census-designated place in Shasta County, California
French Gulch is a community of 350 people (2010) in Shasta County in the Shasta Cascades region of California. The French Gulch Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
The optimal way to go to French Gulch is by car. Be sure to bring chains for your tires in winter.
Directions from Redding: Go west on CA 299 W until you reach it.
The town of French Gulch is small enough that you can get around by car.
The historic district listing included nine contributing buildings and two contributing sites on 180 acres (0.73 km²). It runs along both sides of Main St. (which has also been referred to as French Gulch Rd.) through a historic mining town.
It includes:
Whiskeytown Lake is one of two major lakes within 50 miles of Redding, CA. It is smaller, so it is by far the least crowded. It is best to visit in the fall.
This place offers rangers to ask for help and information, and a gift shop. It shares a parking lot with the trailhead of the Shasta Divide Nature Trail. For visitor information, call ☏ +1 530 246-1225.
The closest outdoor recreation areas are Whiskeytown Lake (see above), Whiskeytown Falls, and the Carr Powerhouse area.
These falls are odd in that they flow a bit at a more horizontal slope than most others. It is a strenuous hike there, but you'll be glad you did. If you can muster enough energy, there is also a trail at the Falls that takes you eventually to Shasta Bally.
Best known for its gold panning and nice picnicking areas, this goes from a creek and an old house to the Mill Creek Trail, the El Dorado Mine Loop Trail, and the Tower Gravesite trail. The latter has many fruit trees, and is the least strenuous. Along the creek in the summer, there are many monarch butterflies.
Shopping is not a major industry in French Gulch.
| Routes through French Gulch |
| Arcata ← Weaverville ← | W  E |
→ Shasta → Redding |