Mount Shasta

December Has Been Spectacular Thus Far Pt. II (A Magnificent Lenticular)

Posted by bubbasuess on December 12, 2025
Posted in: Mount Shasta. 1 Comment

The first part of December has been one of the most beautiful runs of conditions around Mount Shasta in recent memory. It started off with a November-ending lenticular that was among the best we have had in a while. That inaugurated a week of incredible spectacle around the mountain that included more lenticulars and other beautiful conditions, especially around sunrise and sunset. This was documented in the first post reviewing the beginning of December, 2025. I had to split that up though, because the end of that run of weather was so stupendous, in demanded its own post. Suffice to say, I think this was the best single lenticular display above Mount Shasta in a long time.

Like some of the other lenticulars that formed over the week, this one came out of clear sky. It seemed to crawl out from some alternate dimension around noon, starting off as a single disk then growing into a fine stack. By late afternoon, it was hovering beautifully above Mount Shasta. At the same time, a small secondary cap was careening over the summit, indicative of the great turbulence in the sky around the mountain.

I headed up to the vista near Castle Lake. I had considered the view from the north, but a bank of clouds was partially obscuring the view, making this a less than desirable option. This turned out to be a good option. It yielded a grand view of the mountain, the summit cloud and the large stack to the south, all lit up in spectacular fashion, first by the afternoon light and then by the alpenglow. This was what I have been waiting for…

The massive amount of disruption in the airflow that produces these clouds is mind boggling. The currents and temperature differentials that allow the water vapor to coalesce, flow and then dissipate are incredible. To see it on a scale that is measured in miles rather than feet is even more astounding. The way the light dances on these monumental formations is just a crowning gift. The whole terrific pageant is unforgettable.

Even after the sun had set, the show was not over. The clouds kept churning as the night set in. There was just enough afterglow to get an amazing shot with a little longer exposure. It ended up being an epic punctuation mark on a stellar lenticular event. Thank the Lord for this one!

This particular lenticular was so awesome, I am including two time lapse videos. One is from the south on Girard Ridge, the other from the Shasta Valley. Note how the cloud comes out of nowhere.

Girard Ridge perspective: I could have cut this one shorter, but I liked the sunrise and the effect of the fog dancing in the Sacramento River’s canyon. The way the lenticular just pops up out of the clear sky is incredible.

Shasta Valley perspective: This one starts off great but as the clouds gather in the north it is harder to see the lenticular. Still, it is a fascinating video for a phenomenal cloud formation.

By the next morning, the lenticulars were gone. A beautifully colorful sunrise ushered in a few days of warmer weather and clearer skies. After that, a week plus of rain…and maybe some snow. In the meantime, could something interesting happen around Mount Shasta if the sky is clear?

December Has Been Spectacular Thus Far Pt. I

Posted by bubbasuess on December 11, 2025
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Lenticular Clouds, Mount Shasta, Shasta Valley, Truchas Ridge. 1 Comment

A lenticular cloud emerges over Mount Shasta at sunset.

As November drew to a close, Mount Shasta was graced by one of the finest lenticulars that has formed over the mountain in some time. I have griped a lot the last year or so that the frequency of large lenticular events over the mountain has decreased significantly over the last few years. In the past, it was common for there to be a handful of really epic displays while also boasting quite a few “run of the mill” lenticulars. The last few years this certainly not been the case. Thus it has come as a pleasant surprise that that trend has been broken, at least for a little over a week. The first nine days of December had one of the highest concentrations of beautiful conditions and lenticular formations that I can remember in the recent past. Hopefully this is just a portent of things to come over the winter and spring.

The first lenticular formation came the day after the massive one that closed out November. This one caught be off guard. I was not anticipating it as it had been fairly clear all day but when I was taking my kids to one of their events, I noticed the activity over Mount Shasta and had to stop and get a shot of the mountain. The color at sunset was fantastic and the layers on the stack over the mountain’s summit were very distinct. A secondary cloud tried forming to the south but couldn’t muster the strength to really pull itself together. It still caught the alpenglow in spectacular fashion!

The really interesting thing about this cloud was the way it formed so suddenly. It had been overcast all day and had not given much indication anything interesting was going to happen. In the time lapse, you can see it forming at times, but it was just lost in the rest of the clouds and it was only before sunset that it finally took a really distinct and sustained shape.

A couple of days went by and there were no lenticulars but the colors on Mount Shasta, particularly around the rising and setting of the sun, were intense. I kept getting up early to catch the sunset and there were some spectacular ones but I couldn’t always get pictures since I had to get the kids to school. It felt like something was brewing in the weather and I didn’t want to miss it.

Mount Shasta proved me correct. The next day a little formation clung to the summit. I watched it all day, twisting and undulating with the air currents over the mountain. Just before sunset I headed up toward Castle Lake to catch the sunset. It wasn’t quite as colorful as I had hoped but it was a harbinger of things to come. I was hopeful that cloud would sustain itself through the night and might do something interesting the next day.

By morning the cloud had grown and was covering the entire summit area of Mount Shasta. These are the least interesting formations on the mountain. They lack distinct layers and cover the terrain, leaving just a blob where there should be a mountain. Still, it did glow as the sun came up.

By mid morning the cloud had just about dissipated over Mount Shasta. Only vestigial wisps clung around the summit. It didn’t seem like there was much more going on at this point.

To my surprise, by noon a serious cap had formed over Mount Shasta. This new display was a large stack composed of intricate layers forming an impressive dome. A small, secondary disk kept trying to form above it but it had a hard time sustaining itself and would often disappear before coalescing again for a brief time.

The cloud was still strong in the afternoon so I planned on heading out to Truchas Ridge for the sunset. This time, I decided not to go to Echo Point but to the old favorite of Panorama Point. It has been a while since I have been up there and I got there a little later than I anticipated. The light was starting to fade in Parks Creek’s vale but I was able to capture a shot before it was gone. The cloud on Mount Shasta was much smaller at this point but the one that couldn’t muster its strength all day finally significantly, developing into a blobby form over the summit.

As the sun faded, the sky burst into a brilliant display of purple and pink. Dark clouds were moving in towards Mount Shasta’s summit. The colors were awesome and the drama of the dark clouds made this a fine and memorable sunset. I definitely need to get back up to Panorama Point more often.

The time lapse shows how tenacious the lenticular was, clinging to Mount Shasta all day, even when the clouds seemed it overwhelm it as they sailed by. When they were gone, it was still there. Also, I love how the light breaks through the clouds and travels over the hills of the Shasta Valley.

The next day dawned with another lenticular. The sky was blanketed with clouds. This was the makings for a colorful sunset so, once again, I dragged myself out of bed earlier than I wanted to. To my dismay, the clouds sailed off to the south as I drove north, leaving little in the sky to catch the color. The lenticular remained, though it too was diminished in size from what it had been when I got up. Nonetheless, the flow of the fog through the Shasta Valley made the morning interesting. It all seems so…respiratory. I am not sure what mythic creature’s breathing causes this phenomenon though.

That night, as my wife and I drove home from the animal hospital’s Christmas party, the lenticular still hung over Mount Shasta. It was backlit by the rising moon, which gave it an eerie glow in the dark night. We stopped and took a few shots, hoping to capture some of the glittering in front of us. It was a great end to a the most beautiful week I have seen around Mount Shasta in some time. Little did I know the best was yet to come…

Lenticular Interrupted

Posted by bubbasuess on November 30, 2025
Posted in: Cascade Range, Desert, Hiking, Lenticular Clouds, Mount Shasta, Shasta Valley, sunset. 9 Comments

A couple days after Thanksgiving, we were finally blessed with a spectacular lenticular display over Mount Shasta. Autumn is typically one of the best seasons for these epic formations in the sky but this year, much like the last couple of years, there hasn’t been much lenticular presence, let alone any big spectacular ones. That unfortunate streak has finally come to an end.

The heart of the formation was a massive lenticular stack above the summit of Mount Shasta. It caught the morning light in terrific fashion. It didn’t have much purple but it pulsated with pink and orange light. The intricate layers, each nestled one within the other, the shadows and dark clouds only serving to highlight the shape of the next strata of the cloud. This is the kind of lenticular one waits all season for.

Unfortunately, after capturing images of it at sunrise, I was immediately off to head up Christmas tree sales at the boy scout lot. Fortunately, this is a fun and worthwhile endeavor and even though I was missing the lenticular, I knew I was investing my time well. After three days of sales, we only have 92 trees left. If you want a great red fir (silvertip) Christmas tree that was wild caught on the east side of Mount Shasta, come by our lot next Saturday!

After closing the lot up no long before sunset, I headed home. The Christmas tree sales interruption now over, I would have tried to go immediately to get images of the lenticular blazing with the colors of alpenglow but I was in my truck, towing my large trailer I had been using to restock the tree lot. It wasn’t conducive to chasing images of the mountain and cloud. I did force myself to stop and just capture an image from the road for posterity. The lenticular wasn’t as large as it had been but it still presented a fascinating view.

After dropping my truck off and heading out into the Shasta Valley, I got to a decent vantage point just as the colors really flared up. Pinks and purples filled the sky and the mountain itself glowed in the reflected color of the setting sun. It was a spectacular end to a busy day. I hope we have many more lenticulars in the near future!

This time lapse captures a dramatic perspective on the lifespan of the lenticular over Mount Shasta. The way it is in constant flux, churning and roiling as the day progresses is amazing. I have been waiting a while for one of these. This Thanksgiving I am thankful one finally came (among many other things).

A Stormy Wave And A Truchas Sunset

Posted by bubbasuess on November 27, 2025
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Mount Shasta, Shasta Valley, Truchas Ridge. 3 Comments

The edge of a storm surges against the base of Mount Shasta. 

There really isn’t too much to this post, other than to populate it with some images of Mount Shasta that I have been able to capture in the midst of an otherwise very busy month. Once again, the lethal combination of clinic, school and Christmas trees has kept me pretty occupied and limited the amount of time I had to do anything. This wasn’t a unbearable, since much of the month was punctuated with storms. These left Mount Shasta with a solid blanket of snow, which has fully restored it to its winter glory after the summer. It is notable, however, that this is the first winter in quite a few years we haven’t had any snow at all at lower elevations. There has been none at my house. Given how wet the month has been, it is just notable, not concerning. For the last 5 days or so it has been gorgeous weather and that looks like a trend continuing into December.

A couple weeks ago, during a break in the storm, my wife and I headed up into the Shasta Valley to watch the sunset. We opted to not go to Truchas Ridge but stayed nearby. The color on the mountain turned out to be quite nice and we were glad we had made the quick trip out there after all the rain had fallen.

One more storm passed through the area about a week ago and this one yielded a classic look at the way the storms often halt right on the divide separating the Sacramento and Klamath River watersheds. The Shasta Valley was bright and sunny while the dark clouds piled up over the mountains. At my house it was raining but only 15 minutes to the north it was sunny and dry.

The rainshadow was obvious but equally dramatic. Only the base of Black Butte was visible in the midst of the swirling storm. It looked like a giant wave breaking and then dissipating into the desert of the Shasta Valley. Rain was visibly falling in the mountain canyons but it never really forced its way into the valley.

Since that last storm a week ago, the temperatures dropped and the sky cleared. It has been frosty and cold but the sunlight has made the days beautiful. My youngest son and I went tromping along the Sacramento River, where everything was covered with a patina of ice but the river was flowing strong. Mount Shasta was beautifully snowy in the distance.

A few days later, my older son and I climbed up to Panorama Point at Truchas Ridge. We haven’t been up there since March which is strange, considering we used to go there weekly. Hopefully we will return to that kind of frequency but the wheels of justice grind slowly… Nonetheless, it was great to be out there with him and the conditions were beautiful. There had been a lenticular over Mount Shasta earlier, but it had collapsed before we got there. The clouds were still quite interesting though. Being back up there, with its top-of-the world- views in all directions was a good reminder of how spectacular that area really is. Over the last year or two we have favored Echo Point for a variety of reasons but this outing was a good reminder that the length of Truchas Ridge is worth spending time at.

In the end, the color turned out to be beautiful and the time with my son worthwhile. Lenticular or no, it was a great sunset. We plan on heading out there again soon. For now though, it’s Thanksgiving and I have to get to work! Have a blessed day!

 

Aurora Lenticularis

Posted by bubbasuess on November 13, 2025
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Lenticular Clouds, Mount Shasta. Tagged: . 2 Comments

This was an unexpected treat. There was a major storm system careening toward the Mount Shasta area (the deluge is upon us as I write this) and I was hoping that its arrival might yield some lenticular clouds. I had just been griping about how there had not been many good lenticular displays the last few years, especially in the typically prime seasons of fall and spring. However, my interest in lenticulars was interrupted by a large solar event that meant that the aurora borealis would be pushed far to the south and potentially visible here in Mount Shasta.

For a brief moment I was excited at this prospect, since I had had some good luck with this in the past. Then I remembered the storm and realized that there was likely to be cloud cover and the sky not visible. Thankfully, my dismay was short lived, as the clouds seemed to clear to some degree and some portions of the sky were visible as might also be the aurora.

I headed out to a piece of property my wife and I have and set up for some shots to try to capture the aurora. Unfortunately, I got my settings all out of wake and none of the images turned out the way I had hoped they would. The added calamity was that not only was Mount Shasta visible, but a lenticular formed over the mountain (really, it was far to the northeast, but it appeared to be right above Mount Shasta). The aurora plus a lenticular?!

Sadly, I didn’t get good images of this likely once in a lifetime convergence of conditions. It did make for an awesome animated gif though! Watching the cloud gather and form over Mount Shasta while the aurora colored the sky and the stars ranged across the heavens was a special sequence to witness. The luminous body on the far right was Jupiter (I think).

Needless to say, I finally left the scene but was determines to head out early in the morning if it was not overcast and the lenticulars were still visible. This turned out to be the case, as the sky was filled with unusual cloud formations. Though the light never got really good, it was a grand sight nonetheless. Such awe-inspiring pageantry in the sky was gift upon gift after witnessing the aurora.

This turned out to be the best lenticular display I have seen in quite a while. It was a shame to have botched the aurora but I still got a little something to show for the effort. Just observing such magnificence in the sky would have been enough…

Fog Redux: Getting It Right This Time

Posted by bubbasuess on November 9, 2025
Posted in: Cascade Range, Echo Point, Hiking, Mount Shasta, Shasta Valley, Truchas Ridge. 3 Comments

With all the precipitation we have been getting and the lower temperatures, there has been a lot of morning fog in the Shasta Valley. This can make some great conditions in Echo Basin and Parks Creek’s vale, especially around sunrise. A week ago I headed out to Echo Point in the hopes of getting morning shot with some colorful light bouncing around through the mist. That trip did not work out so well. The fog was so thick, I was often enveloped in the ubiquitous vapor. Despite the presence of some nice lenticulars, I could get the kind of shot I was pursuing. Not one to give up, I headed back out to Echo Point again. This time, conditions were fantastic.

As I climbed up to Echo Point, I could see the wispy clouds turning pink. The fog being fairly thin north of the point, I was pretty confident that conditions would be good in Echo Basin and the fog would be reflecting a lot of the light in the sky. This was indeed the case. The fog seemed to pulse with light while the horizon began to glow as sunrise approached. This was, in same ways, the peak of the scene. Though the color would turn golden, this was the height of the pink and purples. My oldest son, 16, had joined me on this outing and it was gratifying to be able to share this spectacular scene with him.

Though the sun was just below the horizon, the color in the fog quickly slipped away. I have seen this happen before. Though some of the sunrise hues remained in the clouds overhead, the angle was all wrong to light up the valley. Nonetheless, the fog imbued the valley with depth and mystery.

The fog continued to swirl around Echo Basin. Like before, it seemed as through the valley was breathing, with the mist flowing out and then rushing back in. However, thankfully, this time the point was never overtaken and the vista obscured. In fact, the scene remained epic through the entire sunrise.

As predicted, the pink and purple were gone but once the sun breached the horizon, the entire valley burst with golden radiance. The fog seemed to soak it up, thickening into an aurous veil over the broad vale.

High above, on Echo Point, the fog never approached and the surrounding peaks remained clear. It was indeed a beautiful morning at a spectacular, one-of-a-king setting. I was thankful to spend it with my son.

On the way home, we stopped at our property just outside of Mount Shasta City to see how the fall color looked in the morning light. Sadly, though not surprisingly, it has gone. The powerful winds of the previous storm stripped the trees bare. However, even the naked trees, with the few hearty, brown leaves still clinging to them, look beautiful in the morning glow, contrasted against the icy grandeur of Mount Shasta. And more storms approach.

A couple weeks apart, the autumn color has passed us by.

Swallowed By Fog

Posted by bubbasuess on November 7, 2025
Posted in: Cascade Range, Echo Point, Hiking, Lenticular Clouds, Mount Shasta, sunrise, Truchas Ridge. 2 Comments

With autumn in full swing, the conditions around Mount Shasta continue to get more and more interesting. This is the normal pattern of the shoulder seasons as the long dry/wet seasons give way to their respective counterparts. In particular, this was the case a few days ago, when I headed to Echo Point at Truchas Ridge. I have had great luck photographing Mount Shasta from this spot (it’s awesome, how can anyone not have great luck here?) and with the fog  I was hoping to replicate my past success by augmenting the beautiful conditions with a lenticular cloud.

When I first reached Echo Point, the fog was flowing eastward, out of Echo Basin. I was actually worried that maybe I had missed my opportunity with the fog and it was permanently receding for the morning.

My fears were definitely unfounded, as the mist rolled back in, filling the basin and, at times, starting to turn my view of Mount Shasta opaque. I started to wonder if there was going to be too much fog.

The fog continued to sweep through the basin, getting thicker and thicker. Unfortunately, it really began to overtake Echo Point right when the color started to get good. The opportunity I had hoped for had arrived but was just beyond my reach. Nonetheless, it was fascinating to watch the waves of fog lap up against the ridge. It seemed like the aspiration of some terrific being, breathing the fog in and out of the basin beneath me.

Finally, the mist settled just enough for Mount Shasta to be seen clearly above the vaporous sea. The free floating lenticular had dissipated but the one on the mountain’s summit had grown considerably. This corresponding retraction and growth is something I have observed quite a bit with lenticulars. Unfortunately, I did not observe it very long this time. A deep wave flowed toward me and completely swept over Echo Point, ending my view of anything not a few dozen feet from me.

A few moments later, the small disc of the son suddenly burst out of the fog. It was so thick that I could look at the sun with no filter.

The sun’s intensity grew as it climbed higher in the sky and into areas where the fog was thinner. It was soon too bright to look upon but not so powerful enough to scatter the mist. Everything glowed.

The sun finally climbed above the fog and for a brief moment the very top of Mount Shasta was visible above the god. The lenticular on the summit had grown even more but was soon swallowed up once again by the fog. Such was the nature of the morning.

All in all it was a disappointing morning in terms of photography but it was still quite spectacular in its own way. I couldn’t help thinking that it was a waste of an opportunity for a good eclipse!

Heading back home, I left the fog and entered the domain of the incoming storm. The mountain and its lenticular crown were briefly visible before the clouds obscured it, much like what had been done by the fog. The storm turned out to be a strong one. Lots of rain, 70 mph winds, broken branches and a toppled steeple at one of the churches. That pretty much marked the end of the fall color, since most of it is now lying on the ground. Still, fall persists and we might get some more pyrotechnics in the sky.

Autumn Is Upon Us

Posted by bubbasuess on October 31, 2025
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Mount Shasta. 6 Comments

Holy Kinarsey, what a crazy month October was. I have been planning on posting all month, but every facet of life seemed to intrude on my time and it wound up being one of the busiest months I have had in a long, long time. Whether it was kids, business, school, church, boy scouts or whatever, there was always something not just needing attention but demanding it urgently. In the little down time I had built into the month, we had guests from out of town. There was only time to get out for anything a few times during the month. And to cap it all off, I was in charge of cutting 250 Christmas trees for the annual fundraiser. That was on November 1st. It went well, with perfect weather. If you are in the Mount Shasta area and want a high quality/low priced Christmas tree (silver tip/red fir variety), be sure to come to the Christmas tree lot between the Black Bear and Starbucks the weekend after Thanksgiving!

So, all that being said, I will keep the words to a minimum and just focus on the images. Suffice to say, summer departed, and autumn hit with its full, beautiful force. Brief storms leaving Mount Shasta white, low angled light, colorful trees were all in abundance and it was glorious. As I write now, we’re heading into a week of copious rain and Mount Shasta will probably get really white. As I write that autumn is upon us, it is really winter that is upon us now.

A summer sunrise. Not great but making an effort…

As September drew to a close there were a progression of small rain storms forecasted to sail through the area. I had planned on my usual before and after type post but that definitely didn’t happen. So I am starting out with the remnants of summer.

Click to enlarge and scroll through the progression:

The mountain was bare, with just a few patches of snow left on it. The incoming storms augured to cover the mountain with snow. The question was how much and how low. Before the storms came, the changing of the tree color had already begun. It was slow, but definitely “in the air”. The sun was getting lower in the sky and temperatures cooler. You could feel the season changing. The first storm finally rolled through and left the mountain with a small but glistening layer of snow. It was nothing like what comes in winter but it looked cold. I love it when the snow is low enough that the rock layers on Mount Shasta really jump out. The light snow and dark rock create an awesome contrast. Also, when the snow first came, the trees changed color in earnest.

The changing weather meant the sky got a lot more interesting. I wasn’t able to get out much but the few times I did, there were some pretty interesting things to capture in the sky. I am still waiting for an epic lenticular display, however. Those don’t seem to be coming quite as frequently as they used too…

As is often the case, when it is storming in Mount Shasta, it is still clear over the Shasta Valley. During one of the storms that passed through the region, this was demonstrated in dramatic fashion. It seemed as though Black Butte was holding back the entire storm. When I left my house it was raining hard but out in the valley near Truchas Ridge it was sunny and dry. The microclimate effect is fascinating.

Of course, it would not be autumn with out the color in the trees. The aspens were not good this year but many of the other trees, especially the oaks, were fantastic.

Ok, no fall color in this image, but I couldn’t separate it out from the other images of the same lenticular event. 

Overall, a pretty amazing array of colors. As noted, a lot of rain is set to come through the area. The trees that still have color on them probably won’t by the end of that storm so these images just about sum up what we got in 2025. Not a bad year, though I wish I had been able to get out more. Nonetheless, I am, as always, grateful for the opportunities I had.

2 Days Of Fire Near The Castle Crags

Posted by bubbasuess on September 13, 2025
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Mount Shasta. Tagged: . 2 Comments

The Root Fire spews smoke between the Grey Rocks and the Castle Crags.

The summer of 2025 has been a pretty mellow one in terms of weather and fires. Cooler than many recent summers and with little fire activity in the North State. Though the Mount Shasta area had several significant lightning storms we had dodged the fire bullet. That all came to a screeching halt on September 1st. Located in the Castle Creek drainage on the south side of the Castle Crags, the Root Fire grew rapidly and sent a massive plume of smoke into the air, visible from all over the region around Mount Shasta. Named for a nearby creek (but not the more well-known one that is home to Root Creek Falls), the Root Fire broke the fireless streak in dramatic, but thankfully short-lived, fashion.

The Root Fire burned on the ridge that separates the North and main forks of Castle Creek.

The fire was most likely caused by yet another careless camper who left a fire unattended. Located right off of Castle Creek Road, the fire began at an illegal campsite. Due to the checkerboard nature of the land ownership in this area, it can be difficult to determine where dispersed camping may or may not be allowable. However, a knowledgeable camper will not that if there is a clear cut in the forest, the land is privately owned by a timber company. That is certainly the case here, since the campsite was located in a clear cut. The fact that the camper did not know this or care about it if they did does not speak highly of them and speaks to their inability to manage their fire responsibly.

The video below was taken from Girard Ridge, which is to the east, rising nearly 3,000 feet above the Sacramento River. I have no control over that the camera focuses on, so all cuts in the footage are the result of camera movements, not editing. The first two days are documented in the footage, covering the fire’s most active period.

The footage is nearly 5 minutes long and begins the morning of the first, the day the fire started. There is a long section at the beginning with no activity before the fire is noticed. Once the alert is given, the camera will zoom in on the fire, which provides the opportunity to watch it from its nascent stage. It’s a long but very interesting video.

I have also cut it into two smaller sections, by day:

Day 1

Day 2

Both days offer some interesting sights and observations about the fire. The weather adds some flare, as does watching the stars move through the night sky.

The first night of the fire a dramatic plume of smoke shot up into the sky, blanketing the area like a shroud. Ash rained down at my house. Some pieces were even identifiable as flakes of ponderosa bark. My family and I had already planned on heading up to the Old Ski Bowl that evening. When we saw that that part of Mount Shasta hadn’t been inundated by smoke, we decided to maintain plans.

The view is always dramatic, but the added plume, the setting sun and the ominous feel of the fire made for a particularly memorable sunset. As the fire rages, we watched the sunlight trace its way up the Sacramento River canyon, particularly along Girard Ridge, where the webcams were currently recording the fire’s activity.

As we watched, the drama was increased by the arrival of a VLAT. It was late in the day and had been scheduled to arrive but now it was a race against time to make it useful, as the sun was setting and the aerial attack ceases with the end of daylight. The above image is of the smoke rising from the fire behind the Castle Crags. If you enlarge the image, you can see the VLAT just above the summit of Grey Rock South.

These are closer images of the VLAT making a pass above the fire. The first shows the plane clearly. The second shows the plane a few moments later, banking behind the plume of smoke. Strangely, the setting sun make the smoke almost appear as if it is made of retardant.

Looking away from the fire, the smoke was licking at the ridges of Mount Shasta, but the air currents seemed to be keeping it away from the mountain, except at the very summit, where a strange accumulation of smoke had settled. The setting sun, the smoky sky and the wildflowers of the Old Ski Bowl made for an eerie sight.

The same was true looking back at the fire. It was disheartening that there was a fire at all, let alone one so close to the Castle Crags. Yet, from up at the Old Ski Bowl, the beauty of the scene could not be denied. Such is the paradox of nature at times.

As the light began to fade completely, the fire began to settle down. Without the wind and higher temperatures the conditions became less favorable to the fire’s growth.

The next morning the fire had became more active but it’s sudden burst of activity had slowed considerably. It wasn’t to grow to much more, since the fight against it would prove very effective. After dropping my kids off at their first day of school, I stopped and captured a image of Mount Shasta with a faint “smoke lenticular” over it. The smoke faded after this and wasn’t much of a presence for the rest of the fire’s brief duration. Hopefully this marks the end of Mount Shasta’s 2025 brush with fire.

 

Parks Creek: An Underappreciated Shasta Gem

Posted by bubbasuess on August 11, 2025
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Klamath Mountains, Meadows, Mount Shasta, Scott Mountains, Truchas Ridge. Tagged: . 2 Comments

Parks Creek races toward the Shasta Valley. 

There are many creek and rivers that arise around Mount Shasta. Some are short and flow only a few miles before merging with larger waterways while others, notably the rivers, flow for great lengths (the Sacramento River being the longest river in California, of course). One of the few creeks that has substantial flow for many miles is Parks Creek. This large creek flows for a surprising 22 miles before it finally joins the Shasta River. Indeed, it is only a bit shorter than the 26 miles long Little Shasta River, the Shasta River’s longest tributary.

Parks Creek is among the most beautiful and diverse of the creeks in the Mount Shasta area. Its journey passes through alpine lakes, rocky basins, lush meadows, narrow canyons, and vast valleys. It’s upper regions are an explorer’s paradise while its final miles are prime salmon spawning ground. In that sense, it can be seen as a prime source of renewal. However, the creek goes relatively unnoticed. When most people hear the words “Parks Creek”, they think of the PCT trailhead from which Deadfall Meadows and Mount Eddy are reached. Typically, little thought is given to the creek from which the trailhead derives its name. Nonetheless, the creek itself is a destination worthy of exploration.

Parks Creek begins on the highest flanks of China Mountain, the fourth highest summit in the Mount Shasta area (after Mount Shasta, Shastina and Mount Eddy). This makes it a product of the Scott Mountains rather than the nearby Trinity Divide. It gathers in numerous alpine basins, the largest of which contains the Caldwell Lakes. In addition to lakes, large complexes of meadows and springs feed the creek at the highest elevations. Once these headwaters are collected into the primary channel, Parks Creek flows through a steep and remote canyon. By the time the creek exits the canyon and flows into the broad Shasta Valley, it has lost nearly 3,000 feet. From this point, Parks Creek flows through the arid valley, passing cattle ranches and remote vales. It is fed by a few large, productive springs before finally completing its journey at the confluence with the Shasta River. It is a spectacular passage from high mountain to dry desert.

Source

The ultimate source of Parks Creek is the upper flanks of China Mountain. This area was once the domain of copper miners (and the ruins of these operations can still be found by intrepid hikers). The water cascades down the rocky slopes of China Mountain and collects in the basins containing the Caldwell Lakes and West Park Lakes. A third basin is home to the large complex of meadows found in Tamarack Flat. Trails and roads do wind through these areas, make it easy for hikers to enjoy them, though none these areas are particularly well known. In none of them is the Creek a primary feature except for the trail to the Caldwell Lakes. Indeed, this is the only time a trail passes anywhere near the creek.

A cascade pours off of the higher flanks of China Mountain. Water from this high basin sustains meadows and the Caldwell Lakes, and thus Parks Creek, well into summer. 

Upper Caldwell Lake lies in a broad basin below China Mountain. Just a few feet away lies Middle Caldwell Lake, which is significantly larger but has some extensive shallow areas. Parks Creek proper emerges from these lakes.

Lower Caldwell Lake is found nearly 200 feet lower than its siblings, at the base of a band of cliffs. Parks Creek flows between the lakes, cascading down a gully adjacent to the cliffs. The trail up to the lakes switchbacks along this section of the creek.

In addition to the Caldwell Lakes, other basins contribute water to Parks Creek. These start high up in the mountains where snow can linger well into summer. These rocky basins gather water from meadows and springs and send it down the mountains towards the creek. Here Mount Shasta and Mount Eddy are both visible from a remote headwaters basin.

From near a headwaters source, the view looks down Parks Creek’s watershed to the Shasta Valley8 miles distant and 3,000 feet below. The Goosenest, one of the tallest peaks in the Mount Shasta area is visible on the far side of the Shasta Valley. 

While journeying toward Parks Creek, numerous cascades and small waterfalls highlight these early tributaries. Though often dry by midsummer, they are a fantastic place to explore in the spring. 

Below the cascades large meadows fill broad valleys. The tributaries flow into the meadow, which holds the waters deep into summer, sustaining Parks Creek longer than many other creeks in the area. The creek flowing through these meadows is blessed with extraordinary serenity and one of the healthiest watercourses around Mount Shasta.

The Canyon

Once the waters from the various headwater channels meets, Parks Creek flows into its deep canyon. As it flows through this remote section, it loses over 1,000 feet in about 2 miles. While not the steepest stretch of water, that is still a steady drop that produces great rapids and even a hidden waterfall. Though there are no trails in the canyon, the clever hiker can figure out the route down to the creek and follow it a fair distance. There are ample rewards for those who do…

The view from above Caldwell Lakes, looking down the upper course of Parks Creek, into the higher section of the canyon. The distant Shasta Valley, the ultimate destination of Parks Creek, can be seen below.

Looking up the canyon of Parks Creek from near the midpoint of its 2 mile run. The sound of the creek is quite audible from this point and at high water a bit of the creek’s hidden waterfall is visible. 

Parks Creek races precipitously through its remote canyon. One thing that really surprised me about the canyon section of Parks Creek was how abundant the yew trees were. Almost the entire 2 miles of the canyon run the banks are choked with yew. 

Hidden deep Parks Creek’s canyon is the small cataract I call “Beargrass Falls”. It was so named for the abundant, blossoming bear grass that was growing around the waterfall the first time I found it. Not only is the falls an attractive spot on the creek, it is also a point of fascinating geology, with large natural cement formations carved by the water.

Another interesting landmark found in the canyon is the ruins of an old 19th century wagon bridge. The bridge once crossed a tributary of Parks Creek. It was constructed of two large trees with wooden planks nailed across them to form a roadway. The creek has since pushed the bridge out of the way and washed out numerous planks but the bridge is still there. The creek must be crossed on foot now, of course.

Near the canyon’s lower terminus, Parks Creek flows through a tight bedrock channel. Though not a steep waterfall, the cliffs around it are steep and the water is fierce. This is one of the prettiest sections of Parks Creek and a good send off to this remote section of the creek. 

One last view of Parks Creek at the lower end of the canyon. From here on out, the creek travels through tamer, though still scenic, terrain. 

The Valley

Once Parks Creek exits its canyon, it passes into the Shasta Valley. This area is dominated by cattle ranches and thus the creek has lost it wild character that defined its higher sections. However, that does not mean it lacks an essential wildness that is found in benign neglect. There is a single diversion channel that has been added to it in order to contribute water to Lake Shastina. Other than that, there are not real impounds on the creek now. Until a few years ago there was a ranching impound that formed a small lake. However, this has been removed in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in order to open the lowest 8 miles of the creek to salmon spawning. This section is also augmented by large, productive springs, which swell the creek’s flow. Also notable it the creeks final 8 mile passage through a lush, spring and meadow filled vale that is rarely visible to the casual observer.

As Parks Creek enters the Shasta Valley, there are still stands of ponderosa pine. However, these quickly give way to grassland punctuated by juniper, the dominant ecosystem of the arid valley. 

An autumn view looking back to the mountains that Parks Creek flows out of. Mount Eddy, the highest point in the Klamath Mountains is visible with snow on it on the left horizon. Note the river cobbles. These are telltale signs of the creek’s mountain passage. They quickly fade as Parks Creek flows deeper into the valley. 

Snow this deep rarely falls in the Shasta Valley. However, it highlights Parks Creek as it flows through its rarely seen vale. The creek is visible middle left, just below the fog line. It has melted the snow as it flows through the vast meadow. The nearby lake is only connected to Parks Creek at the highest water of the year, otherwise it is isolated from the rest of the creek’s watershed. 

A sunrise view of the Parks Creek vale. The creek is barely visible through the fog, just above the levee on the left. As it nears it confluence with the Shasta River, Parks Creek divides into two distinct channels that flow into the river independently of each other. 

Other than when Parks Creek flows through its canyon, Mount Shasta is a visual companion for much of the creek’s journey. This is never more true than in the Shasta Valley. Here the broad vale of Parks Creek is visible from Truchas Ridge, just before Parks Creek flows into the Shasta River. A spectacular finish for a beautiful waterway. 

Once joined to the Shasta River, the waters flow through another remote canyon, this time with a high desert environment giving it a unique appeal. Mount Shasta, as always, stands vigil over these beautiful waters, watching and waiting for the salmon to arrive…