Pit River Falls Vicinity

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Pit River Falls Vicinity

In this area the Pit River has cut a steep-sided canyon up to 200 meters (650 feet) deep through Pliocene and Pleistocene volcanic rock, primarily basaltic, producing an excellent exposure of the successive lava flows in the area. Immediately to the north of the area is a cinder cone, probably dating to the Pliocene.

Vegetation is primarily a northern juniper woodland, with big basin sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata, and Western juniper, Juniperus occidentalis, conspicuous. There is some oak woodland in the canyon. (See also Pit River Woodland.)

Along this stretch of the river the rare rough sculpin, Cottus asperrimus, is found. This fish is known only in the drainage of the river a short distance above and below the falls and in two tributaries of rivers and creeks entering the river near the falls.

Integrity: There is a powerhouse at the lower end of the canyon. One of the early wagon roads ran near the canyon bottom, crossing the river, below the falls, on a steel bridge; both are passable for foot traffic.

Use: Educational, research, observational, light recreation, on public portion. Remainder, private.

Ref: Robbins, C. R. and R. R. Wilier, 1958. Classification, Variation, and Distribution of the Sculpins, Genus Cottus, etc. Calif. Dept. Fish & Game Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 213-233.

May 1976