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
Beat the heat and see some very interesting and uncommon native species!
Cedar Basin, Cliff Lake, and Terrace Lake
Saturday, June 20, 8 AM
This field trip will take us west of the town of Mt. Shasta to Cedar Basin, where there are some old-growth Port Orford cedars and Klamath manzanita. Expect to see a wide diversity of plants, including carnivorous plants such as round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) and California pitcher plant (Darlingtonia californica). This area was proposed as a Natural Resource Area, but never quite made the cut due to a private in-holding.
Overall, this will be a moderately difficult hike of 4 miles with 750 feet of elevation gain. The first part of this walk is a fairly easy walk up to Cliff Lake, which sits at the base of a huge, glacially carved cliff, about 1.5 miles from the trailhead. The second part of the hike is 0.5 miles with a 500-foot climb up to Terrace Lake. This second section of the hike requires long pants, as brush can be intruding onto the trail, and does require stamina and balance. This climb is somewhat harder and longer than what we did to get to Heart Lake, but it is well worth it for the views of Cliff Lake and Cedar Basin.
Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants, and bring lunch and at least 40 ounces of water. Walking poles are recommended. No dogs, please. For those coming from Redding, we will meet in the Mt. Shasta Mall parking lot near Chase Bank at 8 AM to carpool or caravan to the trailhead. We will also make a quick stop at Ray’s Food Place, 160 Morgan Way, in Mt. Shasta, at 9 AM to connect with those coming from the north. We strongly encourage carpooling to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions; remember to bring gas money to help your ride cover expenses. Limited to 15 people. To reserve a space, email David Ledger at dsledger49@gmail.com and be sure you have signed the 2026 CNPS waiver (see opening paragraph, above).
~David Ledger, Field Trip Chair
Photo taken July 29, 2023, by Amy Henderson.