Willow Creek is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in the upper northern California region on the edge of Humboldt County with a small portion protruding into Trinity County. It lies around the town of Willow Creek surrounded by the 4,000 ft (1,200 m) Klamath Mountains. In the center of the Six Rivers National Forest, the 6,000 acres (9 sq mi) viticultural area outlines a narrow valley formed by the Trinity River approximately 31 mi (50 km) inland from the frigid Pacific Ocean, however, it experiences an abundance of sunlight and heat due to the multiple mountain ranges encircling it. The viticultural area was established as the 23rd Californian AVA on August 17, 1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by the Willow Creek Viticultural Area Committee on behalf of Humboldt County wineries and Willow Creek grape growers to propose the viticultural area named "Willow Creek." It is one of the oldest, smallest and northernmost active AVA in the state. The region is very rugged and mountainous with the cold crystal clear waters of the Trinity River rushing literally through the middle of the AVA with the valley floor lying 400 to 500 ft (120–150 m) above sea level surrounded by mountains. In 1983, there were as many as five wineries and seven vineyards cultivating 30 acres (12 ha) under vine. As of 2008, there were no commercially bonded wineries in the region, and only 10 acres (4 ha) under vine.