Liability waiver info:
California Native Plant Society requires all field trip participants to sign an annual waiver of liability. Once signed, you will be covered for all events in the applicable year. Thank you!
- Shasta Chapter CNPS’s 2026 waiver can be signed here: WaiverSign
Brush up on your native plant identification skills with any or all of these three plant ID hikes!
Castle Crags State Park Field Trip
Indian Creek Nature Loop Trail and Flume Trail
Saturday, April 11, 8 AM
This field trip will start at the Indian Creek Nature Loop Trail near the Castle Crags State Park entrance to “warm up” our knowledge of plants in the conifer zone. We will then drive to the start of the Flume Trail for a 3.5-mile moderately difficult, out-and-back hike with an elevation gain of 700 feet. We will see a variety of native plants on this trail. Meet at the Mt. Shasta Mall parking lot near Chase Bank at 8 AM. Bring water, lunch, hiking boots, and gas money/park entrance fees to share costs. (Redding Library card holders can get a free California State Parks pass from the library that is good for two weeks!) No dogs allowed on Park trails. Heavy rain cancels, but for intermittent sprinkles or drizzle, bring an umbrella. Limited to 15 people. To reserve a space, contact walk leader David Ledger at dsledger49@gmail.com, and please sign the waiver (above, in the opening paragraph) before the hike (we will also have waiver forms at the start of the hike).
Sloppy Joe Trail Naturalist Hike
Sunday, April 12, 9 AM to noon
Join naturalists Juliet Malik and Ren Redlich for a plant and wildlife identification hike along Sloppy Joe Trail and other connected trails. We will explore both riparian and oak woodland habitats that support a number of native woody plants, wildflowers, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. With the Shasta County City Nature Challenge coming up at the end of the month (April 24 to 27), we will offer guidance and demonstrations on how to make iNaturalist observations to any who are interested.
This field trip will cover about 3 miles, depending on our route. Most stream crossings have bridges, but if there has been recent rainfall, the trail may truly be “sloppy,” so wear appropriate shoes. The trail crosses over a couple of ridges and some trail sections are steep, rocky, and uneven. Please come prepared with water, sun/rain protection, sturdy footwear, hiking poles if desired, a snack, and anything else you like to use to observe nature (e.g., binoculars, hand lens, etc.). If you are interested in making iNaturalist observations on this hike, you can get prepared by downloading the app on your phone and creating your account. Meet at the intersection of Sunglow Drive and Winter Green Court, Redding. Only service dogs on leash, please; this is a narrow trail that is popular with mountain bikers, too. Severe weather cancels. Please fill out this form to sign our waiver and be added to the contact list for updates. If you have questions, please email juliet@ecoshasta.org.
Photo taken April 13, 2025, by Zaynab Malik.
Shingletown to Manton Field Trip
A driving and walking field trip
Sunday, May 3, 8 AM
Shasta Chapter CNPS and Shasta Group of Sierra Club will be co-leading a plant species identification field trip between Black Butte Road and Manton. We will stop to identify plants in several areas and post them to Calflora to increase awareness of plants in these areas. We will provide training on learning how to post on Calflora ahead of the field trip. Stops will include an out-and-back hike on flat ground of about 2 miles to a grove of McNab cypress, plus a walk on several parcels in the Manton area. On the drive back, we will stop at Nora Lake and Grace Lake. All levels of plant ID expertise, from beginner to pro, welcome! Bring water, lunch, hat, cell phone, and a notebook. No dogs, please. Heavy rain cancels, but for intermittent sprinkles or drizzle, bring an umbrella. If it is unseasonably hot, we will change the location to a higher elevation. Limited to 15 people. To reserve a space, contact walk leader David Ledger at dsledger49@gmail.com, and please sign the waiver (above, in the opening paragraph) before the hike.
For more information about any of the above events, please email me at dsledger49@gmail.com. ~David Ledger, Field Trip Chair