Get Out!

Whether you walk, hike, drive, or bike, getting out in nature will do wonders for mind, body, and soul. Indexed here are posts of what our members are currently doing to enhance their well-being during this unsettling time of isolation and social distancing. Be inspired, and get out!*

Greater Redding Area/South-Central Shasta County

• Anderson
  • Anderson River Park. January 2023; wonderful wet-weather walks! ~1.75 miles of paved trail; at least 5 miles of unpaved trails in the natural area. Easy difficulty.
• Battle Creek Wildlife Area
  • Battle Creek Wildlife Area. April 10, 2020; nice, level trail! 2.0 miles total length. Easy difficulty.
• Clear Creek Greenway
  • Gold Dredge Trailhead. December 11, 2022; the eastern-most gateway to exploring Clear Creek Trail. ~4 miles one way from Gold Dredge to Clear Creek Gorge trailheads. Mostly easy difficulty.
  • Cloverdale Trails. January 23, 2022; find of the day: silverback fern! Two loop trails: 1.73 and 3.85 miles, with other options. Moderately easy difficulty.
  • Cloverdale Trails. February 14, 2021; good place to see pre-spring blooms! Two loop trails: 1.73 and 3.85 miles, with other options. Moderately easy difficulty.
  • Clear Creek Gorge Trail. July 7, 2020; get out early to beat the heat! Unclear total number of miles in length; network of trails of various length. Easy to moderate difficulty.
  • Cloverdale Loop Trail. May 17, 2020; lots of eye-popping superb mariposa lilies! 2.0-mile loop trail. Easy difficulty.
  • Clear Creek Gorge Trail. April 20, 2020; spring splashes of color! Unclear total number of miles in length; network of trails of various length. Easy to moderate difficulty.
• Horsetown Clear-Creek Preserve
  • Overlook Trail, Horsetown Clear-Creek Preserve. April 13, 2020; wildflowers and butterflies! 1.0 mile total length. Easy difficulty.
• Millville Plains
  • Millville Plains. April 7, 2020; nice drive! ~ 4.6 miles along Millville Plains Road.
• Swasey Recreation Area
  • Princess Ditch Trail via Stoney Gulch Trailhead. April 2, 2023: always a great trail for botanizing! This article describes an ~4.5-mile section of trail, of relatively easy difficulty.
  • Mule Mountain from Stoney Gulch. January 30, 2022; a bonanza of pre-spring blooms! ~9-mile hike with 1,000 feet elevation gain. Moderately difficult.
  • Terminator-to-Escalator Loop Trail. March 2, 2021; explore now to see many beautiful blooms! 5.2-mile loop hike; moderately difficult.
  • Mule Mountain from Stoney Gulch. February 7, 2021; getting ready to bloom! ~9-mile hike with 1,000 feet elevation gain. Moderately difficult.
  • Wintu Loop Trail. December 30, 2020; a stroll through Swasey Recreation Area. ~3-mile loop trail. Easy to moderate difficulty.
  • Princess Ditch Trail via Oak Knoll Trailhead. March 19, 2020; spectacular wildflowers! ~7.7 miles total length. Easy difficulty.
• Westside
  • Salt Creek’s Fish and Fall Colors. November 2021; favorite fall frolics! A couple of ~3-mile out-and-back trails that can be made into a loop; relatively easy hiking.
  • Rattlesnake Gulch Trail. May 21, 2020; cool clarkias! 3.0 miles total length. Moderate difficulty.
  • Top of the World. April 15, 2020; 360-degree views! 1.75 miles total length. Moderate difficulty.
• Miscellaneous
  • Kum Bay Xerel Open Space Area. Late May, 2023: a lovely, easy-access river trail! ~1.5 miles out and back; easy difficulty.

North of Redding, Shasta County

• Castle Crags State Park
  • Root Creek Trail. November 28, 2021; a very pleasant, easy walk. 1 mile one way; wheelchair accessible. Very easy difficulty.
• Keswick Area
  • Chamise Peak. September 22, 2020; a “fruitful” hike! 4.8-mile out-and-back hike from trailhead to summit. Moderate difficulty.
• McCloud Area
  • Squaw Valley Creek Trail. August 6, 2020; well shaded canyon trail! 6-mile out-and-back hike from trailhead to second waterfall. Moderate difficulty.
• Shasta Lake Area
  • Dry Creek Trail. January 9, 2021; great views of the three Shastas! 4.9 miles one way. Moderately difficult.
  • Clikapudi Trail. December 27, 2020; an enjoyable trek year round! ~7.5-mile loop trail. Moderately easy difficulty..
  • Waters Gulch Loop. November 15, 2020; fall fruits, foliage, and flowers! 3.5-mile loop trail. Moderately easy difficulty.
  • Waters Gulch Trail. May 5, 2020; snow-wreath in bloom and beetle ballet on irises! 3.4-mile loop trail. Easy difficulty.
  • Bailey Cove Trail. April 26, 2020; magnificent bush poppies!. ~3-mile loop trail. Easy difficulty

East of Redding

• Inwood Road
  • Inwood Road. May 21, 2020; car tour! ~7 miles total length from the intersection of Hwy 44 and Inwood Road to the intersection of Hwy 44 and Ponderosa Way, or an~11-mile loop.
• Lassen Volcanic National Park
  • Kings Creek to Cold Boiling Lake. July 31, 2022; notes on the effects of wildfire. ~2-mile meander; easy.
  • Summit Lake Loop, LVNP. November 1, 2020; easy access and fall solitude. ~11 miles total length; moderately difficult.
  • Terrace, Shadow, and Cliff Lakes, LVNP. September 20, 2020; get out of the smoke! No more than 4 miles round-trip. Moderately easy difficulty.
• Modoc National Forest
  • Looking in on a Massive Ponderosa Pine. September 14, 2022; Modoc National Forest conifers and more! A peak at some points of interest along Warner Mountain Ridge-Line, in the Warner Mountains.
  • Visiting a Grand Old Washoe Pine. September 1, 2022; happily, it still stands! General directions to see some old conifers, with suggestions for further exploration of Modoc National Forest and the Warner Mountains.
• Pacific Crest Trail
  • Hat Creek Rim, North End. June 6, 2021; already past peak bloom! Section of the Pacific Crest Trail near Cassel that will take you up to Hat Creek Rim—hike as far as you want! Moderate difficulty.
  • Baum Lake via PCT, Burney. November 22, 2020; hike or drive to this beautiful lake! ~7.5 miles from Highway 299 to the lake and back again. Relatively easy.
  • Hat Creek Rim PCT, near Old Station. June 14, 2020; botanic bounty and expansive views! ~7.2 miles from Plum Valley Reservoir to Lost Creek trailhead and back again. Moderate difficulty.
  • Rock Creek Falls, near Burney. June 7, 2020; spectacular waterfall hike! ~7 miles from Lake Britton dam to the falls and back again via the Pacific Crest Trail. Moderately easy difficulty.

West of Redding, Shasta County

• Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
  • Coggins Park, revisited. June 16 & 22, 2021; the lilies are blooming! Drive-to destination with easy hiking along the ~7-mile gated road to Shasta Bally.
  • Coggins Park. May 22, 2021; old-growth forest! Drive-to destination with easy hiking along the ~7-mile gated road to Shasta Bally.
  • Salt Creek Loop Trail, Whiskeytown NRA. February 21, 2021; no longer maintained. Not recommended as a loop hike. Parts still passable.
  • Davis Gulch Trail. January 10, 2021; a nice, easily accessible hike! 3.3 miles one way. Moderately easy.
  • Steep as a Cow’s Face. December 27, 2020; plenty to admire and appreciate! 2.6 miles round trip; 600 feet elevation gain. Moderately difficult.
  • Whiskeytown Falls. July 29, 2020; cool and calm microclimate! 1.7 miles one way from trailhead to falls. Moderately strenuous difficulty.
  • Boulder Creek Falls. June 11, 2020; beautiful flowers and magnificent falls! ~2.5 miles total length. Strenuous difficulty.
  • Crystal Creek Road. May 23, 2020; respite from the heat! ~13 miles total length. Moderate to strenuous difficulty.
  • South Fork Lookout Road, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. April 6, 2020; spectacular views! 6.8 miles total length. Moderate difficulty.

Butte County

• Pacific Crest Trail
  • Humboldt Summit to Cold Springs Trailheads. July 17 & 24, 2022; something for everyone on this PCT section! 6 miles one way; easy to moderately difficult.

Glenn County

• Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge
  • Capay and Pine Creek Units, Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. December 18, 2022: North-Central section units offer a few miles of hiking. Two to 3 miles of trails in each section, all very easy in difficulty.

Humboldt County

• Trinidad Area
  • Dry Lagoon to Stone Lagoon. January 22, 2021; when the coast calls! 3.2 miles one way. Moderately difficult.
  • Trinidad Trails, Humboldt County. June 16, 2020; cool temps, beautiful flowers, and big trees! Two trails: ~2.0-mile loop trail and a ~2.5-mile out-and-back trail. Both moderately easy difficulty.
• Arcata Area
  • Lynn Vietor Nature Trail. April 27, 2023: trillium heaven! ~0.5-mile loop trail, relatively easy difficulty.

Lake County

• Cache Creek Natural Area
  • Cache Creek Natural Area. November 11 & 12, 2022: go now for the views; come back in the spring for the flowers! An introduction to two of many trails in the area, of various distances and difficulty levels.

Lassen County

• Caribou Wilderness
  • Black Lake Loop. August 21, 2022; burned, but still beautiful! 8-mile loop trail. Moderate difficulty.
  • Triangle, Twin, and Turnaround Lakes. September 27, 2020; blue-blue sky and early-fall colors! ~6.5 miles round-trip. Moderately easy difficulty.
  • Rim and Cypress Lakes. September 6, 2020; gorgeous remote lakes! ~7-miles round-trip. Moderate difficulty.
  • Black Lake Loop. August 23, 2020: marvelous miniatures! 8-mile loop trail. Moderate difficulty.
• Stephen’s Meadow
  • Stephen’s Meadow. July 18, 2020: wildflowers in all directions! Accessed via car; no trail. Meander as much or as little as you like! Easy difficulty.

Modoc County

• Modoc National Forest
  • Looking in on a Massive Ponderosa Pine. September 14, 2022: Modoc National Forest conifers and more! A description of forest and trees during a drive.
  • Visiting a Grand Old Washoe Pine. September 1, 2022: happily, it still stands! This is a description of a cool old conifer that the author drove to check up on after a fire.

Plumas County

• Caribou Wilderness
  • Hay Meadows Trailhead. August 30, 2020; fascinating flora and fauna! Choice of several loop trails, ranging in length from 3 to 7.3 miles, with connections to other Caribou Wilderness trails. Moderate difficulty.
• Pacific Crest Trail
  • Humboldt Summit to Cold Springs Trailheads. July 17 & 24, 2022; something for everyone on this PCT section! 6 miles one way; easy to moderately difficult.
  • Humboldt Summit to Little Cub Spring. July 10, 2022; rock garden after gorgeous rock garden! 3.5 miles one way, with a couple of short side-trail options. Moderately difficult.

Siskiyou County

• Klamath National Forest
  • Back to Haystack! May 28, 2023: go now! ~2.5 miles round trip. Relatively easy difficulty.
  • Haystack Trail. January 17, 2021; views now, blooms later! ~2.5 miles round trip. Relatively easy difficulty.
  • Martin’s Dairy, Klamath National Forest. June 18, 2020; driving field trip into verdant mountains and meadows! 35 to 45 miles total length from Yreka, depending on chosen route.
• McCloud Area
  • McCloud River Trail from Algoma Campground. August 13, 2020; the less-traveled far end of McCloud River Trail. 13.2 miles total trail length. Relatively easy difficulty.
  • McCloud River Trail. June 20, 2020: shady hike above the falls, along McCloud River. 13.2 miles total trail length. Relatively easy difficulty.
• Mt. Shasta Area
  • Lake Siskiyou Loop Trail. September 25, 2022; beautiful local trail! 6. 5 miles round trip. Easy difficulty.
  • Gray Butte. October 10, 2021; magnificent views! 3.2 miles round trip. Moderate difficulty.
  • South Gate Meadows. July 24, 2021; heavenly harebells! 4 miles round trip. Moderate difficulty.
• Pacific Crest Trail
  • PCT North from Gumboot Trailhead. October 17, 2021; a final high-elevation hike? As many miles as you care to go in a day! Easy difficulty.
  • High Camp Pass. June 20, 2021; something for everyone! ~9 miles round trip, from trailhead to ridgetop. Easy difficulty on the PCT; strenuously difficult places off of the PCT.
  • Cement Bluff. June 28, 2020; a truly floriferous hike! 4.5 miles one way, from trailhead to bluff top. Easy difficulty.
  • Deadfall Lakes. October 4, 2020; foxtail pines and fall foliage! ~7.2 miles round-trip from trailhead to Upper Deadfall Lake. Difficulty is relatively easy to Middle Deadfall Lake, and strenuously difficult in patches between the middle and upper lakes.
• Russian Wilderness
  • Taylor Lake, Russian Wilderness. May 30, 2020; high-elevation spring blooms! 0.5 mile total length. Very easy difficulty: handicap-accessible trail for all-terrain wheelchairs.
• Shasta-Trinity National Forest
  • Caldwell Lakes. August 14, 2022: no sign of drought here! 2.4 miles one way to Upper Caldwell Lake. Moderate difficulty.
  • West Park Lakes. July 18, 2021; meadows full of wildflowers! 2 miles to the lower lake. Moderate difficulty.
  • Caldwell Lakes. June 27, 2021; high-country escape! 2.4 miles one way to Upper Caldwell Lake. Moderate difficulty.
• Trinity Alps Wilderness
  • Trail Gulch Lake. August 1, 2021; long drive, short hike, fun trail! 4 miles round trip. Moderate difficulty.
  • East Boulder Lake. July 16, 2021; very picturesque! 5.2 miles round trip. Moderate difficulty.

Tehama County

• Mendocino National Forest
  • Nomlaki Trail. February 12, 2023; pre-spring teasers! This hike started mid-way along the trail and went all the way down to Thomes Creek. Moderately easy to difficult.
  • Thomes Gorge Trail. May 9, 2021; burned and baked, but beautiful! ~5.4 miles one way from trailhead to Thomes Creek; first 1.4 miles is where the cool botany is! Moderate difficulty.
  • Thomes Gorge Trail. June 19, 2022; a stark but very beautiful trail. ~5.4 miles one way from trailhead to Thomes Creek; first 1.4 miles is where the cool botany is! Moderate difficulty.
• Sacramento River Bend Recreation Area
  • Carpets of Yellow! March 17, 2023; stunning St. Pat’s display! Easy access to Hog Lake Plateau and early bloomers at Hog Lake Trailhead. Very easy difficulty.
  • Hog Lake. May 23, 2021; still blooming in late spring! Short, easy walk to lake edge.
  • Scout Trail. May 2, 2021; a hike full of surprises! ~2.2 miles one way from Iron Canyon Trailhead to end of Scout Trail. Moderately easy in difficulty.
  • Paynes Creek Trailhead. April 11, 2021; go now before everything gets crispy! ~5 mile loop hike. Generally easy difficulty other than a creek crossing and a few steep spots.
  • Inks Creek Gambol. April 24, 2021; lovely off-trail adventure. A little longer and a little more difficult than the below two Oak Slough hikes.
  • Hog Lake Plateau Ramble. March 21, 2021; pools of wildflowers! Loads of wildflowers to see right off of highway 36, even without a trail. Easy difficulty.
  • Sacramento River Bend Recreation Area Meander. March 14, 2021; a great place to get “lost!” Many miles of trails, marked and unmarked. A great place to explore. Generally easy difficulty.
  • Massacre Flat. March 7, 2021; already plenty to see! ~9 miles round trip from any of three trailheads; moderately easy difficulty.
  • Hog Lake Plateau. February 28, 2021; easy access to loads of wildflowers! Two trailheads to chose from; generally easy in difficulty.
  • Sacramento River Bend Promontory. December 20, 2020; an exhilarating adventure! ~6.3 miles round trip; 550-foot total elevation gain. Moderate difficulty.
  • Oak Slough to Inks Creek. December 6, 2020; a nice low-elevation hike. ~5 miles round trip from trailhead to Inks Creek and back again. Easy difficulty.
  • Oak Slough Trailhead. Fall 2020; always plenty to appreciate! ~5 miles round trip from trailhead to Inks Creek and back again. Easy difficulty.
  • Yana Trail from Perry’s Riffle. April 19, 2020; archaeology, animals, and wonderful wildflowers! ~2-mile loop (of an 11-mile total trail length). Easy difficulty.
  • Yana Trail via Perry’s Riffle Trailhead. March 29, 2020; bountiful brodiaeas! ~11 miles total length. Easy to moderate difficulty.
• Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge
  • Rio Vista Unit, Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. November 27, 2022: stunning site for a fall-colors stroll. Over 8 miles of trails, all easy in difficulty.
• Tehama Wildlife Area
  • McClure Trail. April 18, 2021; an attempt to beat the heat! ~2 miles total length. Mostly moderate difficulty, difficult in sections.
  • McClure Trail. March 22, 2020; very early spring! ~2 miles total length.
• Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness
  • Mount Linn. August 9, 2020: long drive, short hike, big rewards! 1.5 miles from trailhead to top of the peak. Strenuous difficulty.
  • East Low Gap or Bust! July 19, 2020; a bust, but still fun! ~5.5 miles round trip from trailhead to the middle of nowhere and back again. Moderately strenuous difficulty.
  • Barker Camp and Beyond. July 12, 2020; from wet meadows to dry slopes! ~1.25 miles from the trailhead to the meadow; ~2.5 miles from the trailhead to the peak. Moderately difficult.
  • North Yolla Bolly Lake, Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel Wilderness. July 5, 2020; penstemons aplenty! ~2.5 miles from Rat Trap Gap to the lake. Moderately strenuous difficulty.

Trinity County

• Trinity Alps Wilderness
  • Stuart Fork Trail, Trinity Alps. November 29, 2020; a beautiful and invigorating hike! 10 miles round-trip. Moderate difficulty.
  • Granite Lake, Trinity Alps. July 11, 2020; escape the heat! ~5.5 miles one way, from trailhead to lake. Moderate difficulty.
  • Boulder Lake, Trinity Alps. July 7, 2020; father-daughter hike in the Trinities! 3.8-mile round-trip. Easy difficulty.
  • Granite Lake and Four Lakes Loop, Trinity Alps. June 2020; respite from the summer heat! Granite Lake: ~5.5 miles one way, from trailhead to lake; moderate difficulty. Four Lakes Loop: 17 to 22 miles, depending on trailhead used to access the loop; moderate to strenuous difficulty.
• Weaverville Area
  • Weaver Basin Trails. June 28, 2023: almost 70 miles of trails worth checking out! Varying levels of difficulty; the 3-mile loop described in this article is relatively easy.
  • East Weaver Creek Trail, Weaverville. May 15, 2020; lovely creekside hike. 2.8 miles total length. Easy difficulty.
  • West Weaver Creek Trail, Weaverville. March 19 and 20, 2020; carpets of fawn lilies! ~1.5 miles total length. Easy difficulty.
• Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness
  • Pettijohn Trail, Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel Wilderness. July 16, 2023: trail condition update! ~3 miles from trailhead to ridgetop. Moderately difficult.
  • Black Rock Lake. August 2, 2020; hike to a secluded lake! ~3.6 miles one way from trailhead to lake. Moderate difficulty.
  • Black Rock Mountain. July 27, 2020; rock gardens, rare plants and views! ~4.3 miles one way from trailhead to mountain top. Moderate difficulty to the foot of the mountain; strenuously difficult to the top.
  • Pettijohn Trail, Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel Wilderness. June 21, 2020; splendid views and amazing plants! ~2.75 miles from trailhead to ridgetop. Moderately difficult.
• Six Rivers National Forest
  • Black Lassic. July 23, 2023: a very long drive for a very short but rewarding hike! ~1.5 miles to the summit and back; moderately strenuous.

Out of State

• Nevada
  • Northwestern Nevada Road Trip. June 2, 2023; high desert beauties! ~65 miles.
  • The Loneliest Road in America, Nevada. Late May through late June; Great Basin Desert wildflowers! ~409 miles. Driving tour.

*Yes, do get out, but stay safe

Shasta Chapter CNPS encourages everyone to get out and enjoy nature, but be sure to observe proper trail etiquette and proper social distancing while on the trail. Remember to:

• Pack out your trash.
• Use restrooms at home.
• Stick to designated trails.
• Photograph, don’t pick, the wildflowers.
• Stay updated on CDC and local guidelines.