O'Brien, California
The best trails and outdoor activities in O'Brien, California offer a variety of scenic adventures. One of the top attractions is the Boulder Creek Falls trail. This 5.5-mile hike is moderately difficult with a stunning waterfall as the payoff. The trail winds through lush forest, past unique rock formations, and along the banks of Boulder Creek. Another must-visit is the Bailey Cove Trail. This easy 3.1-mile loop is ideal for bird watching and offers views of Shasta Lake. For those interested in fishing, the nearby Sacramento River is a top spot for rainbow trout. O'Brien also offers opportunities for rafting and kayaking. Whether you're a hiker, angler, or just someone seeking outdoor adventures, O'Brien, California has something for you.
Top Spots in and near O'Brien
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Burney, California
Burney Falls
4.90.97 mi / 82 ft gainBurney Falls can be seen right from the parking area, but this scenic loop is a great hike for all levels of hiking ability. Heading out on this trail will take you to the base of this 129 foot tall waterfall. The Hike Burney Falls has a 1.3 mile loop trail that takes approximately 30 minutes ...Read more -
McCloud, California
Panther Meadows Campground
5.0The 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 atti...Read more -
McCloud, California
Gray Butte
3.27 mi / 646 ft gainMount 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 ...Read more -
Pacific Crest Trail, California
Hike or Backpack the Dead Falls Lake Trail
5.08.1 mi / 1358 ft gainThe Dead Falls Lake Trail is perfect for families, dog, and all adventurers. In the spring and summer, there are gorgeous and abundant wildflowers. There is a perfect lunch spot at Deadfall Lake. Close to the gargantuan Shasta, Mount Eddy is the highest peak in the Klamath Mountain. Mount Eddy o...Read more -
McCloud, California
Algoma Campground
The Algoma Campsite is a free campsite along the Upper Portion of the McCloud River. It features eight sites and a pit toilet. Unlike the other campgrounds in the area, this site receives very little traffic and has no fee. To get there, take SR 89 east from the McCloud Ranger Station for 13 mi...Read more -
Burney, California
Northshore Campground
The name of the campground, Northshore Campground, speaks for itself. It's located on the northern side of Lake Britton, across the water from the main state park camping area. This is nice for us as it's easier to get a spot, and it's much quieter. Campground Reservations It's a PG&E campgr...Read more -
Junction City, California
Fly Fish the Trinity River
The Trinity River is one that is rarely visited by your typical Bay Area resident. In fact, much of true Northern California is "untouched" in the eyes of those who live in The City, which is what drew me to this place to begin with. After a five hour journey from San Francisco, we made it to our...Read more -
Mount Shasta, California
Black Butte
5.05 mi / 1608 ft gainBlack 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 re...Read more -
Mount Shasta, California
Winter Summit Black Butte
5 mi / 2000 ft gainNote: 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 ...Read more -
Junction City, California
Camp at Junction City Campground
3.0Junction City Campground is home to 22 tent/trailer campsites, paved loop road, vault toilets, potable water, fire rings, and picnic tables. MAX trailer length is 40 feet. The campground is located 1.5 miles west of Junction City on State Highway 299.Dogs are welcome in the campground -- please k...Read more -
Burney, California
"Stand by Me" Bridge
4.0The "Stand by Me" bridge is located in Northern California about 20 miles north of Lassen National Forest and two and a half miles (2.4 mi) from Burney Falls at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. The bridge is approximately 7.5 miles north of Burney, CA. From the town of Burney, take Hw...Read more -
McCloud, California
Mt. Shasta via Clear Creek Route
11.43 mi / 7615 ft gainThe least technical route to the summit of Mt Shasta begins at the Clear Creek Trailhead (elevation 6390 ft). Please note that although this is a less technical route, this is still dangerous and there have been deaths on Mt. Shasta because of falling rock. To start this, you should be a good hik...Read more -
Gazelle, California
Hike the Fen Trail at Kangaroo Lake
The Fen Trail around Kangaroo Lake is a beautiful secluded camping and hiking area in the Klamath Forest of Northern California. It connects to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), where you can hike up through Oregon and Washington to Canada, or south through to Yosemite.The trailhead starts at the Ka...Read more -
Forks of Salmon, California
Grizzly Lake via China Gulch Trailhead
4.414.6 mi / 5112 ft gainGrizzly Lake is in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. The lake is know for its brilliant waterfall flowing from the lake's surface straight off the side of a cliff and roughly 600 feet down to the meadow below. Grizzly lake is located in some of America's most amazing and remote alpine wilderness, incl...Read more -
Shingletown, California
Manzanita Lake Loop
4.01.88 mi / 121 ft gainManzanita Lake Loop Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Old Station, California.Read more -
Shasta County, California
Photograph Lassen Peak
4.8Located in Northern California, Lassen Volcanic National Park is an astoundingly beautiful, diverse, yet under-appreciated park in the national park system.Manzanita Lake, located at the northwest park entrance, holds the largest campground in the park, and affords a gorgeous, photograph worthy v...Read more
