News - Active NorCal

May- 2021 -

24 May

Reopening of Armstrong Redwoods Further Delayed Following Wildfire Damage

In August 2020, the LNU Lightning Complex Fire spread through the region near Guerneville, California, burning much of the wilderness…

24 May

Lower Bucks Lake is Refilled and Stocked with Trophy Fish Following Year-Long Dam Repair

Following a year-long project in which PG&E drained Lower Bucks Lake in order to perform repairs to its concrete dam,…

24 May

This CHUNKY 46-Pound Striper Shows Bass Fishing is Heating Up on the Sacramento River

The bass fishing on the Sacramento River is starting to heat up with multiple guide services reporting big striped bass…

19 May

It’s Official: Crystal Geyser Won’t Be Bottling and Selling Mt. Shasta’s Crystal-Clear Water

In 2013, Crystal Geyser purchased a 145,000-square-foot facility just outside Mount Shasta with the hopes of bottling and selling the…

19 May

California to Close Commercial Crab Fishery Early to Avoid Whale Entanglements

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham ordered the state’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery to close at noon on June…

18 May

Summer Concert Series Returns to South Lake Tahoe with Star-Studded Lineup

With Covid restrictions easing throughout the United States, Harrah’s and Harveys in South Lake Tahoe is bringing back their much…

18 May

Scuba Divers Begin Largest Clean Up in Lake Tahoe’s History by Hauling Out 200-Pounds of Trash

Photo: Clean Up the Lake With growing tourism interest and outdoor recreation on the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe, trash…

17 May

Ranger Led Kayak and Paddleboard Programs are Returning to Whiskeytown Lake

Photo: Whiskeytown NRA Following an absent year due to the Covid pandemic, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has announced it will…

17 May

1,894 Lightning Strikes Recorded in Northern California on Saturday

Photo by Felix Mittermeier A series of thunderstorms blanketed Northern California over the weekend, peaking on Saturday with a recorded 1,894…

16 May

Full-Grown ‘Vampire Fish’ Spotted in the American River

Photo of a lamprey fish on the Feather River. Photo taken by the California Department of Water Resources in 2017.…

16 May

Lassen Park Highway to Open a Month Earlier than Usual

Photo by Deanna Lewis With dwindling snowpack melting at a rapid rate throughout the Sierra Nevada, the summer months are quickly…

16 May

Over 100 Lightning Strikes Cause 10 Wildfires in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Photo: U.S. Forest Service Lightning strikes were prevalent throughout Northern California over the weekend, causing numerous small wildfires from Mount…

16 May

Two Dead at Popular God’s Bath Swimming Hole in Tuolumne County

Photo: Bob Perry As the hot temperatures move into Northern California for the summer, many beat the heat at the…

16 May

Yosemite Prepares to Install Half Dome Cables to Reopen Summit Hike

Photo by Frank Kehren Yosemite National Park has announced they plan to install the cables on Half Dome to allow…

11 May

Man Steals a Sailboat on the Sacramento River, Immediately Gets it Lodged Under the Tower Bridge

A man is facing criminal charges after stealing a sailboat near West Sacramento on the Sacramento River on Monday night.…

11 May

California Snowpack Falls to an Abysmal 8 Percent of Historical Average

Photo of Lake Oroville during the drought of 2014. Photo: California Department of Water Resources The drought continues to get…

10 May

Yet Another Oregon Wolf Settles in Northern California

A gray wolf is caught on camera in Northern California Wolf activity in Northern California is reaching unprecedented levels as…

10 May

Environmental Crimes Discovered at Illegal Cannabis Grows in Tehama and Shasta Counties

In April, wildlife officers at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) conducted two investigations related to environmental crimes…

7 May

4.7 Magnitude Earthquake Near Truckee Marks the Tenth in Tahoe Over 2 Weeks

At approximately 9:35 pm on Thursday, a 4.7 magnitude earthquake shook the mountains of the Sierra Nevada just north of…

6 May

Burney Falls Sees Massive Influx of Visitors, Spiking Traffic and Litter Issues in the Area

Burney Falls is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in Northern California. The 129-foot waterfall, once dubbed the Eighth…

6 May

Flock of Critically Endangered Condors ‘Absolutely Trash’ California House

Twitter/@SeanaLyn Following near extinction, different programs have successfully brought critically endangered condors back to California. There are only 160 condors…

5 May

California Wildfires are Already Outpacing Last Year’s Historic Fire Season

Photo: Pacific Southwest Forest Service, USDA It’s only May 5th and we may already be on the verge of another historic…

5 May

Popular Point Reyes Beach Closes For Four Months

Photo by Karam Alani One of the most popular summer destinations in the Point Reyes National Seashore has closed for the…

5 May

Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove Reopens Following Nearly 5-Month Closure Due to Storm Damage

Photo by KC Welch One of the premiere destinations to see the majestic trees of California has reopened to the public…

3 May

New Fire Burning Through the Big Basin Redwoods Could Have Been Started from Last Year’s Embers

In August 2020, a the CZU Lightning Complex Fire burned through the Big Basin Redwoods State Park, destroying much of…

3 May

Tahoe is Asking Visitors to Take a Pledge to Preserve its Outdoor Destinations

Photo by Jeremy Banks The rise in outdoor related tourism in Northern California has been staggering. With little opportunities for indoor…

3 May

The Highly-Anticipated Redwood Sky Walk is All Set to Open in Eureka

Photo: Sequoia Park Zoo The countdown has begun for the opening of the Redwood Sky Walk at the Sequoia Park…

3 May

How Bad is the Drought in NorCal? DWR Just Cancelled Their Snow Survey Because There Isn’t Any.

The snow in the Sierra is almost gone and it’s only May. The water year in Northern California has been…

Apr- 2021 -

27 April

A Wildflower Super Bloom Has Taken Over at the Dreadfully Low Folsom Lake

If there’s one place you can point to as current evidence of California’s impending drought, it’s Folsom Lake. Currently sitting…

26 April

Fifth Dead Whale Washes Ashore in Less than a Month Near San Francisco Bay

Photo: San Francisco Whale Tours Springtime along the Northern California coast is famous for its whale migrations, where gray whales…

25 April

Yosemite Officials Searching for Lost Hiker Who Could Be Suicidal

Hiker Ralph Elliott went missing in Yosemite on April 22 The search is on for a hiker who went missing…

25 April

Late-Season Storm Bringing Snow, Rain and Thunderstorms to Northern California

Photo: CHP – South Lake Tahoe Following the third driest precipitation year in California’s recorded history, late season storms are…

25 April

Officials Plan to Drop 2,900 Pounds of Poison on the Farallon Islands. Here’s Why.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife just approved a plan to drop 2,900 pounds of poison-laced bait on the wildlife-rich Farallon…

25 April

5 Earthquakes in 21 Minutes Shake Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe visitors and locals awoke to a rumbling under Lake Tahoe this morning, with a series of 5 earthquakes…

19 April

14-Year-Old Fisherman Wins $10,000 Striped Bass Derby on the Sacramento River

When the Nor-Cal Guides and Sportmens Association decided to host a striped bass derby on the Sacramento River in Colusa,…

19 April

This Sacramento Trail Was Just Named One of the Best in America

When you think of trails in Northern California, you probably think of places like Tahoe, Mount Shasta, Yosemite and the…

19 April

Another Skydiver Killed at the Embattled Lodi Skydiving Center

Yelp/Kahanalei M. Yet another death has occurred at the controversial Lodi Skydiving Center, which has now experienced its ninth death…

19 April

April’s Super Pink Moon Will Be the Biggest and Brightest of 2021

Photo by Ahsan Avi April’s full moon will rise on the night of Monday, April 26th as the biggest and brightest…

16 April

New Partnership Makes Booking Campsites at California State Parks a Whole Lot Easier

Photo by Awar Meman Let’s be honest – the reservation system at California State Parks isn’t the most user friendly experience.…

14 April

Yosemite National Park to Begin Late-Summer Campground Reservations This Week

Yosemite National Park will be allowing reservations for campgrounds from August 15 to September 15 on their website beginning this…

14 April

You Can Help Name Redding’s Three New Eaglets

It was exciting news when the eagle cam on the Sacramento River in Redding recorded the hatching of three new…

13 April

Squaw-Alpine to Begin Construction on New Gondola, Creating North America’s Third Largest Ski Resort

Alterra Mountain Company, owner of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows in the Lake Tahoe region, announced it will begin construction…

7 April

California Sees Third Driest Water Year in Recorded History

Lake Oroville. Photo: California Department of Water Resources If you thought this year was dry in California, you’re right on…

7 April

Brand New 300-Mile Lost Sierra Trail Will Connect 15 Communities from Tahoe to Lassen

Mountain bikers enjoying the world class trail system in the Lost Sierra. Photo: Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship The Sierra Nevada mountain…

6 April

Closing Dates for All Ski Resorts in Northern California

Mammoth Mountain terrain park. Photo by Robson Hatsukami Morgan. The ski season is coming to an end in Northern California. With…

6 April

National Park Service Reveals 152 Tule Elk Died in Point Reyes in 2020

Photo by Hari Nandakumar Following the controversial decision to kill Tule Elk in Point Reyes National Seashore in favor of cattle ranchers,…

5 April

Hiker Dies Following 100-Foot Fall at Oroville’s Table Mountain

Hollow Falls. Brooke Stanley/AllTrails A hiker fell 100-feet to their death near Hollow Falls at Oroville’s Table Mountain on Saturday.…

Mar- 2021 -

31 March

Experimental Release of 186,000 Chinook Salmon Performed Downstream from Spawning Grounds on the Sacramento River

Photo: Golden State Salmon Association Officials from the Coleman National Fish Hatchery, in coordination with the Golden State Salmon Association,…

31 March

GoFundMe Raises $250K for 5 Children Whose Parents Were Killed By Fallen Redwood in Northern California

Following a tragic incident where Jessica and Jake Woodruff were killed by a falling redwood tree near the Jedediah Smith Redwoods…

26 March

The Massive Road Clearing Operation is Underway in Lassen Volcanic National Park

A snow plow clears snow near the Devastated Area. Photo by NPS. When the springtime hits Lassen Volcanic National Park, park…

26 March

More Than 500,000 Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Released Into the Feather River

More than a half million spring-run Chinook salmon smolts were released into the Feather River near Yuba City last week.…

26 March

More Bears with Neurological Disorders Turning Up in Northern California

CDFW photo by Kirsten Macintyre The reports out of Pollock Pines, El Dorado County, last month sounded eerily familiar. A…

26 March

Large Redwood Falls on Car in Del Norte County, Killing Two

Photo courtesy Courtney Mae A large redwood tree toppled over Highway 199 in Del Norte County on March 25, killing…

25 March

Get Pumped! The Bigfoot Mountain Bike Challenge is Returning to Redding in 2021

Photo by Jaret Brantley Redding is California’s secret mountain biking mecca, boasting a trail system over 200 miles in the area. And…

23 March

For the First Time in a Century, Condors Will Take Flight in Northern California

For the first time in 100 years, the endangered California condor will return to the Pacific Northwest. Once on the…

23 March

Gray Wolf Continues Historic Trek Further South into California

The wolf that made the astounding trek from Oregon to the Eastern Sierra has continued to travel south. The GPS-collared…

23 March

See the Biggest Steelhead Seen at the Coleman Fish Hatchery This Season

Since steelhead were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1998, Coleman Fish Hatchery has been dedicated to growing…

22 March

Campground in Plumas National Forest Closed for Bald Eagle Protection

A section of the Wyandotte Campground in the Plumas National Forest is temporarily closed to protect a bald eagle nesting…

22 March

Redding’s Famed Eagles Welcome New Hatch to their Turtle Bay Nest

The famed Redding eagles have welcomed a new hatch into their Turtle Bay nest along the Sacramento River. Liberty and…

22 March

Snowmobiler Killed After Falling Off Cliff in the Sierra

Photo by Joey Childs A snowmobiler was killed over the weekend after falling from a cliff in the Sierra. The victim…

20 March

Abalone Fishing Banned in Northern California Until 2026

While the spring season typically signals the start of the recreational red abalone season, CDFW reminds anglers that the northern…

20 March

5 Million Fall Chinook Salmon Released into the Sacramento River

Officials at the Coleman Fish Hatchery made their annual trip to the Sacramento River this week to release approximately 5…

18 March

Tahoe Skier Escapes Avalanche by Launching Off 100-Foot Cliff

Cliff where the avalanche occurred A Tahoe skier found himself trapped between a 100-foot cliff and an avalanche. He opted…

18 March

Embattled Lodi Skydiving Center Ordered to Pay $40 Million Following Fatal Incident

Following yet another fatal incident at the Lodi Skydiving Center, owner Bill Dause has been ordered to pay $40 million…

12 March

Coyote That Attacked Five People Caught and Removed from Bay Area Community

Photo by Joshua Wilking A multi-agency team of wildlife management professionals and local law enforcement caught and euthanized the coyote that…

11 March

Golden Gate NRA Was the Second Most Visited National Park System in the U.S. in 2020

Photo by Varun Yadav As the National Park released its annual visitation numbers for 2020, San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Recreation…

10 March

Vail Resorts Extends Ski Season for Tahoe Resorts

Kirkwood Mountain Resort Vail Resorts has extended the ski season at their Tahoe resorts, with Northstar, Kirkwood and Heavenly all…

10 March

The (Virtual) Wild and Scenic Film Festival is Returning With Four Northern California Inspired Films

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival is going virtual in 2021, with the Tehama Conservation Fund hosting this year’s event…

9 March

Fisherman Breaks 46-Year-Old California Crappie Record on Clear Lake

David Burruss with his record crappie from Clear Lake California has a new record for largest crappie caught with the…

8 March

Sundial Bridge Will Light Up Blue This Week in Honor of Frontline Workers

Thursday, March 11th, marks the one year anniversary of the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. To recognize the…

5 March

Yosemite National Park Ends Temporary Reservation System

Photo: Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau Vehicle reservations will no longer be required to enter Yosemite as of Monday, March 1st. The…

3 March

Sierra Snow Survey Reveals California on the Verge of Another Critically Dry Year

The California Department of Water Resources conducted its third manual snow survey at Phillips Station near Tahoe on Tuesday, revealing…

3 March

Active NorCal Featured in National Geographic Article on Northern California Waterfalls

Active NorCal Founder Zach O’Brien was recently featured in a National Geographic article on waterfalls in Northern California’s Shasta Cascade.…

1 March

Skiers Complete Death-Defying Descent of Yosemite’s Half Dome

Zach Milligan skiing down Half Dome. Photo by Jason Torlano. Two brave skiers recently completed an extraordinarily dangerous feat –…

1 March

Gray Wolf Travels from Oregon to Eastern Sierra – The Furthest South Ever Tracked in California

A gray wolf is making major headlines after it made the long trek across the Oregon border and all the…

Feb- 2021 -

22 February

Volunteer Mauled by ‘Critically Endangered’ Leopard at Oroville Wildlife Sanctuary

Photo: Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary A volunteer at Oroville’s Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary was hospitalized over the weekend…

18 February

Fishing Guide Lands 3-Foot Wild Steelhead on the Smith River

The rivers of California’s North Coast are starting to see some trophy steelhead running through the system. Fishing guides throughout…

17 February

Expectations vs Reality: Yosemite’s Firefall Packed with Crowds of Visitors

Photo by Katie Rodriguez The world-famous Firefall natural phenomenon at Yosemite National Park has become a popular event. Due to stunning…

16 February

Avalanche Falls on Highway 89 Near Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay

Photo: California Highway Patrol – South Lake Tahoe Sitting in the midst of a snowy winter in Tahoe, avalanches can…

10 February

The Firefall Natural Phenomenon Arrives Early in Yosemite National Park

Photo by Katie Rodriguez When February arrives in Yosemite National Park, photographers flock to Horsetail Falls to see the natural phenomenon…

8 February

Yosemite Announces Brand-New Reservation System Ahead of Annual ‘Firefall’

Photo by Katie Rodriguez Yosemite National Park is world-renown for its stunning waterfalls, including the tallest in North America – Yosemite…

1 February

Snowmageddon 2021: Yet Another Storm Heading for NorCal Mountains with 3 Feet of New Snow

Photo: Squaw Valley Phew! This week’s been one heck of a wild ride in the Northern California mountains, and it’s…

1 February

Skier Injured in Large Eastern Sierra Avalanche

Aftermath of the avalanche in the Eastern Sierra. Photo: Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center The massive snowfall that hit the Mammoth…

1 February

Satellite Images Show Insane Sierra Snowpack Increase in Just 10 Days

Snowmageddon 2021 was a fantastic week for Northern California. Precipitation fell at an incredible rate through three different storms over…

1 February

Two Brand-New Siskiyou County Wolves Could Create California’s Second Wolfpack

Two Siskiyou County wolves caught on webcam It was a major milestone for wildlife conservationists in California when OR-85, a…

Jan- 2021 -

29 January

Interstate 80 Reopens Over the Snowy Sierra

It’s been a busy week for CalTrans employees attempting to keep our roadways open in the midst of Snowmageddon 2021.…

29 January

Storm Totals: Mammoth Reaches 10 Feet of New Snow

Photo by Visit Mammoth During the first 3 weeks of January, Mammoth received 3 inches of snow. Over the past…

29 January

Truckee Teen Rescued Under 5 Feet of Snow After Dangerous ‘Roofalanche’

Truckee, California. Photo by Daniel Akre. A 14-year-old Truckee boy was buried under a dangerous roof avalanche on Wednesday and following…

28 January

Avalanche Damages Chairlift at Mammoth Mountain

Photo: Mammoth Mountains Mammoth Mountain is currently buried in 7 feet of brand new snow. The massive snowfall has closed…

28 January

Interstate 80 Closes Near Tahoe Due to Heavy Snow

CalTrans workers have been able to do a fantastic job on high-elevation roadways as Snowmageddon continues to pummel Northern California.…

28 January

Snowfall Pummels Yosemite National Park, Further Extending its Closure

People hoping to see the gorgeous winter views of Yosemite National Park are going to have to wait longer than…

28 January

Mammoth is BURIED with 7 Feet of New Snow and It’s Impossible to Get There

A stranded big rig buried in snow along Highway 395. Photo taken Wednesday morning by CalTrans/Andy Richard The Eastern Sierra…

28 January

Mt. Shasta Receives 40 Inches of Snow with A LOT More on the Way

Mt. Shasta Ski Park during the epic storm of February 2019 Mount Shasta has been a welcoming recipient of the…

28 January

The Best Photos/Videos of Snowmageddon 2021 in Redding

Photo: City of Redding It was a rare day in Northern California on Wednesday with Redding residents waking up to…

28 January

The Tahoe Snowfall Totals Are In and They’re BIG

Photo: Sierra-at-Tahoe Snow fell early and often this week in the Tahoe region. As Snowmageddon continues to rage in the…

26 January

Breaking: Snow is Falling on Shasta Lake

The time is nigh. Snowmageddon 2021 has arrived in Northern California and we’re already seeing snow as low as Shasta…

26 January

National Weather Service Upgrades Forecast with Rare Blizzard Warning for Sierra

The historic Tahoe storm of February 2019. Photo by Granlibakken As Snowmageddon 2021 descends on Northern California, the forecasts continue…

26 January

Record Number of Bald Eagles Spotted on Lake Tahoe

Photo by Richard Lee It’s a banner year for Bald Eagles in Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Institute of Natural Science (TINS)…

26 January

Forest Service Closes Popular Mt. Shasta Roadways in Anticipation for Winter Storm

Everitt Memorial Highway With a winter storm descending on Mt. Shasta, forecast to bring 4 feet of snow to the…

26 January

Snowmageddon 2021: What to Know About the Potentially Historic Storm in Northern California

Hype is building as the biggest storm seen in years is entering Northern California. Over 8 feet of snow is…