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California Hiking Trails - Mount Shasta
Northern California Hiking Trails:
California hiking trails, in particular hiking in the Cascades - Mt. Shasta, McCloud and Dunsmuir, are absolutely spectacular.
There are several trails to be found just a couple of miles from Shasta Ranch Lodge.
Just get ready, step out the front door, and you and your family can experience the beauty and wildlife Mt. Shasta has to offer.
For instance the Elsa Rupp Trail is an easy, relaxing walk through forest and Strawberry Valley Wetlands. This trail is located Approximately 1.5 miles from Shasta Ranch Lodge. Look for the parking area on the right side of Old Stage Road just North of the Sisson Hatchery and the Museum.
Guest Comments:
We LOVE it here ~ and we don't want to leave. Your home is so comfortable and we felt right at home. Great hikes around Siskiyou Lake, Middle Fork of McCloud River and Castle Lake. Delicious meals around the great table and tons of laughs over loud games of "Jenga" and "Catch Phrase." Can't wait to come back.
Thank you,
Brennans, Peters, Malnars, McConnells & Susan & Larry |
Be sure to obtain current
maps
and hiking guides. These will be great assets to your hike planning and enjoyment.
Through personal experience and research we have tried to include whether the trails listed are easy, moderate, strenuous, or difficult.
We'll keep hiking and researching so check back often.
A little preparation could mean the difference between a safe enjoyable hike or becoming lost and alone with an injury. Be safe, enjoy!
California Hiking Trails - Everitt Memorial Hwy:
The following section is a trail list off of Everitt Memorial Hwy.
The directions are from Mt. Shasta City.
Bunny Flat Trail (6,950 ft.) This is a major trail head for both day hikers and mountain climbers. It is the main route to the summit and is also a popular trail to Horse Camp, the Sierra Club's cabin. There is a small stream, (excluding winter) and a restroom. This hike is moderate to strenuous and takes three to 4 hours and 4.5 miles in length. (Drive 11 miles right into it.) Grey Butte Trail (7,600 ft.) It is a steep two mile trail to the top of Grey Butte. Enjoy panoramic summit views. This hike is three hours and three miles in length. (Drive 12.5 miles to Panther Meadows Campground parking lot and trail head. Walk through the campground to the meadow and follow the signs.) John Everitt Vista Point Trail (5,100 ft.) This is a botanical trail that leads to a volcanic rock lookout. This hike is easy and 20 minutes and 1/2 mile in length. (Drive 8 miles on Everitt Memorial Hwy. Turn Right on entry road to lower parking area. Trail starts at the top of stairs.) Panther Meadows Trail (7,800 ft.) Short and popular, this one mile trail loops through a wildflower meadow with a small alpine stream and spring. This is a peaceful area that typically opens after June 1st. Due to sensitive plant life, PLEASE STAY ON THE TRAIL. Easy hike, rocky trail, 45 minutes and 1.5 miles in length. (Drive 12.5 miles to Panther Meadows Campground and follow the signs.) Sand Flat (6,800 ft.) Hike one mile in the trees to Sand Flat which provides access to the main trail to Horsecamp and Avalanche Gulch. (Drive 9.5 miles on Everitt Memorial Hwy. Turn Left on unpaved Lower Sand Flat Road or park off highway and hike in. No Facilities. Ski Bowl Trail (7,900 ft.) This is the highest point accessible by car, excluding the winter. Enjoy gorgeous views. Located in a wide volcanic bowl at the tree line, this trail is rocky. The hike is easy on a steady uphill climb and 1 hour and 1 mile in length. (Drive to the end of Everitt Memorial Highway.) Squaw Meadows Trail (7,700 ft.) A rocky 2 mile trail that crosses the saddle above Grey Butte and passes near the north side of Red Butte, passing through the gate to Squaw Meadow. (Park at the south end of the Old Ski Bowl parking lot. Follow the rock lined trail ahead and up the bowl heading east.)
DO NOT LEAVE TRAILS; VEGETATION IS FRAGILE!
More information at the
Forest Service
in Mt. Shasta, 204 W. Alma St.
"MOUNT SHASTA ATTRACTIONS," latest revision 1997, by Mt. Shasta Visitors Bureau, 300 Pine Street, Mount Shasta CA, 96067, 530-926-4845.
California Hiking Trails - Mt. Shasta Area:
 Black Butte (6,325 ft.) Once known as Muir Peak and thought of as a cinder cone resulting from one of Mt. Shasta's many eruptions. Black Butte is actually a plug dome, a completely separate volcano. Both of our children have climbed Black Butte during their 6th year of elementary school. The directions are to go two miles North of Mt. Shasta High School on Everitt Memorial Hwy. At the sign marked "Penny Pines," take a left and follow the dirt road approx. 2.5 miles. Follow the dirt road until it crosses the overhead power line. At this point, take the dirt road to the left, follow it for approx. 1/2 mile until the trail head is reached. This hike is moderate and from trail head to summit is approx. 2.5 miles and takes approx. 2 to 3 hours.
Castle Lake Trail (6,000 ft.) Just past Box Canyon Dam at the South end of Lake Siskiyou turn left onto Castle Lake Road. Follow this road into the parking lot next to Castle Lake. Strenuous to rocky hike. Castle Lake and Heart Lake (6,200 ft.) Just past Box Canyon Dam at the South end of Lake Siskiyou turn left onto Castle Lake Road. Follow this road into the parking lot next to Castle Lake. Find the trail at the east side of Castle Lake and follow it to a heart shaped lake, Heart Lake. Unmarked, unmaintained, and yet, well worth the physical effort. Heart Lake is high above Castle Lake in the cliffs. This is a strenuous and rocky hike. Deadfall Lakes and Mount Eddy (7,150 ft. to 9,000 ft.) These are three gorgeous lakes on Mt. Eddy. Lower Deadfall Lake is 5 acres. Middle Deadfall Lake is 25 acres and a deep blue in color. Upper Deadfall Lake is bright green and 4 acres in size. The hike is easy and approx. 2.5 miles in length. From I-5 take the Gazelle exit North of Weed. Turn right on Old Hwy. 99 for approx. 1/2 mile, turn left on Stewart Hot Springs Road for approx. 4 miles. Turn right onto Forest Road 17, follow it for approx. 10 miles. At Parks Creek Summit there is a large parking lot and trail head. From the trail head follow Pacific Coast Trail to the junction of the Sisson-Callahan Trail. Lower Deadfall Lake is slightly Southwest. Middle Deadfall Lake is due South. Upper Deadfall Lake: follow the NE shore of Middle Deadfall Lake, trail will begin to climb past Upper Deadfall Lake to Mt. Eddy. Sisson Callahan Trail (3,500 ft. @ Lake Siskiyou and 8,020 ft. @ Dead Fall Summit.) Nine mile trail with spectacular views of Mt. Eddy, the Castle Crags and the Trinity Alps. It is one of 47 National Recreation Trails in the National Forest in California. In 1968, Congress developed the National Recreation Trails to "promote public enjoyment and appreciation of the outdoor area of the nation."
California Hiking Trails - Mc Cloud:
McCloud River's Three Waterfalls (3,200 ft.) The Wintu Tribe originally named the area Nurum-wit-ti-dekki; "Falls where the salmon turn back." You'll want to bring a picnic and plenty of water to enjoy this beautiful day. Upper McCloud Falls gathers the sleeping river into an energy that forcefully spills into the pool below. Middle McCloud Falls spreads a sheet of crystal clear water over a lava cliff. Some report Middle Mc Cloud Falls as the most spectacular river falls in Northern California. Swimmers should prepare for a most hard swim. Finally Lower Falls, settle down and enjoy your picnic with the sound of cascading water falling into the popular swimming hole below. To make life a little easier, swimmers will find a metal ladder for their return ascent. From I-5 take the Hwy. 89 exit, follow it past McCloud to Fowler's Campground. Follow the signs for the waterfalls, the river and the campground. Squaw Valley Creek Trail (2,600 ft.) runs along Squaw Valley Creek for five miles. It ends at a private locked road; the creek empties into the McCloud River. Shortly after beginning the hike the Squaw Valley Creek Trail converges with another trail via a foot bridge. This is the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail which makes it's way from the Lower McCloud River to the Castle Crags. This is an easy hiking trail that is 5 miles in length and incredibly beautiful. Directions from I-5 are take the Hwy. 89 exit into the town of McCloud. Turn right at the McCloud Central Business District and follow the signs for Squaw Valley Creek Road and McCloud Reservoir. Turn right onto Lower Squaw Valley Creek Road and after passing over a concrete bridge take an immediate left to the parking area and trail head.
California Hiking Trails - Dunsmuir:
The Castle Crags State Park Well maintained, 10,500 acres of riverfront, steep canyons, mountain lakes, wet meadows, brush, rocky outcroppings, high alpine trails and granite spires. The Pacific Crest Trail can be accessed from the park. Directions from I-5 just South of Dunsmuir, take the Castella exit and follow the signs to Castle Crags State Park. Burstarse Falls Trail (3,250 ft.) This trail is known by few which provides the solace that many hikers yearn for. Experience the 3 streams that give life to this beautiful 40 ft. water fall, the granite spires of the Castle Crags State Park, and at it's end you will treasure every step taken on this hike. This hike is moderate in difficulty and 6.4 miles in length. Pay the day use fee, collect the maps and get directions to the Falls. Castle Dome and Indian Springs Trail (4,700 ft.) Geologically speaking this area is far older than the more famous Mt. Shasta. Shaped by glaciers and erosion, breath taking spires of granite and views for hundreds of miles will surround you. The hike is Strenuous and steep, takes 5 hours and 5.5 miles in length, and is worth the climb. Directions from I-5 are take the Castella exit and follow the signs to Castle Crags State Park. Pay the day use fee, collect the maps and get directions to the Vista Point parking area.
California Hiking Trails - Additional Trails of Interest:
Ah-Di-Na Trail information is found at the McCloud Ranger Station. This hike is only a 1/4 mile in length, yet it sheds much information on it's history as a former Native American settlement, a private fishing retreat, a trout fishery and the Hearst family's land ownership in the area. The Forest Service acquired the property in 1965 and in 1990 USFS and volunteers reconstructed the old log cabin using traditional tools. Directions from I-5 are take the Hwy. 89 exit to McCloud, turn south on Squaw Valley Creek Road and follows signs to Ah-Di-Na, approx. 18 miles from McCloud. Living Memorial Sculpture Garden was dedicated as a war memorial. However, the feeling of peace seems to emanate from these metal sculptures. The Garden is surrounded by high desert beauty and Mt. Shasta's beauty to it's South. Which makes the walk between sculptures an extraordinary experience. Take the Central Weed Exit and turn right onto Weed Blvd.. Turn right onto Hwy. 97 and follow it for approx. 12 miles. One mile past Road A12 turn left into the memorial.
Pacific Crest Trail - Approximately 60 miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail are to be found in this area. There are no developed trail heads however, good access points can be found at Cabin Creek, Ah-Di-Na Campground, Ash Camp, Squaw Valley Creek and Bartle Gap. Traverse the trail by foot or horseback. For more information contact the McCloud Ranger Station. Sims Flat Historic Trail is a one mile trail that is located 40 miles north of Redding just off of I-5. Take the Sims exit East. Follow the road as it turns South, crosses the Sacramento River, then follow the signs. At the Mt. Shasta Ranger Station, pick up a brochure on Sims Flat. This unassuming place is steeped in the area's history of sawmills, railroads, and the Conservation Corps.
Most of these California hiking trails are less than 30 minutes. from Shasta Ranch Lodge; the furthest being 1 hour. Use the Lodge for your base camp, grab your gear and check out hiking in the North Cascades.
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