California is located. According to one study, it’s a matter of perception.…

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The Snowiest Winters in Tahoe History: The Endless Winter of 1938 Remains the Snowiest on Record

With a historical winter currently blanketing the Lake Tahoe region, we decided to dive deep into the history of epic…

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Two Bridges with the Same Name Tell a Fascinating Story of Northern California’s History

In July 1848, John Bidwell discovered gold in a canyon of the Feather River, leading to the establishment of Bidwell’s…

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The Short and Spectacular History of the Lassen Peak Fire Lookout

The newly-built Lassen Peak fire lookout in 1913. Photo by Olan Hampton via NPS. In 1913, the Forest Service built…

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Meet the Man Who Built an Off-the-Grid Watertopia Along the Trinity River

There are plenty of people who have built great properties in Northern California. While some people may point to the…

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This Man Gave Up His Japanese Citizenship to Become a Park Ranger at Muir Woods

Paul Myers / Parks Conservancy It’s not everyday someone gives up their citizenship to pursue a career, but that’s exactly…

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The Story of Lassen’s Ishi – The Last ‘Wild’ Native American

It was August 19, 1911, when an unknown, “wild’ man emerged from the wilderness near Lassen Peak and into the…

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Man Has Lived Off-the-Grid in the NorCal Redwoods for 50 Years. Now the Compound is Worth $6 Million.

In 1968, Charles Bello and his wife Vanna Rae bought 400 acres of redwood forested land in Mendocino County and…

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The Easter Lily Capital of the World Sits Right Here in Northern California

The Easter Lily make a great centerpiece to any Easter dinner surrounded by family and friends. And it’s very likely…

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The Snowiest Winters in Tahoe History: 812 Inches of Snow Buries the Railroad in 1952

The winter of 1952 in Tahoe is remembered for its record-breaking snowstorms, which caused avalanches, trapped trains, closed roads, and…

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Famous Film of Bigfoot Walking Through Northern California Has Been Enhanced by AI

Bigfoot continues to be a prominent legend and enigma in the United States. The countless sightings and ongoing stream of…

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The Snowiest Winters in Tahoe History: The Great April Storm of 1880 Pushed Donner to the Brink

In 1879, a severe storm originating from the Gulf of Alaska hit the Northern Sierra just before Christmas Day. The…

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Remembering the Massive Avalanche at Alpine Meadows that Killed 7 and Changed the Tahoe Community Forever

In the 70’s and 80’s, ski resorts were rated for their avalanche danger with a scale of A through F…

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Lake Tahoe a National Park? How Years of Decisions Shaped California’s Most Famous Lake.

Photo by Gordon Mak In 1861, Mark Twain camped on the shores of Lake Tahoe, captivated by its beauty. Unfortunately, he…

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This Northern California Town is Responsible for America’s First Bike Lane

The ever-popular bike lanes you see all around the country are a pretty new phenomenon. San Francisco received its first…

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Rules of NorCal: Don’t Drive to Tahoe on Friday

When planning a trip to Lake Tahoe, traffic delays are almost guaranteed if traveling on either Interstate 80 or Highway…

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‘Space Junk’ May Have Crashed in Yosemite After Streaking Across California’s Night Sky

Photo by Kevin Chen Streaks of bright lights spotted across the sky in California on St. Patrick’s Day left many people…

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The Snowiest Winters in Tahoe History: The Great Snow Blockade of 1890

With a historical winter currently blanketing the Lake Tahoe region, we decided to dive deep into the history of epic…

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This Popular Northern California Lake Was Once a National Park

Northern California is home to some of the most popular National Parks in America, with Yosemite National Park ranking high…

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The Mysterious Wild Chickens that Roam Yuba City with Impunity

Photo via chickensofyubacity If you’ve ever driven through the town of Yuba City along Highway 99 in Northern California, you…

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The Snowiest Winters in Tahoe History: The Two-Month Blizzard of 1895

With a historical winter currently blanketing the Lake Tahoe region, we decided to dive deep into the history of epic…

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How Two Tahoe Skiers Invented the Term ‘Shred the Gnar’

The term “shred the gnar” is a heavily used saying in extreme sports. The terms’s popularity had grown so much…

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Remembering the Great Flood that Put Northern California Under 30 Feet of Water

If you take a look at Northern California on a map, it will show a large valley right down the…

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An Atmospheric River is Headed Towards Northern California. What Exactly Does That Mean?

This week is expected to see a massive atmospheric river enter Northern California (and probably more behind it), bringing with…

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This Northern California Town Has Its Own Language

I’ll never forget the first I visited Boonville, California, located 12.5 miles southwest of Ukiah in Mendocino County. We entered…

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Remembering the Alien Sunrise Lenticular Cloud Over Mount Shasta that Went Massively Viral

It was a beautiful morning in Mount Shasta on February 12, 2020, when a rare lenticular cloud appeared over the…

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This Truck Dangling From a Humboldt Tree is a Mysterious Piece of Art

It’s been said that some people in Humboldt are weird. Heck, it’s the charm of the place. Known for it’s…

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Northern California is Home to the ‘World’s Smallest Mountain Range’

In Northern California, we have a lot going for us. We have multiple active volcanos, pristine National Parks, a beautiful…

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Take this Hike to See Ancient Petroglyphs in Northern California

In the Lava Beds National Monument sits a wall of stone with petroglyphs that are dated as far back as…

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72 Bars on One Road? The Legend of Mount Shasta’s Whiskey Row

The stories of Siskiyou County during the Gold Rush are like something out of a Wild West movie. The town…

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Remembering the Historic Valentine Avalanche that Created a 30-Foot Wall of Snow on Mt. Shasta

On February 13, 2019, a giant avalanche slammed Mount Shasta, which has been come to be known as the Valentine…

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Geologists Reveal the Age of Yosemite Valley and It’s Much Younger Than Previously Thought

Yosemite Valley’s origin story has been a subject of debate for decades. Now, geologists from the University of California, Berkeley,…

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Why Mt. Shasta Remains Mysterious – Dissecting 4 ‘Facts’ About the Mountain

Photo by Stephen Leonardi One day I was up in Oregon and pulled into the “Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint”…

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How a Tech Billionaire Lost $58 Million Buying a Lake Tahoe Vacation Home

Lake Tahoe has become a refuge for tech billionaires to vacation away from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley.…

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Massive Mothership Lenticular Cloud Appears Over Mount Shasta

There are plenty of legends surrounding the mighty Mount Shasta, including the theory that aliens use it as an underground port…

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Yaks on the 5 – Delicious Burgers at a Top 100 Restaurant in America

We visited Dunsmuir’s favorite local eater Yaks on the 5 to find out why they were named a “Top 100…

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Despite its Chilly Surroundings, Lake Tahoe Never Freezes. Here’s Why.

Photo by Manny Alvarez Lake Tahoe is known for its icy winter temperatures and snow-covered shores, but despite its freezing conditions,…

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Exploring the Point Reyes Shipwreck of Tomales Bay

Photo by Stephen Leonardi It’s rare to see an accident with such size and historical significance sit in its original location.…

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The Story of the Donner Party: Deadly Mistakes Over the Snowy Sierra

Photo of James F. and Margaret Reed, who were members of the Donner Party I could have died so many…

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Chico Hiker Completes Coveted 7,500-Mile Triple Crown in One Calendar Year

For avid hikers, the Triple Crown holds a special significance. The Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, and Appalachian trails are the…

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When Will Klamath Dam Removal Take Place? A Complete Timeline for the Largest Dam Removal Project Ever.

The largest ever dam removal project in the United States will completely change the makeup of multiple Northern California communities.…

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Remembering the Deadly Flood of 1955 that Put a NorCal Town Under 20 Feet of Water

It was just minutes past midnight of Christmas Eve 1955 when the Gum Tree Levee on the Feather River in…

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The Top 10 Active NorCal Stories from 2022

Another great year here at Active NorCal! The New Year brings new vitality to the Active NorCal office as we…

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Sculpting an Icon: The 100 Million Year History of Yosemite’s Half Dome

Half Dome is a iconic granite rock formation located in Yosemite National Park in California. It is known for its…

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How Did Lake Tahoe Get Its Name?

Lake Tahoe is a stunning alpine lake located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California and Nevada. It is…

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The Legend of Snowshoe Thompson: The Founder of California Skiing

In the 1800’s, traveling across the Sierra Nevada in the middle of winter was rarely accomplished. Native Americans were usually…

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What’s the Deal with the Perfectly Symmetrical Tree Plots in the Sierra Nevada?

Google Earth If you were to approach these select plot of trees from the ground, you may not know something…

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The NorCal Town Named ‘Rough and Ready’ Once Seceded from the United States

The only way you’ve probably heard of Rough and Ready, California is if you’ve driven on Highway 20 between Yuba…

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7 Incredible Winter Adventures Near Redding, California

Brought to you by Choose Redding Lassen Volcanic National Park in the winter It’s officially winter in Northern California, which…

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This Northern California Town Transforms into a Whimsical Christmas Wonderland in December

Brought to you by Discover Siskiyou McCloud, California The holiday season has arrived, meaning people are donning their homes with…

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Meet the Life-Saving Ski Patrol Dogs of Northern California

We all know that dogs are man’s best friend. Well, now dogs can be a skier’s best friend, and they…

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Hollywood A-List Actor Spotted in Humboldt. Is He Filming a Bigfoot Movie?

There have been sightings of an A-list Hollywood actor around Humboldt recently, which makes us wonder if he’s on the…

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How Skiing Down Volcanoes Became a Time-Honored Tradition in Northern California

Volcanoes are the kind of geological formations that tend to inspire awe. Towering above everything else, they seem like a…

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Meet the Man Who Drives His Car on the Sacramento River

“Wild” Bill Hill lives in Roseville, California, and just like any outdoor lovers in Northern California, he likes to spend…

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Celebrate Veteran’s Day at Living Memorial Sculpture Garden Near Mount Shasta

Photo: Discover Siskiyou Every year, Veteran’s Day sits as a reminder to all Americans about the sacrifice made by the…

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Witnesses Claim Meteorite Destroyed Northern California Home During Taurid Meteor Shower

Many people saw a massive fireball flying across the sky in Northern California during the Taurids meteor shower Friday night.…

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The Bizarre Story of the Horse that Summited Mount Shasta in 1903

Photo by Sebastien Goldberg Who isn’t fascinated with standing on top of NorCal’s premier active volcano, the formidable Mt. Shasta?…

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What Was It? Giant Fireball Lights Up Northern California Sky.

Many people were shocked to see a massive light moving quickly across the Northern California sky Friday night. No, it…

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Mt. Shasta’s Brand-New Gray Butte Lift is Finished. Here’s How it Will Completely Transform the Mountain.

View of the Mt. Shasta Ski Park from the brand-new Gray Butte lift. Photo by Mt. Shasta Ski Park. The…

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A Total Lunar Eclipse Called the ‘Beaver Blood Moon’ Will Light Up the Night Sky this Week

Photo by Zoltan Tasi  This week will see a spectacular lunar event with the “Beaver Blood Moon” lighting up the night…

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Celebrating 50 Years of ‘Wild Trout Waters’ in California

Hat Creek in Shasta County is forever linked with CDFW’s Heritage and Wild Trout Program as one of the first…

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Movie Review: Find Northern California Views in a Spooky Setting in ‘Hotel Dunsmuir’

The film “Hotel Dunsmuir” is out, and just in time for a spooky NorCal Halloween. How do you make Dunsmuir,…

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Movie Crew Shares Haunting Experiences While Filming ‘Hotel Dunsmuir’ in Northern California

The newly-release Hotel Dunsmuir has been a hit for audiences this Halloween season, receiving positive reviews and earning Michael Zaiko…

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The Legends and Mysteries of Siskiyou County

Photo by Marco Bicca  It’s well documented that the areas surrounding Mount Shasta are full of legends and mysteries. From paranormal…

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5 Survival Lessons From the Northern California Man Lost in Yosemite For Nearly a Week

Photo by Jason Strull When Alan Chow solo-hiked into the Yosemite National Park wilderness in the spring of 2018, he had…

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Meet the Underwater Fly that Rules Mono Lake by Living Underwater

Over 100 years ago, writer Mark Twain observed the case of some “incredibly weird” flies in Mono Lake, near Mammoth…

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Remembering the Deadly 75-Foot Tidal Wave that Leveled Crescent City in 1964

Beginning in Northern California and running all the way up to Alaska in the Pacific Ocean sits multiple fault lines…

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How NorCal’s Outdoor Opportunities Stack Up Against Yellowstone National Park

Photo by Steven Cordes I gotta admit, I’m torn on this one. I’ve recently returned from a fishing trip to Yellowstone…

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Could Mount Shasta Bring America’s Next Great Volcanic Eruption?

The recent volcanic history of Mount Shasta eludes us. For a long time, the last eruption was believed to be…

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The Dam Removal Era in Northern California Explained

While some Northern California dams are primed for removal, Shasta Dam provides crucial water storage and flood mitigation for the…

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How Do Northern California Wildfires Impact Wildlife and Forests?

Written by Meghan Snow Seeing a forest recently burned in a wildfire can be jarring. Green is replaced by shades…

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Sierra Notes: Four Characteristics of a Thriving Forest and How You Can Help Keep Them Healthy

Written By Cal Robinson When you close your eyes and think of a healthy forest, you may picture one that’s…

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The Literary Titans of Northern California – Part 2

Northern California has always attracted creative superstars, and the list of famous writers who either come from NorCal or spent…

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The Fascinating History of Redding Rancheria

The Wintu Tribe of Northern California When I am outdoors visiting our beautiful NorCal landmarks, curiosity always slips into my head…

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The Mystery Behind the Sunken World War II ‘Ghost Boat’ on Shasta Lake

Photo: U.S. Forest Service There have been plenty of historic structures revealed on Shasta Lake during severe drought. With multiple…

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Newly Released Horror Flick Features One of Our Favorite NorCal Mountain Towns

It’s not every day you get to enjoy a movie filmed in one of your favorite towns in the world.…

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Stand By Me Deleted Scene Shows Added Danger on the Famed Northern California Bridge

Stand By Me is a cult classic movie from 1986 about four curious boys wandering into the wilderness in search…

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This Popular Northern California Destination was Once the Scene of a Bloody Battle in 1855

Photo by Brandon DesJarlais We know Castle Crags as the beautiful Northern California wilderness area settled just between Shasta Lake and…

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‘Lucky to be Alive’: Surfer Details Vicious Shark Attack on Northern California Coast

Jared Trainor was excited for another fun day surfing on the Northern California coast on Sunday. The Fortuna man was…

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This Underwater Trail in Lake Tahoe is Home to Shipwrecks and Other Historic Artifacts

The history of Lake Tahoe sits at the bottom of its crystal-clear water and it’s now home to an underwater…

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