French Gulch, California
If you're looking for the best trails and outdoor activities in French Gulch, California, the Clear Creek Greenway is a must-visit. Rated as moderate difficulty, this 8.2-mile trail offers a scenic view of the Clear Creek canyon, with its unique rock formations and the sparkling creek itself. The trail is also home to several species of birds, making it a delight for birdwatchers. For those interested in history, the trail features several old mining sites. Another top outdoor adventure in French Gulch is the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Here, you can enjoy water activities on Whiskeytown Lake, like kayaking and fishing. The area also offers several hiking trails with views of waterfalls and the surrounding forest. Remember, these are just a few examples of the outdoor attractions in and near French Gulch. Explore and enjoy!
Top Spots in and near French Gulch
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Pacific Crest Trail, California
Hike or Backpack the Dead Falls Lake Trail
5.08.1 mi / 1358 ft gainThe Dead Falls Lake Trail is perfect for families, dog, and all adventurers. In the spring and summer, there are gorgeous and abundant wildflowers. There is a perfect lunch spot at Deadfall Lake. Close to the gargantuan Shasta, Mount Eddy is the highest peak in the Klamath Mountain. Mount Eddy o...Read more -
Montgomery Creek, California
Hatchet Falls (Lion Slide)
2.5About 45 min outside of Redding, California is this breathtaking waterfall, with being a relatively short hike makes it fun for all ages. The hike takes about 5 minutes from the road. Finding Hatchet Falls (aka Lion Slide) from the road are another story, with these falls not being marked anywher...Read more -
Mount Shasta, California
Black Butte
5.05 mi / 1608 ft gainBlack Butte is hard to miss from I-5 as it winds past the city of Mount Shasta. This lava dome formed roughly 9,000–10,000 years ago and isn't a cinder cone, though it does look like one. The rock that makes Black Butte was extruded instead of spewed, then broke apart as it cooled. The jumbled re...Read more -
Mount Shasta, California
Winter Summit Black Butte
5 mi / 2000 ft gainNote: February thru early March are great times to climb it for a winter ascent without snowshoes. If there is no snow seen from the south (e.g. on I-5 heading north to Mount Shasta City), don't be too worried. As long as there is snow on the surrounding peaks (e.g. Trinity Alps) around the same ...Read more -
Siskiyou County, California
Climb Mt. Shasta via Avalanche Gulch
5.011 mi / 7200 ft gainThe Avalanche Gulch route is the second easiest, non-technical route to the summit of Mt. Shasta after the Clear Creek Route, but is by far the most popular. Many people complete this climb in one day from the trailhead, but you also have the opportunity to overnight at Horse Camp (7,950 ft.) or ...Read more -
Etna, California
Hike to the Etna Mountain Summit
6 mi / 800 ft gainTo start off, you're going to want to navigate to the Etna Summit Trailhead (5956 ft). There's a small parking lot off to the side and we did not need any passes for our overnight trip. Since the summit isn't the main destination for many people in this area, you'll want to follow the Pacific Cre...Read more -
McCloud, California
Gray Butte
3.27 mi / 646 ft gainMount Shasta is an incredible mountain in Northern California that offers a great variety of activities. The Gray Butte trail is one of the more beautiful trails in the area, and it's not too long (2.8mi, ~2h). We arrived at Shasta by late afternoon, so it was a great hike to do when golden hour ...Read more -
McCloud, California
Panther Meadows Campground
5.0The Panther Meadows Campground is located in the timberline on Mt. Shasta. The free campsite has 10 sites with a fire ring and a table. The elevation of the campground is 7,500 ft, making it the highest campground on Mt. Shasta. Summer nights can get pretty cold, so make sure to bring proper atti...Read more -
McCloud, California
Middle McCloud Falls
4.82.49 mi / 243 ft gainJust 4 hours north of San Francisco, McCloud Falls offers a quick hike and swimming hole for those looking for something less crowded than Burney Falls. McCloud Falls has 3 tiers, but the middle section offers the best views by far. Getting Here To get here, park at the Fowlers Campground which...Read more -
McCloud, California
McCloud Middle Falls Short Trail
3.00.79 mi / 85 ft gainMcCloud Middle Falls Short Trail is located near McCloud, California. This route makes for an abbreviated version of the longer Middle McCloud Falls adventure which is 2.5 miles roundtrip. The parking area has an established parking lot and a vault toilet. The shorter trail with minimal elevati...Read more -
McCloud, California
Mt. Shasta via Clear Creek Route
11.43 mi / 7615 ft gainThe least technical route to the summit of Mt Shasta begins at the Clear Creek Trailhead (elevation 6390 ft). Please note that although this is a less technical route, this is still dangerous and there have been deaths on Mt. Shasta because of falling rock. To start this, you should be a good hik...Read more
