Girard Ridge provides spectacular vistas for those who can make the bumpy drive up and it’s featured this year on the Mount Shasta Trail Challenge!
Follow Girard Ridge Rd up until it intersects the ridge and find a place to park out of the path of possible logging trucks. The road is unpaved and fairly rough. 4wd is not necessary but some ground clearance would help. Takes about 30 minutes.
There has been quite a bit of logging up here that has opened up some views but can also be unsightly. Compare the older clear cuts and slash piles with the newer selective thinning and mastication.
This trail is a shady forest road that rolls along the ridge with nice views to the East. Easy wide path appropriate for bike or hike. Where the world-famous Pacific Crest Trail crosses over the ridge is a good place to turn around. If you’re lucky you may even meet a thru hiker that has come from another country to enjoy what we have in our own backyard.
Dogs are ok. Cell phone service is a little sketchy. Tough access makes this a quiet trail if you want some solitude. AllTrails may help for this out of the way trail: click
Whatever you do, don’t miss the incredible views from the old Girard Lookout Tower. Look directly across at the imposing Castle Crags or North to Mount Shasta and you can quickly see why a fire lookout tower was placed here. If you brought a lunch with you this is the place to enjoy it!
Check out the great Girard Ridge sticker and get all the info you need for the always free Mount Shasta Trail Challenge at this link.
