Lakin Dam

This day use area is a popular site for viewing all sorts of wildlife as well as fishing. There is a wooden deck over the water with handicap access. * The wooden deck suffered severe damage over the winter due to high river levels.  It is unknown when repairs will be conducted. Lakin Dam has benefited people and wildlife. According to local residents, Lakin Dam was built in 1925 by the McCloud River Lumber Company. The dam was built to supply a reliable water source for the people of McCloud, and to provide water for the mill’s boilers, which ran the mill. In addition to providing water for the town of McCloud, Lakin Dam creates the slow moving waters where the native Redband Trout live. The original dam’s pipes were made of redwood wrapped with wire. The redwood was replaced in the 1960’s with a steel pipe. The dam was named after Bert Lakin who was general manager of the McCloud River Lumber Company. Mr. Lakin was well respected in the American lumber industry. On October 1, 1936 he lost his life in a forest fire on the west edge of McCloud.