Gateway Trail and Tunnel Trail Loop

Black Butte is hard to miss from I-5 as it winds past the city of Mount Shasta. This lava dome formed roughly 9,000–10,000 years ago and isn't a cinder cone, though it does look like one. The rock that makes Black Butte was extruded instead of spewed, then broke apart as it cooled. The jumbled results of this volcanic event give the hike its character, never too terribly steep but always intere...

Note: February thru early March are great times to climb it for a winter ascent without snowshoes. If there is no snow seen from the south (e.g. on I-5 heading north to Mount Shasta City), don't be too worried. As long as there is snow on the surrounding peaks (e.g. Trinity Alps) around the same elevation (4,000+ feet), there should still be snow on the northern slopes of Black Butte.Most of th...

The Avalanche Gulch route is the second easiest, non-technical route to the summit of Mt. Shasta after the Clear Creek Route, but is by far the most popular. Many people complete this climb in one day from the trailhead, but you also have the opportunity to overnight at Horse Camp (7,950 ft.) or Helen Lake (10,400 ft.).Begin at Bunny Flat Trailhead (6,940 ft.), off of Everitt Memorial Highway. ...

Hidden just outside Mt. Shasta, the Ney Springs & Faery Falls hike is a short but rewarding adventure that combines local history with a striking natural setting. In less than two miles round-trip, you’ll pass the ruins of an old 19th-century resort before reaching a dramatic 50-foot waterfall tucked into a mossy canyon. Trail Basics & What to Expect Route: Follows old Ney Spr...

Mount Shasta is an incredible mountain in Northern California that offers a great variety of activities. The Gray Butte trail is one of the more beautiful trails in the area, and it's not too long (2.8mi, ~2h). We arrived at Shasta by late afternoon, so it was a great hike to do when golden hour hit, before we set up camp. The trail starts just past Panther Meadows Campground. If you follow th...

The Panther Meadows Campground is located in the timberline on Mt. Shasta. The free campsite has 10 sites with a fire ring and a table. The elevation of the campground is 7,500 ft, making it the highest campground on Mt. Shasta. Summer nights can get pretty cold, so make sure to bring proper attire. The high elevation and the lack of light pollution provide amazing night skies with some breatht...