About Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve
News
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Fall 2026 events
FALL 2026 EVENTS ATHORSETOWN-CLEAR CREEK PRESERVEUnless otherwise noted, meet at the HCCP parking area on Clear Creek Road,approximately 7 miles west of Highway 273, west of the Clear Creek Korean Veterans Bridge. Children are welcome • All events are free • Donations appreciatedSEPTEMBER 5 • SATURDAY • 10 AM–2 PM — BIODIVERSITY DAYWhistle stop Park,…
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SPRING 2026 EVENTS
Spring 2026 Events at HCCP ***CELEBRATING 35 YEARS*** Meet at the Preserve parking area on Clear Creek Road unless noted. All events are free and child friendly horsetownclearcreekpreserve.org MARCH 14 (SAT) 10-12PRACTICING CURIOSITY THROUGH NATURE JOURNALING Join Heather Bortolussi, a GrizzlyCorps fellow with the Western Shasta RCD, for a nature journaling outing at Horsetown Clear…
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Giving Tuesday has started. You can give now until Dec. 2nd
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2025 fall events
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This Weekend!
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Last weekend for spring events at the Preserve.
Join Heather Bortolussi from Western Shasta RCD for 2 fun filled events- don’t miss these fun events with a new presenter. see calendar for details. Saturday Wading into the Water: The Hidden world of Aquatic insects at 10 am Sunday Practicing Curiosity through Nature Journaling at 9 am.
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Cancelled-May 17 event- let’s hear it for the vulture
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SPRING 2025 EVENTS
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY CLEAN UPMarch 29 (Sat) 9:00amVolunteers will clean up a stretch of Clear Creek Road around the Preserve for 2 – 3 hours. We provide vests for visibility, tools to pick up small items and garbage bags. Lunch/snacks/coffee on us afterwards at Carl’s Jr. on Westside Road. Please bring gloves. INSIDE THE ROTARY SCREW TRAP…
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Horsetown Clear Creek Preserve gets a new sign
We are excited to announce the addition of a new sign at Horsetown, which has just been installed! A heartfelt thank you goes out to the dedicated volunteers who helped make this happen. We are confident that this sign has been placed high enough to ensure it remains visible and intact for the long term.…
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FALL EVENTS 2024
Fall 2024 Events atHorsetown-Clear Creek Preserve Unless noted with the description, all events start at the HCCP parking area onClear Creek Road, just west of the Clear Creek Korean Veteran’s Bridge.Children are welcome at all of our events and all events are free. September 21 (Sat.) 9 a.m. – “ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY CLEANUP”Volunteers will clean up a…
History of the Area
The Gold Rush on Clear Creek marked a significant chapter in California’s history, with Major Reading’s discovery leading to a rush of fortune seekers and the development of thriving communities. The legacy of this era is still visible in the region’s history and natural beauty.
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Our newsletter features updates about the preserve and a full calendar of upcoming events.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. when is the annual salmon run on Clear Creek?
Several salmon runs occur throughout the year. The main Chinook salmon run happens between September 1 and December 1. Because the creek is a restored salmon run, be sure to check with Fish and Wildlife for current fishing regulations.
2. What is that large machine in the water?
It’s a Rotary Screw Trap, a specialized device used in fisheries and aquatic research to capture and study river and stream fish populations. It is made up of a rotating screw-shaped mechanism or auger that is placed in the watercourse, usually in such a way that fish swimming upstream come into contact with it. The trap’s design allows fish to be gently lifted or transported from the water into a collection area where researchers can study, count, measure, and release them without harm.
3. Can I prospect for gold and artifacts at the Preserve?
Because it is a historical preserve, no gold mining or artifact hunting is permitted; nevertheless, the BLM allows some of these activities on surrounding holdings.
4. What birds, butterflies, and plants are at the preserve?
View our list of common and uncommon bird sightings at the preserve here. The Monarch Butterfly, California Sister, and Acmon Blue are just a few of the many that have been sighted during April and May. See our plant gallery for a sneak peek at some of the flora.
5. WHERE IS THE PRESERVE?
GPS coordinates:
Elevation: 622 feet
Latitude: 40°29.656’ N
Longitude: 122°29.890’ W
Google Map
6. Is hunting or target shooting allowed?
Hunting is prohibited within the Horsetown Clear Creek Preserve and lands downstream from the preserve towards Highway 273 and on public lands east of Clear Creek between Clear Creek Road and Placer Road. Target shooting is also prohibited.
Meet Our Board Members
President
Secretary
Lisa has been volunteering with Horsetown since 2012 and is currently serving as secretary on the Board of Directors. She enjoys the friendly coworkers and the opportunity to make a difference. Lisa also organizes the Adopt-a-Highway program that was originally set up and run by the late Frank Kosko. Volunteers clean trash from a stretch of Clear Creek Road around the preserve and the Reading Bar monument on a regular basis. She also enjoys helping to host spring and fall events, planting native plants at the preserve, and doing some trail work. She takes photographs and helps to implement the Facebook page. Lisa considers the work involved a labor of love.
Treasurer
Don became a part of HCCP when founder Gene Clark began inviting organizations related to the environment to become involved in its development. Don was representing Shasta Rescue and Rehabilitation Inc., and this interest grew into a HCCP Board Member position. As an architect, he helped especially in our bridge construction, trail map signage, trail maintenance, and recently in an installation oversight for the new toilet building.
His interest in the BLM Cloverdale parcel on the northside of Clear Creek Road led to wandering and exploration and an interest in historical features, the two mini-falls, and possible trail locations. He has led several HCCP walks on that parcel.
David learned to love and appreciate nature growing up on a ranch in San Luis Obispo County. He has been a field trip leader for Friends of the Dunes, the Shasta Group of Siera Club, and the Shasta Chapter of the California Native Plant Society for 12 years and is their current Conservation Chair. He is also on the Executive Committee of the Shasta Group of Sierra Club and is the founder and president of the Shasta Environmental Alliance.
He really appreciates how active and involved the Horsetown Clear Creek Board members are. They really care about educating the public about our natural world. He has been leading wildflower field trips for Horsetown for many years and enjoys the diversity of people who attend.
Ray enjoys volunteering with Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve. Ray originally worked with Frank Kosko on the trails a few years before he became a board member in 2012. Ray helps maintain the trails and amphitheater by helping keep them clear of fallen trees and weeds. He has always liked trail work. He worked with the Angeles National Forest as a volunteer for many years before moving to Redding. He also helps with the Adopt-a-Highway clean-ups and miscellaneous projects at the preserve.
Ryan is a lead field technician at the Western Shasta Resource Conservation District. Ryans passions align with those of conservation and restoration. A Redding local, Ryan is passionate about biodiversity in his town and enjoys restoring plant communities across Shasta County.
The programs and activities created by this board are the result of a developed friendship and common interest, as well as the dedication of current and past board members, including Frank Kosko and Charlie Ferrell.