Mount Shasta Trail Association
Inspire • Create • Conserve
Looking for a great trail that has something for everyone? How about the McCloud River trail on the Mount Shasta Trail Challenge! THREE waterfalls, swimming holes, tall trees, campgrounds, fishing spots, and dogs are OK. This trail is ADA accessible around the trailheads and otherwise mostly flat and easy. There’s still time to download and finish the 2023 Trail Challenge!!
Check out the Trail Challenge here.
Join us on Thursday September 28th at the Weed Community Center for our annual meeting. Do you see yourself in the photo below? That’s a blast from the past from our 2018 meeting. Doors open at 5:00 PM and we promise to be done by 8:00. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments to be served!
The recent rain has really cleaned the smoke out of the air and made the dirt perfect for mountain biking or hiking. What a perfect time to check out Bear Springs Trail on the Mount Shasta Trail Challenge! Great views, flowing cross country, and technical elements with go arounds. Did you know Bear Springs Trail is expanding further up Mt Shasta to Everitt Vista AND all the way down to the town of Mt Shasta! Check out the exciting plans at https://www.gatewaytrail.org/
Need a break from the heat? Try the Lake Siskiyou Loop Trail on the Mount Shasta Trail Challenge! The seasonal bridges have just gone up after a wonderfully wet winter and it is now possible to hike or bike all the way around. The trail is fairly well shaded but still gives great views of the lake and Mt Shasta. The best part is you are never more than a minute from the waters edge. Click here for more information.
One of the most strenuous, and most beautiful, trails on the 2023 Trail Challenge is Mount Eddy via Deadfall Lakes. The last snow blocking the trail is gone and the road is clear. Around 10 miles and 2200’+ of climbing so maybe work your way up to this one. Incredible 360 degree views from a great summit are worth the hard work.
This trail allows dogs as does every trail on this years challenge!! Even Mt Shasta and Castle Crags have trails featured this year that allow dogs so if you hike with your dog, this is your year! Feel free to post your dog hiking pictures here.
Note on some seasonal items. The Deadfall Meadows trailhead is temporarily closed for some rehab so use the Parks Creek/PCT Trailhead. It’s a little longer but less climbing! Beware of bees on the summit and avoid them by staying away from clumps of flowers.
This summer the Trail Association is again hosting a Trail Challenge to promote the beauty of the Mount Shasta area, encourage healthy exercise, and be environmentally sound stewards. This is our sixth year!
As an incentive to get you on the trail with feet, bike wheels, horse hooves or snowshoes (we recommend you wait for winter), the first 100 participants that complete at least 6 of the 12 featured trails are eligible for some of the swag pictured below, such as a stainless steel pint glass. For more information on the challenge, click here.
Once again the Trail Association is sponsoring a trail challenge on our local trails.
For the passport and details on the 12 trails included in this year’s challenge, click here
Our goal is to provide inspiring outdoor experiences, advance appreciation of the beauty of the Mount Shasta area, and be environmentally sound stewards.
Be one of the first 100 participants to complete at least 6 of the trails and earn a 2023 Trail Challenge stainless steel pint glass or choose from other cool swag.
Whether a hiker, mountain biker, snowshoer, dog walker, trail runner, xc skier, or equestrian there is a truly special experience waiting for you in Siskiyou County.
Hello all you Mount Shasta Trail Association treasure hunters out there. Congratulations to those of you that have found some treasures, and a big congratulations to those of you that have found all of them!
This announcement is to let you know that it is not too late to continue hunting for treasures because each time you find a treasure your name will be added to the MSTA grand prize drawing, which will be on September 5th. At that time , we will reveal all the treasures and the grand prize winner. The last day to post treasures to our website will be September 4th.
Thanks for playing and thanks for supporting the Mount Shasta Trail Association.
Lynda Hardy
To begin your search for the last trail treasure, start at the trail that connects Sisson to the Scott Valley. Follow the historic trail up the lower portion on the North “utensil” until you find a creek crossing. The boulder causeway is the last trail treasure.
Here are the rules of the hunt. Each time you locate a treasure, send us a photo or description of the treasure along with your contact information to: mtshastatrail@gmail.com. Then, your name will be entered into a drawing for the grand prize. In addition, the first person to locate each new treasure will receive their choice of a prize, and their name will be placed into the grand prize drawing. For example, if you find 5 treasures your name will be added five times to the grand prize drawing.
As the summer goes by quickly, we’re now at the penultimate MSTA Trail Challenge Treasure Hunt.
To begin your search for the seventh trail treasure, start at a high mountain lake that reminds you of sticky shoes. Continue past the campground and kiosk and cross a small rock dam. Hike a short distance around the lake until you find two large pines and a small circle of carnivorous plants. Trek up the trail for approximately 15- 20 minutes. You will the will find the smaller namesake of the lower lake. This is the trail treasure.
Here are the rules of the hunt. Each time you locate a treasure, send us a photo or description of the treasure along with your contact information to: mtshastatrail@gmail.com. Then, your name will be entered into a drawing for the grand prize. In addition, the first person to locate each new treasure will receive their choice of a prize, and their name will be placed into the grand prize drawing. For example, if you find 5 treasures your name will be added five times to the grand prize drawing.
