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Trailheads on Mt. Shasta

Four-wheel drives are recommended on the dirt roads leading to the trailheads but a two-wheel drive vehicle can be used and in some cases even a car on a few of the trailheads. The road conditions change depending upon the time of year and snow conditions. Be sure to use a National Forest Service map for directions. Also, check the Forest Service Road and Trail Conditions online. Click here...

Trailheads from the Everitt Memorial Highway

The Bunny Flat Trailhead (Elevation 6,900 feet)

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Bunny Flat (6900 feet). From the Mt. Shasta Ranger Station, head east on Alma Street (toward the Mountain). Cross the railroad tracks and turn right at the signal onto Mt. Shasta Blvd. Continue two blocks to the next signal at Lake St. and turn left. Stay on lake St. as you climb a hill and veer left. You are now on Everitt Memorial Highway. Stay on this road through the four way stop, past the school on the right, and over the railroad tracks. You will leave town and begin driving up the Mountain. In 12 miles you will come to a parking area with a restroom on the left. This is Bunny Flat. The trail to Horse Camp and Avalanche Gulch begins on the right side of the restroom.

The Everitt Memorial Highway is County-maintained year round, including snow-removal services during the winter months. The two-lane, paved road is kept in excellent shape for any type of vehicular travel, but during the winter months, road conditions can change rapidly because of snowstorms and rockfall. Sometimes, especially in heavy snowfall, the road may not get plowed until the late afternoon. You should always carry a shovel and tow chain in your vehicle in the winter, and drive slowly when the road is icy. If you arrive at the Bunny Flat parking lot before the road has been plowed, park close to the snowbank, allowing the snowplow plenty of room to clear the parking lot. This trailhead also provides access to: Avalanche Gulch Route, Casaval Ridge Route, Green Butte/Sargents Ridge, Hidden Valley/Shastina, Cascade Gulch, and The West Face Gully.

The Sand Flat Trailhead (Elevation 6,800 feet)

Sand Flat (6800 feet). This trailhead is an alternative to Bunny Flat. To get there, turn around at Bunny Flat and head downhill on the highway for approximately 0.8 mile. There will be a dirt road on your right. Turn northwest onto this road and drive another 0.7 mile to a T intersection with another dirt road. Turn right onto this road and stay to the right at the next Y intersection. Continue 0.4 mile to the trailhead. This is the original Horse Camp trail and connects to the trail from Bunny Flat in a short distance. This trailhead also provides access to: Avalanche Gulch Route, Casaval Ridge Route, Green Butte/Sargents Ridge, Hidden Valley/Shastina, Cascade Gulch, and The West Face Gully.

The Old Ski Bowl Trailhead (Elevation 7,800 feet)

Old Ski Bowl (7800). From Panther Meadows Campground, continue on the Everitt Memorial Highway for another 0.7 mile to the Old Ski Bowl Parking Lot. The trail winds north through the bowl and provides access to Green Butte. You can also cross over the ridge to the west and drop into Avalanche Gulch. This trailhead also provides access to: Green Butte/Sargents Ridge, Avalanche Gulch (seasonal), Shastarama Point, and South Gate Meadows.

Trailheads from Highway 97

Bolam Trailhead (Elevation 5,600 feet)

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Bolam/Whitney Falls (5,600). Follow the directions above to the town of Weed and take the exit for Highway 97 to Klamath Falls. Follow the signs through town and drive 12 miles north on Highway 97 to Highway A-12. Using this road as a landmark, safely turn around and head back south on Highway 97 approximately 0.2 mile to the first dirt road on your left. Turn south on this road (43N21) and drive 1.7 miles, staying right at all forks in the road. At this point you will cross over a set of railroad tracks and the road will become much rougher and rockier (recommended for four wheel drive vehicles). To reach the old Bolam Trailhead, now renamed Whitney Falls Trailhead, continue straight on 43N21 another 2.2 miles to the road’s end at 5600 feet. Here you will see the results of a flash flood and debris flow from the summer of 1997. The trailhead was buried to a depth of 6 feet or more in mud, boulders and trees. The first mile of the trail up the Bolam Creek drainage was obliterated. Determined hikers can hone their orienteering skills and carefully negotiate a way up the debris-choked drainage to pick up the remaining two miles of trail that heads south out of the Bolam drainage to an overlook of Whitney Falls and creek which usually only flows in midsummer. Use caution when climbing near or in the creek during the summer months. Flooding has been known to happen and may occur on extremely hot days.

Conditions on
Mt. Shasta

Provided by the Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center:
Climbing Report
Avalanche Advisory
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Mt. Shasta Wilderness Dept.

Conditions by Phone:
Ranger's Climbing Advisory:
Recording - (530) 926-9613.

Fifth Season's Climbing Report:
Recording - (530) 926-5555.

Provided by the Forest Service:
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Questions?

Website questions or suggestions, please email Steve Lewis.

All other Questions Call:

Mt. Shasta Ranger District Office at: (530) 926-4511 and/or the McCloud Ranger Station at(530) 964-2184.



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Northgate Trailhead, (Elevation 7,000 feet)

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North Gate (7000 feet). From the Mt. Shasta Ranger Station, head west on Alma St. to the stop sign at Pine St. Turn left and drive on block to Lake St. Turn right and continue to the freeway. Turn north on I-5 and drive eight miles to the town of Weed. Take the exit for Highway 97 to Klamath Falls. Follow the signs through town and drive 15 miles north on 97 to Military Pass Road (Road 43N19). Turn right and drive four and a half miles to the junction of Andesite Logging Road and stay right. From this point to the trailhead, the route is marked with roadside direction signs. It is approximately four more miles to the trailhead.

There is a small dirt parking area with a restroom next to old clear cut. The trail to timberline is well defined but is very strenuous due to the steady uphill gain. Once at timberline you be walking among the tallest Whitebark pines on the mountain. There are also several base camps. Once your at timberline follow the trail as it snakes through a natural gate on the lower end of Hotlum-Bolam ridge. Northgate is a rocky mound of reddish rocks. Follow the open bowl, staying left, you have the option of traversing up the ridge at any time. At the routes base camp you have a full view of the Hotlum headwall and upper Bolam glacier. 4-5 hours, some cairns. This trailhead also provides access to the Hotlum/Bolam Route, East Bolam Glacier Route.

Trailheads from Highway 89 Clear Creek

Brewer Creek Trailhead (Elevation 7,200 feet)

Brewer Creek (7200 feet). Follow the directions above to Pilgrim Creek Road (Road 13) and turn left. Drive 7.1 miles (past the Clear Creek turnoff) to Sugar Pine Butte Road (Road 19) and turn left. From this point to the trailhead, the route is marked with roadside direction signs. It is approximately 12 more miles to the trailhead.

Brewer Creek is also accessible from Highway 97. From the andesite logging road which is the turnoff to Northgate at the MP road drive along the 19 road about 25 minutes for 9.3 miles. Turn right on road #42N02 at the Brewer Creek Trailhead sign. From this point to the trailhead, the route is marked with roadside direction signs. It is approximately four more miles to the trailhead.

At the Trailhead, the Brewer Creek trail runs through forts of tall Shasta Red firs, lodgepole pine, and whitebark pine. You will see fields of lupine and slender penstemans, higher up the trail the sandy landscape is coated with alpine buckwheat with a few pussy paws. The trail is easy and takes about 45 minutes to reach timberline. Access to the Hotlum, Wintun, ridge rout. Views of Hotlum icefalls and the nearly vertical Wintun glacier. 4 hours to the lower icefalls, base camp on the ridge to the right. Not steep, steady uphill. This trailhead also provides access to the Hotlum Glacier Route, Wintun/Hotlum Route, Wintun Glacier Route.

Clear Creek Trailhead (Elevation 6,480 feet)

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(6800 feet). From the Mt. Shasta Ranger Station, head west on Alma St. to the stop sign at Pine St. Turn left and drive one block to Lake St. Turn right and cross over the freeway. Turn south on I-5 one mile to Highway 89 and head east 10 miles to the town of McCloud. Continue east on 89 for 2.8 miles and turn left onto Pilgrim Creek Road (Road 13). Drive 5.2 miles and turn left on Widow Springs Road. Proceed 5 miles to the junction of McKenzie Butte Road (Road 31). Cross the McKenzie Butte Road and follow the roadside direction signs approximately 2.5 miles to the trailhead. Once you’re there just follow the Clear Creek Trailhead signs while also watching for big Mule deer (Bucks) that inhabit that area! This trailhead also provides access to the Clear Creek Route, Wintun Ridge Route, and access to the Mud Creek Canyon.

More Trailhead Information:

  • The Fifth Season's (climbing & skiing report) 24 hour recorded message: (530) 926-5555
  • Mt. Shasta Ranger Station (Forest Service): Live Person (530) 926-4511
  • Mt. Shasta Ranger Station (Avalanche Report): Recorded message: (530) 926-9613
 

Question about Mt. Shasta, call the Mt. Shasta Ranger District at (530) 926-4511.

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