For current weather and back road conditions and advisories, contact the Six Rivers National Forest main o ce (707-442-1721) or the nearest ranger station (see back). For more about Eastern Humboldt County and lodging options for humans there, go to: KINGBIGFOOT.COM.
PATTERSON GIMLIN FILM SITE
Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin were nearly out of film when they stumbled upon a Bigfoot along Blu Creek, but managed to train their 16MM camera on “Patti” as she lumbered across a clearing into the forest. Skeptics have tried to debunk the 60-second footage, one of the most viewed films ever, but believers consider it the most convincing evidence of the creature’s existence. Volunteers maintain a signed trail to the site. blu creekproject.blogspot.com
BLUFF CREEK BIGFOOT TRACKS
After logger Jerry Crew spotted giant footprints near Orleans, the local paper reported on the “Big Foot,” coining the popular name for the crypto-monster. Ray Wallace, the company owner, later took credit for the prank. But other strange happenings spooked the crew, such as someone, or something, tossing around a 450-lb fuel drum and 700-lb tire like toys. “I felt him. I knew he was there,” says one who crewmember.
ORLEANS RANGER STATION
Six Rivers National Forest is the site of many Bigfoot experiences, such as the Jerry Crew logging team encounter and the PattersonGimlin film expedition. It includes old growth stands of Doug Fir, Tan Oak and Madrone, campgrounds, hiking trails and fishing spots along 400 miles of wild and scenic rivers. 530-627-3291.
FISH LAKE
Teaming with trout, bluegill and bass, Humboldt County's second largest fresh-water lake is popular with anglers, kayakers, swimmers and overnighters. The Forest Service seasonal campground has 24 sites, many with lakeside views, and trailheads to explore the forest and smaller lakes nearby. While usually quiet, a few campers have heard strange Bigfoot-ish sounds or found monster-sized footprints. Twelve miles north of Weitchpec o Blu Creek Rd. 530-627-3291.
WEITCHPEC
The wandering Willie of Weitchpec, as Bigfoot was known a century ago, hails from this Yurok Indian settlement at the scenic confluence of the Klamath and Trinity Rivers, where Hwys 96 and 169 meet. Stop in the tribal-owned PecTah Fuel Mart for groceries, bait and tackle for angling expeditions on the rivers or nearby Fish Lake, and surprisingly cheap gasoline given the location. 530-625-4163.
REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK
The home of the world’s tallest trees abounds with reports of Bigfoots, including one spotted in the Bald Hills, another dashing over Hwy 101, and one making a racket at night in a remote canyon. The “eerie wail didn’t sound human. I know what elk, coyote, and wolf calls sound like, and this was nowhere near those,” recalls a backpacker. 707-464-6101.
LACKS CREEK RECREATION AREA
This Bureau of Land Management wilderness features 9,000 acres of coastal mountains, open prairies, alpine panoramas, live oaks and old growth Douglas fir. Hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders give positive reviews about the trails and primitive camping. From Willow Creek, go west on Hwy 299 about 22 miles, north at the Redwood Valley turno for 4 miles, then follow the signs up a gravel road. Check the BLM site or o ce for maps. Or call 707-825-2300.
HOOPA VALLEY RESERVATION
Hoopa tribal lands north of Willow Creek, the largest Indian reservation in California, have been the site of countless encounters with the Oh-Mah, or ancient ones, over the centuries. There are sightings and footprints reported to this day. David Paulides, a retired police o cer and author of the Hoopa Project, spent two years on the reservation and concluded it was no myth. Tour the tribal museum for more Hoopa lore. 530-625-4110.
TISH TANG BEACH
Children found half a dozen footprints along the bank of Trinity River near Tish Tang, a seasonal campground managed by the Hoopa Tribe. It has 40 basic blu top sites a short walk from a picturesque stretch of the river with a pebble beach, rapids and pools, jumping rocks and protected coves. Waders and swimmers should check current conditions and be mindful of the sometimes cold and swift main current. 530-625-4284.
TRINITY RIVER FARM
A family operation for decades, the O’Gormans share fresh produce from their beautiful riverfront acres. Visit the produce barn for vegetables, fruits, jams, jellies and sauces. Browse the greenhouses for garden starts. Farmer Tom encourages guests to walk around, picnic or take a tour. The farm is on Hwy 96, about 2.5 miles north of Willow Creek. Open April to October. They sometimes run a roadside stand in downtown Willow Creek. 530-629-3200.
WILLOW CREEK RANGER STATION
One popular pastime in Six Rivers National Forest, a one million-acre expanse, is mushroom collecting. Get a permit at the Forest Ranger o ce just north of Willow Creek. Or pick up a map and ask for tips on Bigfoot hunting. 530-629-2118.
BIGFOOT SCENIC BYWAY
This stretch of Hwy 96 begins in Willow Creek, gateway to Bigfoot Country, and meanders 90 miles north through gorges, forests, mountains and lakes in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties, as well as Hoopa and Yurok tribal lands and the wild and scenic Klamath, Trinity and Salmon rivers. Besides the creature, you could spy eagles, falcons, otters and bears. Extend a leisurely afternoon with fishing, paddling or overnight camping in Six Rivers National Forest. 530-365-7500.
WILLOW CREEK CREEKSIDE PARK
Willow Creek’s newest park, set among trees overlooking the actual Willow Creek, consists of a toddler playground, picnic and barbecue area, and the 18-hole Steelhead Disc Golf Course. There’s an easy walking loop around the perimeter. Located o Hwy 299 at the end of Willow Road. 707-601-7948.
WILLOW CREEK LIBRARY
Should time or conditions prevent a deep woods excursion, hunt for Bigfoot in the public library, which has hundreds of books, movies and other resources devoted to the hairy hominid. Our favorite: The horror flick Willow Creek (2013), one of numerous Bigfoot movies filmed in the area. Located on Hwy 96 at the intersection with Hwy 299, it is open most afternoons. Check the web or call to confirm hours. 530-629-2146.
CHINA FLAT - BIGFOOT MUSEUM
A wooden giant guards the entrance to the China Flat Museum, which displays 19th century logging and mining artifacts as well as the world’s largest collection of Bigfoot-related curios, including casts, maps, dioramas, archives, films, pop culture items, souvenirs and a socalled fossilized Bigfoot tendon. Located in town on Hwy 299 near the intersection with Hwy 96, the museum is open seasonally. Call to confirm or arrange a visit. Donations appreciated. 530629-2653.
OH-MAH STATUE
Willow Creek’s oldest Bigfoot sculpture was carved in 1967 by Jim McClarin, a local Squatch searcher. The name Oh-Mah comes from a local Indian word for the prehistoric wild man. It shows signs of wear, but its distinct browridge, a feature noticed by many eyewitnesses, remains prominent. The life-sized redwood replica stands in front of the Willow Creek Information Booth, sta ed seasonally by the chamber of commerce, at the corner of Hwy 299 and 99. 530-629-2693.
BIGFOOT CAGE
Behind the Bigfoot Motel, downtown on Hwy 299, a hulking metal cage looms over the parking lot, a warning to any tall beasts should they wander into town. As a side note, the motel hosted the members of the famous Pacific Northwest Expedition in 1958, led by cryptozoological pioneer Bob Titmus, whose extensive footprint cast collections were donated to the China Flat Museum. 530-629-2142.
GAS STATION BIGFOOT
Perhaps the most abstract of the wooden monsters of Willow Creek, the Bigfoot in front of the Patriot Gas Station on Hwy 299 features heavy jowls, long arms and blockish head. While di erent in style, the Bigfoot in a mural on the side of the building, like the redwood sculpture, seems curiously casual and mellow. 530-629-3241.
HARDWARE STORE BIGFOOT MURAL
This epic 170-footlong work by Duane Flatmo, Humboldt’s most celebrated artist, depicts Willow Creek’s hairiest resident as thoughtful friend rather than wild menace, helping settlers build their homes. Located on a hilltop on the eastside of downtown Willow Creek on Hwy 101. 530-629-2425.
BIGFOOT STEAKHOUSE
Man beast memorabilia and artifacts pepper the walls of this comfort food eatery in downtown Willow Creek o Hwy 299. Enjoy a meal of chicken fried steak, grilled veggies and mashed potatoes with a glass of Bigfoot Cab in the casual dining room or on the spacious screened in back porch overlooking the Trinity River. 530-739-2614.
BIGFOOT DAYS - VETERANS PARK
Not surprisingly, the world’s Bigfoot capital hosts the world’s biggest celebration dedicated to the legend. The Labor Day weekend tradition features a parade, ice cream social and usually some Bigfoots. 530-629-2693. Afterwards, there’s a fest with music, games, booths, logging contests and monster hunters at Veteran’s Park. In town another time? The 17-acre complex includes a picnic area, playground, volleyball and tennis courts. Reservations needed for group events and picnic pavilions. Located at 100 Kimtu Road on the way to Kimtu Beach. 707-601-7948.
KIMTU BEACH
On the banks of the Trinity River in Willow Creek, Kimtu includes a popular sunbathing and swimming beach with sand and pebble banks, river jumping rocks and streamside waterfalls; and a seasonal campground in an old growth fir forest with two cabins and nine tent sites. Waders and swimmers should check current conditions and be mindful of the sometimes cold and swift main current. 530-629-2136.
BIGFOOT BOOKS
East of Willow Creek about 1.5 miles, this eclectic bookstore on Hwy 299 is stu ed to the rafters with used and rare books of all subjects, including, of course, more than 100 di erent Bigfoot titles in stock. Wander through the rambling house and you may encounter another rarely seen legend, owner Steven Streufert, one of the most knowledgeable sources in Bigfoot lore. 530-629-3076.
EARLY BIRD BIGFOOT BURGERS
Early Bird Café diners clamor for Bigfoot Burgers, twin beef patties shaped like a monster foot. So is the homemade bun, complete with toes. Note: The half-pound creation often feeds two rather than one. More fast food items and take-and-bake pizzas are available. So are snack items and bait and tackle. The interior mural amuses with a scene of Bigfoot enjoying co ee and donuts over a campfire. 530-629-4431.
BIGFOOT RAFTING
Northern California’s premier whitewater rafting outfitter o ers rentals, shuttles and guided trips on the Trinity, Klamath, and Salmon Rivers, the wildest and most scenic in the state. Whether an action-packed whitewater ride or an easy calm float, Bigfoot rafting can lead the way. Family-owned, they're located on Hwy 299 in Big Flat, on the Trinity River. Plenty of parking and space for picnics and special events too. 530-623-1113.