Tag: Shasta-Trinity National Forest

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Trail Challenge 2026 Launch!

Our snow dances don’t seem to be working so how about trying a snow themed Trail Challenge?? The 9th Annual Mount Shasta Trail Challenge launches this weekend!!

Check out the Trail Challenge Passport (here) for great snow themed trails. Try a regular favorite like Heart Lake or Lake Siskiyou. Maybe a trail new to the Challenge like Old Ski Bowl or Snow Bunny. Discover a BRAND NEW Trail at the NEW Nordic Center trailhead.

The Mount Shasta Trail Challenge is always FREE, and you have all year to complete it. Open to all ages/abilities and actually a great activity for families. Choose your own difficulty and complete it by snowshoe, bike, horse, XC ski, boots, etc.

Complete just 6 trails and receive some awesome finisher swag. All finishers receive a beautiful sheet of trail stickers custom designed by our local partners at Dragon Graphics. Choose a snow-white water/hot chocolate bottle OR a custom new Trail Challenge hat.

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Trail Challenge 2026 Sneak Peak

Are you excited to get started on your New Year’s resolutions?   Want to get out of the house and enjoy this incredibly diverse weather??   The always FREE 2026 Mount Shasta Trail Challenge is just what you are looking for! In just a few short weeks this year’s challenge will be announced and we can share the featured trails and finishers swag.

Would you like a sneak peek?? The theme for the 2026 Mount Shasta Trail Challenge is SNOW and the awesome new Learning Zone trails at the Nordic Center. Many trails will be snow friendly and allow for completion using snowshoes and/or skis. We are so fortunate to have great trails that can be enjoyed year-round. Gateway link

Can’t wait that long to get started???  We can also share that the Lake Siskiyou Trail will be featured once again this year.  This might be the perfect trail right now as it is usually free of snow and even paved in many locations. The seasonal bridges are still down for the season so consider an out and back trail instead of a full lake loop. Make sure you include the beautiful Wagon Creek bridge and the very active Box Canyon dam. Get out there and check this one off 🙂

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Trail Challenge – Enjoy Strawberry Valley and Some Pie!

What’s the best way to finish up this year’s Trail Challenge? By having an adventure on the Strawberry Valley Trail and getting a piece of pie at the Annual Labor Day Mt Shasta Rotary Blackberry Festival of course! Conveniently located in Shastice Park at the base of the Gateway Trail Network. Your Mount Shasta Trail Association will have a booth so come on by and find out about local trails, get some free stickers, and find out how to get involved.

Strawberry Valley trail is only two years old but already one of the favorites on the network of trails on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It starts at Muir’s Ascension trail at the top and the Gateway trail at the bottom. Access to this trail is a little remote for hikers so consider a shuttle hike from the 10 Gallon Trailhead to the Gateway Trailhead. The trail has some great flowing bike features but nothing technical.

Sightlines are good on this trail. but always remember these are multi-use trails which include hikers, runners, and uphill cyclists. Keep an earbud out so you can hear folks coming and consider an alert bell so you can make your presence known. Did you know a custom Mount Shasta Trail Challenge alert bell is waiting for you upon completion of the always FREE Mount Shasta Trail Challenge? Hang it from your handlebars, backpack or even from your four-legged hiking buddy’s collar! Get information on the alert bell and everything else at this link.

Note: For the last couple months the Forest Service has been clearing hazard trees near Strawberry Valley trail and they may not quite be done yet. Please abide by Trail Closed signs for your safety and the safety of these hard working crews.

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Trail Challenge Updates

June brings both challenges and opportunities to several 2025 Mount Shasta Trail Challenge trails. Don’t let these challenges hold you back!  Take advantage of the opportunities!!

Greenhorn Park, including the Miners/Humbug Loop: CalFire is planning a prescribed burn June 2-13 which will affect the trail network. Wait until this work is done and then go to check out all it has to offer. There are hiking and biking trails, surprisingly lush lawns, and even fishing! This park is the gem of Yreka and was featured in a recent article: Link

Spring Hill Trail: On May 21st there was a 12-acre fire that burned up the Northwest aspect.  Mount Shasta Police are asking trail users to avoid the area while it is being rehabilitated.

Kangaroo Lake Trail: Trail users just started reporting that the snow is mostly cleared and the trail is open. Nearby trails like the Fen Nature Trail and the PCT may still be impacted.

Siskiyou Lake Loop: The seasonal bridge is NOT yet in place due to heavy snow melt.  You can of course do an out and back to check this one off your list.  

Sisson Callahan Trail: Trail work led by the USFS is scheduled for June 7 which is National Trails Day. What an excellent opportunity to volunteer if you are unfamiliar with this trail. RSVP    taylor.cole2@usda.gov 

MX Trail: This little piece of trail will see a lot of action on June 14 and should be avoided. The Mount Shasta Gromduro youth mountain bike event would be fun to volunteer at https://youthmtbcollective.org/shasta-gromduro

Greenhorn Park View
Greenhorn Park Coolness
Greenhorn Park Lake
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Trail Challenge Stickers Are Here!

The 2025 Mount Shasta Trail Challenge sticker sheets are here and once again our local partners and sponsors at Dragon Graphics have hit it out of the park!

These custom stickers are chock full of local specificity but the only way you can get them are by completing 6 of the 12 trails on this year’s challenge. Show your accomplishment and local pride by displaying these on your water bottle, laptop, or wherever. As always, the Trail Challenge and these stickers are totally FREE!!

Which sticker is your favorite? Is it the historic Gerard Lookout or the Ranger on Sisson’s Trail? Maybe you like one of the bike themed stickers? Castle Crags Vista Point has a great shape but so does Miners Humbug. They are even several for our younger trail challengers! Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Get your Trail Challenge passport and more information here.

FYI- Everitt Memorial Highway has just reopened to Bunny Flat if you want to check out Strawberry Valley and Lemurian Delirium.

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2025 Trail Challenge – The Waterfalls are Roaring!

Choose your own adventure!   The 2025 Mount Shasta Trail Challenge lets you choose between biking the Upper McCloud River or hiking the 3 McCloud waterfalls.  The recent rainfall and snowmelt are making for an incredible show!!

You may have to park closer to the highway until the campground opens but that extra bit of hiking just means less crowds.  The waterfall trail still has patches of snow on it and a few trees down but it’s passable for hiking.  Dog on leash friendly and trail closer to parking paved for wheelchair and baby strollers.  

We know you are anxious to see the 2025 Trail Challenge sticker sheet and the reveal is almost here.  In the meantime…THANK YOU to the trail challenge mega fan who donated a dozen custom water bottles at the Mount Shasta Visitor Center.  The first twelve trail challengers completing 6 of the 12 featured trails get dibs.  

Download your always free Mount Shasta Trail Challenge passport here.

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Trail Challenge Update and Swag!

The 2025 Mount Shasta Trail Challenge kicked off a few weeks ago so we better start telling you about the cool finisher swag!

This year we are giving away FREE “Alert Bells” to the first 100 finishers.  These bells are custom made for us by Bevin Bells in East Hampton, Connecticut.    They have our popular Trail Challenge logo on them and a very nice sound.   They work on bikes, backpacks, dog collars, you name it.   Bells work remarkably well to alert others when you are just around the bend.   It’s also a good idea to keep an ear bud out so you can hear the bell:)   

The Gateway Trail System has been a multi user trail network for more than a decade and the recent trail expansion was paid for with grant funds that mandate multi use.   Some historic trails are “Hike Only” while others are “Downhill Bike Preferred”.   Responsible trail users practice “Share the Trail” principles and should always stay under control.   With a little courtesy we can all use these beautiful trails together safely.

But that’s not all Trail Challengers…   Stay tuned for another finisher swag announcement in the coming weeks!

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Trail Challenge 2024 – Check Out the PCT Hike to Porcupine Lake

Have you noticed all the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hikers in town that have been forced off the trail by the Shelly and Park fires?  Would you like to experience a little bit of the world famous PCT for yourself? The 2024 Mount Shasta Trail Challenge features a gorgeous section of the PCT that takes you to Porcupine Lake!  Hikers from all over the world tell us that our local stretch of the PCT is some of the most beautiful they see on their entire 2,650-mile journey from Mexico to Canada.

Majestic views of Mt Shasta AND Mt Lassen.   Several meadows featuring fields of pitcher plants and even “Astragalus Whitneyi” aka Whitney’s locoweed. Beautiful Porcupine Lake with easy access to take a dip. The trail is 11 miles long round trip and with 1,300’ of elevation gain so maybe not for the brand new hiker. It’s almost above treeline and you’re on the ridge so it’s a little exposed and you might want to bring a hat and sunscreen.  Dogs are ok on the PCT but not bikes.

Consider bringing some trail magic like clean water and candy bars for the PCT hikers you encounter. You’ll be impressed by how far they have come to enjoy what we have in our backyard.

Everything you need for the FREE Mount Shasta Trail Challenge can be found at this link. Search AllTrails or other trails app for “Porcupine Lake via PCT” or ask for a trail guide at the USFS Ranger Station in Mt Shasta.

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2024 Trail Challenge – Upper McCloud River Trail

Just upstream from the very popular McCloud waterfalls, the Upper McCloud River Trail is one of the more underrated trails on the 2024 Mount Shasta Trail Challenge.   

This flat single track trail meanders along the river for 13 miles one way.    Perfect to shuttle hike with a friend and leave cars at two different trailheads.  Mountain bike riders could make a loop with the nearby Great Shasta Rail Trail.  Pro tip: park at the Cattle Camp trailhead for a figure 8 loop keeping your car and a restroom nearby, and finish with a dip in the Cattle Camp swimming hole!

Dogs are welcome and will enjoy the occasional river access.  Might be a little long for the kiddos.  Cell phone service comes and goes.

Big shout out to the 20 person hand crew that was brushing the trail and felling hazard trees on a hot July morning!!   Perfect timing to come check out this great trail!

Get your always FREE Mount Shasta Trail Challenge passport and Upper McCloud River trail guide at this link.   FYI, the seasonal bridges are up at Lake Siskiyou for those of you looking to complete that trail for the challenge.