12 Facts About Pit River

Pit River is a major river draining from northeastern California into the state's Central Valley.

The main stem of the Pit River is 207 miles long, and some water in the system flows 265 miles to the Sacramento River measuring from the Pit River's longest source.

The river is so named because of the semi-subterranean permanent winter homes and large 'sweat houses' that the Pit River Tribe dug, and their pit traps for game that came to water at the river.

The upper reaches of the Pit above Fall River Mills are a snow-fed high desert stream with a much more seasonal hydrograph.

From here, the water is diverted to an offstream regulating reservoir and then through a tunnel bypassing the Pit River reach known as the "Big Bend" and the eponymous town of Big Bend, to feed Pit 5 Powerhouse.

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Pit River is located in historical Achomawi territory, who lived in the area expanding from Big Bend to Goose Lake.

The Pit River is named for the pitfall traps the Achomawi dug to capture game that drank at the river.

The Lower Pit River Project was technically superseded by the Central Valley Project for which Shasta Dam was completed in 1945.

The Fall Pit River was developed soon afterwards with a powerhouse coming online by 1922.

The lower Pit River was dammed in the 1960s, forming Reservoirs 6 and 7.

Pit River is a well-known trout stream in northern California and is a popular destination for fishing.

Pit River is a well-known hiking and sightseeing spot, particularly for people looking for waterfalls and bald eagles.