Day Hiking Areas

• Big Bar Area

  Whether on foot or bike, Trinity River Management Unit (TRMU) carries you into a world of Pacific madrone, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and white oak, which line small streams and surround deep lakes penetrated by granite domes.

  There are a number of trail experiences on the TRMU. Trailblazers can choose any where between a scenic, quarter-mile hike to Backbone Creek (particularly colorful in autumn) to a 19-mile+ backcountry mountain excursion that continues through an extensive forest trail system. Big and Little Boulder Lake Trail is an easy and rewarding two mile hike leading to sights of impressive granite walls, deep blue waters, conifer forests and showy wildflowers. Hobo Gulch to Grizzly Lake Trail is for the experienced hiker; trail affords views of a large alpine lake and a 70-foot waterfall. A popular choice is Stuart Fork Trail that starts from Bridge Camp Campground. The trail has very little elevation variation, good fishing opportunities and the option of continuing 15 miles to Sapphire Lake.

  Mountain biking is a popular pastime on the TRMU. Several trails afford experiences for the novice and experienced biker. Some trails are moderately strenuous requiring the rider and bike to be in fairly good shape. The scenic vistas are worth the effort: Trinity Alps, Trinity Divide and Trinity Lake. A great mountain bike ride for people of all experience levels is along the Minersville Trail that parallels the shoreline of Trinity Lake.

  Anglers will find cold, clear running streams on the unit providing excellent catches of steelhead, silver salmon and Chinook salmon in the Trinity River and native rainbow trout in tributary creeks and streams.

• Hayfork Area

  The South Fork Management Unit (SFMU) is based in Hayfork and contains the Hayfork and Yolla Bolla Ranger Districts. The SFMU encompasses over 590,000 acres. Three major streams from the primary watersheds within this area; the South Fork of the Trinity River, Hayfork Creek and Beegum Creek.

  The SFMU is bounded along its western side by South Fork Mountain, one of the longest continuous ridgelines in North America. At the southern end of the unit are the Yolla Bolla Mountains and one of two wilderness areas with the unit, the Yolla Bolla/ Middle Eel Wilderness. Situated along the eastern side of the SFMU is the Chanchelulla Wilderness. The northern end of the unit is bounded by a series of ridgelines and peaks that include Pattison Peak, Hayfork Bally and Hayfork Divide.

  The large variety in terrain and ecosystems that exist on the SFMU provide for a wide range of recreational opportunities.

  You can rent an historic cabin, camp in a wide variety of campgrounds, both developed and undeveloped, hike into either the Yolla Bolly or Chanchelula Wilderness area, or enjoy a 40+ mile wild and scenic river corridor. With this wide range of recreational opportunities, you should be able to find just the right one for your interests.

  The Chanchelulla Wilderness is the second of the two wilderness areas in the South Fork Management Unit, which provides opportunity for wilderness hiking and camping.

  The South Fork of the Trinity is a rich resource with its serene beauty and its many recreational opportunities.

• Bear Creek Trail
• Chanchelulla Wilderness
• East Tule Trail
• Forest Glen Cabin (Guard Station)
• Natural Bridge Interpretive Trail
• Philpot Creek Interpretive Trail
• South Fork National Recreation Trail
• Wintoon Flat Trail
• McCloud Area Recreation

  The McCloud River Loop OPEN   

  Are you interested in camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, boating, picnicking, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, or sight seeing?  The choices for recreation are almost unlimited on the McCloud District.

  For information on the McCloud River Loop Dispersed Camping Restrictions please select the link below:

  https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd910413.pdf

  During the late spring, summer and early fall, the McCloud Area offers fishing, hunting, swimming, camping, hiking, photography opportunities, and spectacular scenery. During the winter months, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, snow- shoeing, hunting, fishing, and downhill skiing are the top ranking outdoor opportunities. 

  There are a number of developed campgrounds and day use facilities located along the scenic McCloud River, that includes Fowlers, Cattle Camp, and Camp 4. Fowlers CG has 31 reservation only and 8 first come, first served sites. (All walk-in until May 15th) Camp 4 is a reservation only group campground.  You can reserve a site at recreation.gov.  There is a 14 day stay limit at our campgrounds.  Cattle Camp is first come first served.

  The McCloud River parallels Highway 89 from its source near Dead Horse Summit to Fowlers Campground. There it turns south and continues through private property to the McCloud Reservoir. At the "Res" as it is known locally, the river again flows through National Forest lands to a point several miles below AhDiNa Campground, plus several other areas downstream to the Nature Conservancy's  McCloud River Preserve. From here, the river passes through mostly private property and public access from the banks is extremely limited until the river enters the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake. 

   

• AhDiNa Campground
• Fowlers Campground
• McCloud Reservoir Boat Ramp
• Yet Atwam Creek Trail
• Mt. Shasta Area

  Recreation on the unit centers on the two designated wilderness areas of Mount Shasta and Castle Crags. Dominating the landscape for several hundred miles in all directions, Mount Shasta looms 14,162 feet, a beautiful snow-cloaked massif, second only to Mount Rainier in height among the famous Cascade Range volcanoes. No trails lead up Mount Shasta, but trails provide access to the Wilderness and the foot of the mountain.

  The Wilderness shares its southern border with Castle Crags State Park. You'll find 27.8 miles of maintained trails starting from nine trailheads. The Pacific Crest Trail rambles for 19 miles through the area.

  Most of the National Forest lands on the Mt. Shasta district are open for dispersed camping. Remember, most dispersed sites will be affected by campfire restrictions starting sometime in summer. When restrictions are in effect, you may still operate a gas stove and/or a gas-only barbeque with a valid campfire permit. Wood fires and charcoal barbeques are strictly prohibited. Please use proper sanitation methods for human waste, pack out all of your garbage, and leave no trace of your stay.

  Current list of Road Closures, Campground & Trail information.

• Black Butte Trail
• Mt. Shasta Wilderness
• Panther Meadows Campground
• Sisson-Callahan National Recreation Trail
• Shasta Lake Area

  ** Due to fluctuating water levels on Shasta Lake, visitors are encouraged to contact the Shasta Recreation Company (concessionaire to the Forest Service) @ 530-275-8113 or the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta Lake Ranger Station at (530) 275-1587 for possible temporary campground closures. **

  The Shasta Unit is one of three units that comprise the Whiskeytown - Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area. It was established by Congress in 1965. These areas were recognized for their unique and varied recreation potential. 

  Shasta Lake forms the core of the Shasta Unit and offers recreationist a variety of outdoor activities including: boating, water-skiing, swimming, fishing, camping, picnicking, hiking, hunting, and mountain biking.

  The Shasta Lake Unit and the Shasta Lake Boating Safety maps are available at no charge through this website and in our offices.

  For information on purchasing the Shasta-Trinity National Forest map as well as many other National Forest maps, please browse to the Maps & Publications page.

  Interpretive programs are offered at the Antlers Amphitheater during the summer months and are free to the public.  For locations and times, please contact the Shasta Recreation Company (concessionaire to the Forest Service) @ 530-275-8113.

• Bailey Cove Trail
• Clikapudi Trail
• Dry Fork Creek Trail
• Fishermans Point Trail
• Hirz Bay Trail
• Packers Bay Trails
• Potem Falls Trail
• Sugarloaf Trail
• Trinity Unit - National Recreation Area

  The Trinity Unit, comprised of Trinity and Lewiston Lakes, is one of three units that comprise the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area. It was established by Congress in 1965. These areas are recognized for their unique and varied recreation potential. The Trinity Unit and the Trinity Lake Boating Safety maps are available in our offices at no charge. For information on obtaining the Shasta-Trinity National Forest map as well as many other National Forest maps, please browse to the Maps & Brochures page. Trinity and Lewiston Lakes form the core of the Trinity Unit where water oriented sports such as fishing, water-skiing and houseboating dominate the recreation spotlight. For the adventurous, however, there are many other activities, such as; wildlife viewing, hiking, hunting, automobile touring, photography, and picnicking.

• Baker Gulch Trail
• North Lakeshore Trail
• South Lakeshore Trail
• Trail of the Trees
• Trinity Alps Wilderness
• Trinity Lakeshore Trail
• Yolla Bolla Area

  The South Fork Management Unit (SFMU) is based in Hayfork and contains the Hayfork and Yolla Bolla Ranger Districts. The SFMU encompasses over 590,000 acres. Three major streams from the primary watersheds within this area; the South Fork of the Trinity River, Hayfork Creek and Beegum Creek.

  The SFMU is bounded along its western side by South Fork Mountain, one of the longest continuous ridgelines in North America. At the southern end of the unit are the Yolla Bolla Mountains and one of two wilderness areas with the unit, the Yolla Bolla/ Middle Eel Wilderness. Situated along the eastern side of the SFMU is the Chanchelulla Wilderness. The northern end of the unit is bounded by a series of ridgelines and peaks that include Pattison Peak, Hayfork Bally and Hayfork Divide.

  The large variety in terrain and ecosystems that exist on the SFMU provide for a wide range of recreational opportunities.

  You can rent an historic cabin, camp in a wide variety of campgrounds, both developed and undeveloped, hike into either the Yolla Bolly or Chanchelula Wilderness area, or enjoy a 40+ mile wild and scenic river corridor. With this wide range of recreational opportunities, you should be able to find just the right one for your interests.

  The Chanchelulla Wilderness is the second of the two wilderness areas in the South Fork Management Unit, which provides opportunity for wilderness hiking and camping.

  The South Fork of the Trinity is a rich resource with its serene beauty and its many recreational opportunities.

• South Fork National Recreation Trail
• Yolla-Bolly Middle-Eel Wilderness