Weaverville is a small mountain town in Trinity County, about an hour west of Redding on Highway 299. It sits at around 2,000 feet in the Trinity Alps, surrounded by thick forest and clear rivers. The town has been here since the Gold Rush and still has the look of a well-preserved 19th-century mining settlement, with a compact historic downtown of brick and wood-frame buildings.
The standout attraction is Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park, home to the oldest continuously operating Chinese temple in California. Built in 1874, the temple is a striking reminder that Chinese miners made up a large part of the Gold Rush population in these mountains. Guided tours run regularly and the interior is filled with original artifacts, tapestries, and altars. Across town, the Jake Jackson Museum covers pioneer life and local history with a good collection of mining equipment, Native American basketry, and early photographs.
Weaverville is also a practical base for exploring the Trinity Alps Wilderness, one of the largest wilderness areas in California. The trails here see a fraction of the traffic that Sierra Nevada trails do, and the alpine lakes are pristine. In summer, the Trinity River offers excellent swimming holes and kayaking. The town has a handful of solid restaurants — the Trinideli makes good sandwiches, and La Grange Cafe is a local favorite for breakfast.