Did you know that one of the largest freshwater springs in the United States is located in a small park in Northern California?
Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park is about 4 miles by 1 mile. Two-thirds of the park is covered in rock from lava flows that occurred 3,000-6,000 years ago. From the shore, visitors can see fresh spring water flowing from the lava rock. And this beautiful natural wonder is right in your backyard!
Ahjumawi means “where the waters come together” in the language of the Pit River indigenous tribe.
Several rivers and creeks converge in this area: Tule River, Fall River, Big Lake, Ja She Creek, and Lava Creek. These create this massive freshwater spring.
Lava from the Medicine Lake Volcano covered this park in black basalt rock.
The lava rock regulates the flow of water and purifies the water as it passes through. The springs are exceptionally pure and clean.
There are no public roads into the area and some of the land is private. This protected land is only reachable by a 2.5 mile boat or kayak trip.
You can launch onto Big Lake at a launch known as Rat Farm in McArthur. This is a very rural place and there is not potable water at the park, so be sure to bring enough to drink.
There are three main bodies of water within the park to check out via kayak– Big Lake, Horr Pond, and Ja She Creek.
This natural area is teeming with wildlife, including bald eagles, deer, and even bears.
The Ahjumawi people have lived on this land since time immemorial and fished in these waters.
Visitors can see numerous Ahjumawi structures still intact. Check out the stone fish traps, as well as grinding rocks that served as mortars to crush items for cooking.
This is one of the least visited state parks in California. No matter what time of year you go, it’s possible you won’t see many people.
If you don’t own a small boat or kayak, you can find rental places in the nearby cities of McArthur and Redding. Several of these places also offer tours.
Once visitors paddle across the waters to the park, there are many hiking trails where you can get a close-up look at the lava rock and other volcanic features. The campgrounds in Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park is a fun experience, partly due to the fact it’s possible you’ll have the campground all to yourself. The park has three primitive campgrounds, meaning bare-bones camping so come prepared. Remember when camping to leave no trace so this beautiful piece of nature can stay pristine.
Have you been to Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park?
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