Lakehead-Lakeshore, California

Lake Shasta sits at the foot of infamous Mt Shasta, past the major Northern California city of Redding. From the Bay Area you can count on at least a 3.5 hour drive to get to waters edge, but the drive goes by quickly just cruising on HWY 5. There are multiple Marinas on Shasta but the largest is...

One of the gems in the Shasta area, Castle Crags. You can spot these dramatic granite towers from a distance and their jagged formations beckon climbers and hikers alike. Imagine a slice of the Dolomites plucked out of Italy and placed in Northern California. Crags Trail to Castle Dome winds up t...

Park in the pull-out on Fenders Ferry Road. There you will find the Potem Falls trailhead. The hike is only 0.6 miles long--you'll likely spend more time enjoying the falls than getting there! Bring your swim gear if you want to jump in the pool. The trail is dog-friendly and open March-October. 

We drove all around Trinity Lake and this was the best campground we found! Located right on Trinity Lake you will find Hayward Flat Campground.  From Weaverville California you will follow highway 3 north about 20 miles. Then take a right on Hayward Flat road two miles. Boom, you are there.  The...

Scenes like this are rarely so accessible. Heart Lake is nestled in a bowl below Castle Peak, on the edge of the Castle Crags Wilderness just west of I-5 and the city of Mt. Shasta. The parking lot and trailhead are both located on the shore of Castle Lake, a much larger lake that is stunning in ...

Day 1 Swift Creek Trail Head to Bear BasinThe trip begins at the Swift Creek trailhead in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. Permits are very easy to get, just stop by the Ranger station in Weaverville, CA. They are free and can be self-issued in front of the ranger station, or you can go in if you wou...

Disclaimer: Hiking to the falls is trespassing. Fines can be as much as $300. If you choose to hike to the falls, you're doing so at your own risk so please be cautious and cognizant of your surroundings. If you live anywhere near Northern California or Southern Oregon, you may have heard about ...

The Trinity Alps has miles and miles of beautiful trails, but one of the more stunning sections is the Four Lakes Loop. There are two main trail heads that access the trail. Long Canyon Trail and Stony Ridge Trail both are both beautiful but Stony Ridge is the more popular route yet strenuous. To...

The trail is a bit rocky, so wear sturdy hiking boots or trail runners. While your elevation gain is only 800 total, you will travel upwards of 1,982ft in elevation given the ups and downs of the trail. At mile 1.75, there is a spring that feeds into a large meadow. At mile 3, there is another sp...

Coming from Redding pass the visitor center and heading down highway 299. Make a left turn on Crystal Creek Road. Drive about 3.75 miles and on your left will be the Mills Creek Trailhead. Start hiking. You will start headed downhill towards the creek. You will cross Crystal Creek on a footbridge...

My favorite hike in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. From the visitor center you will take Kennedy Memorial Drive towards the dam, make a left at Brandy Creek Road. At a junction for Sheep camp/Shasta Bally make a left. You will arrive at the trailhead. This hike follows a beautiful stream t...

Head to the Peltier Bridge Campground after entering Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and then go 1.1 miles along the road through the campground until you reach the trailhead for Kanaka Peak. The road from the campground is open from late spring to late fall, otherwise hikers will need to pa...

Starting from the Kanaka Peak Trailhead, follow the Kanaka Peak Trail all the way, continuing on past the Peltier Trail Junction and the Kanaka Cutoff Trail Junction until the trail begins to head east (about 2-2.5 miles from the trailhead) and there is a gently sloping hill on your right that is...

About 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...

The Stuart Fork to Emerald and Sapphire Lakes trail features many beautiful lakes, meadows, and an area that resembles a jungle. Dogs are able to use this trail. This trail can be done as a day hike, an overnight, or a three-day backpacking trip. If you choose to make it a three day, the meadows ...

The trail begins just past the Trinity Alps Resort, a private collection of cabins near Weaverville, CA. Hikers wanting an early start can spend the night at the Bridge Camp Campground, located next to the trailhead. The path starts out wide and level, following an old road to the wilderness bou...