Horse Camp

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Mount Shasta from the Clear Creek Trail

With the warm weather expected over the weekend, the next few days will be a wonderful opportunity to get outside and enjoy the mountains one last time before the cold weather really begins to set in. However, with the road past Bunny Flat closed, there is sometimes a sense that the season has passed and the high country is now out of reach. While this may be true for the trails that begin up at the Old Ski Bowl, there are still plenty of fantastic high country trails that are waiting to be enjoyed. Some of the higher elevation may have some snow on the ground but in most places, there isn’t much more than a very thin layer of ice. Despite the lateness of the season, there is still a tremendous diversity of high country trails to hike. Whether on Mount Shasta or in the Trinity Divide, there is still time to get out and enjoy the Mount Shasta region’s incredible scenery! The following are five great options for excellent high country hiking this weekend.

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The view north from the Black Butte Trail

5. Black Butte

The giant volcanic cone of Black Butte is prominently visible throughout much of the Mount Shasta area. At 6,358, it is not among the tallest peaks around the great mountain but it does have a tremendous amount of relief, towering over 2,000 feet above surrounding area. It would be a major landmark in its own right if it were not for the obvious and overshadowing presence of Mount Shasta. Hiking to the summit of Black Butte is often impossible in the winter, when snow covers the trail and the exposure is very dangerous. Making matters worse, the snow lingers on the trail for a long time because of the route’s location on the peak’s north side. Right now the way is clear and this is a great time to enjoy the hike’s incredible views.

Olbermann’s Causeway, near Horse Camp

4. Horse Camp

While the last stretch of the Everitt Memorial Highway may be closed, it is still easy to drive quickly to high elevation at Bunny Flat. From here, you can hike either the Green Butte Ridge Trail or the short path to Horse Camp. The latter is preferable at this point because Green Butte does have some snow on it. Horse Camp, on the other hand, is below the current snow line and is reached quickly. From there you have numerous options for climbing higher. While the hikers headed to Helen Lake and Hidden Valley must contend with some of the white stuff, there is plenty of room to explore the lower areas of Avalanche Gulch without having to deal with any snow.

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The Seven Lakes Basin

3. Seven Lakes Basin

This is one of the best trips in the Mount Shasta area and it is still a great option even though we are moving into the cold season. The hike follows the Pacific Crest Trail along the top of the Trinity Divide, with fantastic views in all directions. The vista is particularly awesome to the west, where the sawtooth towers of the Trinity Alps form a spectacular horizon. Not to be outdone by the western vista, the view to the east is utterly dominated by Mount Shasta. After a couple of easy miles on the PCT, the view of the Seven Lakes Basin unfolds beneath the trail. Many of the lakes are visible from here and the towering cliffs, Boulder Peak and the brooding Grey Rocks make a memorable scene. Hikers can continue further and visit Helen Lake or descend down into the basin to explore the rest of the lakes.

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Mud Creek Canyon from the Clear Creek Trail

2. Clear Creek Trail

The journey on the Clear Creek Trail is one of the most spectacular trails in California. Even though there may be some snow higher up near the springs, the lower section is still an awesome trail with some of the best views of Mount Shasta, Mud Creek Canyon and Mud Creek Falls. The trip starts in old growth red fir forests and climbs onto the east rim of Mud Creek Canyon where there are epic views. Higher up the trail climbs into a large basin containing the headwaters springs of Clear Creek. The Konwakiton, Watkins and Wintun Glaciers all cling to the cliffs above the basin. Volcanic spires loom high overhead, marching inexorably toward Mount Shasta’s summit. While there may be a bit of snow in the basin right now, the odds are good that the going will still be easy.

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Mount Eddy and Upper Deadfall Lake

1. Mount Eddy and the Deadfall Lakes

Often overlooked because of Mount Shasta, Mount Eddy is a tremendous mountain in its own right. The view from the summit is among the finest in Northern California and certainly the best north of Lake Tahoe. There is just a thin layer of snow near the summit and the rest of the trail is generally clear. With Mount Shasta white and the way clear to the top, now is a fantastic time to climb to the view. If that were not enough, the hike passes through awesome Deadfall Basin, where the trio of lakes is an incredible destination on their own. Just hiking to the lakes is a fantastic high country trip; perfect the warm weather this weekend. While the summit of Mount Eddy may be a bit too much for little legs, the hike to the lakes via the PCT is a great outing for kids.

Mount Shasta at Bunny Flat.

Of the nine hiking trails on Mount Shasta, five of them begin on the Everitt Memorial Highway, the only paved road that climbs the giant volcano. The highway climbs high enough to reach just below treeline at the Old Ski Bowl. As documented here, three of the trails set out from this area. The other two trails begin at a site called Bunny Flat, which is 3 miles before the road’s end and 900 feet lower. With great views to the south and the immense bulk of Mount Shasta towering overhead, it is an exceptionally scenic location. The great scenery is not limited to the trailhead at Bunny Flat. The Horse Camp and Green Butte Ridge Trails, climb up the mountain from the trailhead and explore extremely scenic areas on the volcano. The Horse Camp Trail leads to the Shasta Alpine Lodge, which is owned by the Sierra Club. From there, several destinations await, including beautifully barren Hidden Valley. In contrast, the Green Butte Ridge Trail is a straight-forward ascent up a ridge to its namesake butte. Interestingly, these are possibly the best and least-known trails on Mount Shasta. Despite how many people may or may not use the trails, both are worthy hikes that access tremendous scenery.

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Mount Shasta glows above Green Butte Ridge.

One great feature of the two trails setting out from Bunny Flat is the opportunity to combine them into a fantastic loop through Mount Shasta’s epic high country. The loop’s destination is the summit of Green Butte, one of the five color-themed buttes that surround the mountain (the others being Black, Red, Gray and Yellow Buttes). Though the Green Butte Ridge Trail is a straight, steady ascent of the ridge that leads to the butte, the Horse Camp Trail can also be used to access the peak. For those interested in making the loop, it is advisable to make the ascent via the Horse Camp Trail and then descend via the Green Butte Ridge Trail. This means that the extremely pleasant and scenic hiking through Avalanche Gulch is enjoyed earlier in the journey. The grade is also more moderate as it is stretched out over greater distance. The steep ascent of Green Butte Ridge is reversed and is much more manageable as a descent. Of course, it must be noted that much of this loop, especially the connecting scramble from Avalanche Gulch to Green Butte Ridge is cross country and should only be attempted by those prepared to meet the challenges.

Horse Camp Trail

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Looking toward the summit from Avalanche Gulch.

It is possible that the view of the Shasta Alpine Lodge and the mountain towering behind it may be among the most iconic images of Mount Shasta. The lodge is located at Horse Camp, near treeline at 7,900 feet. After departing Bunny Flat, the majority of the 1.6 miles to the lodge pass through forest canopy. The best views, such as they are, are of the Trinity Alps far to the west. Once at the lodge, the forest thins and the ground is covered by wildflowers. A gurgling fountain of water piped in from a spring highlights this restful setting. Beyond Horse Camp there are four good options for hikers looking for a longer journey. Perhaps the best option is the climb up to Hidden Valley. A route also climbs up to Lake Helen but this option is better done with snow on the ground. Those looking for a real mystery can hunt for the hidden spring deep in Avalanche Gulch. The final option, and among the best, is to continue on to Green Butte. Whichever option hikers pursue, the immensity of Avalanche Gulch is an impressive sight.

Green Butte Ridge Trail

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Alpenglow on Mount Shasta, from Green Butte Ridge.

Making a beeline up steep Green Butte Ridge, the Green Butte Ridge Trail is a quick ticket to Mount Shasta’s secluded backcountry waiting above the treeline. Climbing through dense forest initially, the trail eventually breaks out of the forest and onto a rocky ridge with fantastic views in all directions. Although the trail eventually fades away, the route is obvious and easy to follow. During the climb there are rare views of Sun Bowl and Powder Bowl, popular destinations for backcountry skiing during the winter. From here, hikers must continue up the ridge toward a prominent point that has truly exceptional views. From there it is an easy scramble down a narrow neck to the top of Green Butte. Marked by evidence of repeated lighting strikes, it is an amazing summit in its own right, boasting still more incredible views. Particularly inspiring are the views of Sargents Ridge and the Old Ski Bowl.