Epic Adventures
Visiting Mount Shasta
Mt. Shasta is a popular destination for a wide spectrum of visitors. Some come for the challenge of climbing to the mountain’s summit, some are spiritual seekers drawn to the mountain, and some come for the floral displays of meadows or sweeping panoramas of vista points. This web site will provide the potential visitor with basic information about recreational opportunities, facilities, areas of interest, and other things to know before planning their visit.
More information on the Mount Shasta area can be found here.
The primary access road for Mt. Shasta is the Everitt Memorial Highway, a continuation of Lake Street in the town of Mt. Shasta. Lake Street is also the central exit for Mt. Shasta City (Exit 738). From Interstate 5, take Lake Street east (toward the mountain). You will drive through the business district of Mt. Shasta City before the road climbs a hill and changes names to Everitt Memorial Highway, also signed as county road A-10. The Everitt Memorial Highway ascends the south side of the mountain, starting at 3500 feet in town and terminating at timberline near 8,000 feet.
Mt. Shasta is administered by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest headquartered in the city of Redding, California. There is no visitor center on the mountain itself. The local Ranger Station and visitor information is located in the town of Mt. Shasta at 204 West Alma Street. There is no entry station or entry fee, and there are no parking fees or passes at his time.
Facilities
- Facilities on the mountain are limited.
- There is no piped water available, so be sure to bring some with you.
- Toilets and information boards are located at:
- Bunny Flat
- McBride Springs campground
- Panther Meadows campground
- All other services are found in the town of Mt. Shasta.
Standard Mt. Shasta Summit Pass
- $25 per person above 10,000 feet on Mt. Shasta.
- Valid up to 3 days from the date of purchase.
- A Shasta-Trinity Annual Pass can be substituted for this standard pass (below).
- People under 16 years of age are not required to purchase a Summit Pass.
Mt. Shasta Annual Pass
- $30 per year, is valid for the calendar year (to December 31).
- For visitors who anticipate frequent visits, or plan on staying for several days.
- This pass provides an affordable and convenient alternative to purchasing multiple summit passes.
Horse Camp
- $5 per tent, per night.
- Donations help Foundation staff to continue a more than 80 year-old tradition of stewardship and service on Mt. Shasta.
- The Sierra Club Foundation's facilities are open to the public and include:
- Campsites
- Seasonal fresh water
- Emergency shelter
- Leave No Trace information
- Composting toilet
There are three Forest Service campgrounds on Mt. Shasta. Due to the limited number of sites, camping opportunities are in high demand in these developed sites. More information can be found here.
All campsites are:
- first come, first serve no reservations available
- may have availability on weekdays. The best time to look for open sites is midday Monday through Thursday.
- generally filled on weekends
McBride Springs:
Approximately 4 miles from Mt. Shasta City is McBride Springs Campground. The elevation here is almost 5000 feet. This campground is popular because of its convenient location to city services while still being on the mountain. There are 12 sites with tables and fire rings, a vault toilet, and a hand operated pump for drinking water located above the campground via a short trail. The fee is $10.00 per night with a maximum stay limit of 7 days. Please self-register at the campground information board. A campfire permit is not required.
Special note about McBride Springs:
In 2009, an infestation of Annosus root disease attacked the fir trees in the McBride area, including many firs in the campground. This posed a serious threat to visitors from weakened trees and limbs falling. The campground was closed for two seasons in order to remove these trees and prevent spread of the disease. It reopened in 2011 but has not completely recovered from the work that was done.
Red Fir Flat Group Site:
Approximately 9 miles up the mountain is Red Fir Flat where the forest is dominated by old growth Shasta Red Fir trees. On the west (left) side of the highway is a camping area that is designated for group use by reservation only. If you have a group size between 9 and 35 people, you may reserve this site by going to recreation.gov. The fee is $12.00 per night with a maximum stay limit of 7 days. There is a vault toilet, a few tables and fire rings, bear proof trash cans, but no water available. You will need to obtain a California campfire permit when using this site. Reserving this site does not prohibit other visitors day use access.
Panther Meadows Campground:
Approximately 14 miles from Mt. Shasta City is the campground for Panther Meadows. The elevation here is 75oo feet, so the nights can be cold even during the summer. This is by far the most popular campground on the mountain, even though it is a walk-in campground. From the parking lot it is a short distance (100 to 500 feet) to the individual sites. There are 12 sites with tables and fire rings, a vault toilet, but no potable water. A campfire permit is not required. There is currently no fee to camp here, but visitors must register at the campground information board. Because these sites are in such high demand, there is a maximum stay limit of 3 nights to insure adequate opportunity for other visitors to enjoy this campground.
What is dispersed camping?
Some people call this “dry camping” and the RV folks commonly refer to it as “boon docking.” The Forest Service identifies it as dispersed camping, the idea being that campers are dispersed across the forest instead of being more concentrated in a regular campground.
Unlike a regular campground that offers common amenities, such as tables, fire rings, water and toilets, dispersed camping means that you are out on the forest, totally on your own, with no facilities whatsoever. That means you will need to prepare in advance as to how you will deal with your garbage, bring all of your own drinking water, a portable toilet or other means of dealing with sanitation issues, cook stove (generally no fires) food storage, portable table and/or chairs, and whatever else you may need. Although there is no fee to disperse camp, there are a number of restrictions to be aware of.
Remember, most dispersed sites will be affected by campfire restrictions starting sometime in July, possibly sooner. 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. Campfire permits are free of charge and available at any Ranger Station, or go to http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Permits/ to obtain one online.
Stay limits and Camping Restricted areas
Dispersed camping is restricted in the Mt. Shasta Planations, Panther Meadows, and has stay limits in other areas. Visit Alerts for current restrictions.
Popular Dispersed Sites
Mt. Shasta
The two most popular sites are Sand Flat and Bunny Flat. Bunny Flat has a toilet but no water. There are several user-created sites located on the south side of the highway.
Sand Flat is located approximately a mile below Bunny Flat. Take either of two dirt access roads about a mile into the remote flat. This is a good location to get away from the traffic along the highway, but it is also very dusty during the dry season. Please drive slowly to help minimize dust affecting other visitors. This area is also good for larger groups, although you will need to provide your own sanitation (rented toilets are a good idea) and provide garbage containers.
Castle Lake
The National Forest boundary begins two miles uphill from the turnoff to the lake just past the dam at Lake Siskiyou. There are a few dirt roads off the main paved road that are suitable for camping. One of the best areas is the site of the old Nordic Center about one mile below Castle Lake. This location has an excellent view of Mt. Shasta. The old parking landings make level sites for small RV’s. Better tent sites are found back near the trees where there is more shade and privacy.
South Fork Road (26)
There are numerous dispersed sites starting about two miles west of Lake Siskiyou at the National Forest boundary. Most of these sites are located off short spur roads on the right side of the road along this section. About three miles from the Forest boundary is the first of two bridges you will cross. After the first bridge the road narrows and the canyon is steep for about 3 miles to the second bridge. Between the second bridge and Gumboot Lake is another 3 mile section with more sites located off spur roads on both sides of the road. There are also sites around Gumboot Lake as well.
Whalan Road (25)
There are a few sites on National Forest land as you travel west from I-5. Between the Castle Crags State Park boundary (2.6 miles from I-5) and the bridge at North Branch (3.6 miles from I-5) there are several creekside sites all located on the left side of the road. There is no dispersed vehicle camping allowed on the right side of the road because it is designated wilderness.
Best Practices
Leave No Trace
Please use your own portable toilet system or bury your human waste 6 inches deep. Pack out all your garbage, including all food scraps.
Camp fires
Campfire and charcoal barbeque use may be restricted to designated fire safe sites and only with a valid California Campfire Permit.
Terms of the permit include clearing away all flammable material in a ten foot radius, having a shovel on site, at least 5 gallons of water to extinguish your fire using the drown-stir-feel method, and never leaving your fire unattended. Even if you are not having a fire, you will still need a campfire permit to operate a gas stove or gas barbeque outside of the developed Forest Service campgrounds at McBride Springs and Panther Meadows.
Are dogs welcome?
Over the past few years there has been a steady increase in the number of dogs visiting the meadows, with notable impacts on vegetation and wildlife. Dogs also affect the experience of other visitors. Currently, dogs are still allowed on the trails, but they must be leashed and under strict control. Even leashed dogs will stray off the edges of trails, thereby widening them and affecting adjacent vegetation.
If you absolutely must bring your dog into the meadows, please control their impact. In the campground, the increase in the number of dogs over the past few years has resulted in problems concerning noise, sanitation, aggressive dogs, and unattended dogs. If you are visiting Mt. Shasta with your four-legged friends, there are other options that are more appropriate than the area of concentrated use at Panther. Day hikers who are hiking with their dog to Gray Butte may continue to do so, but they must be leashed and on the trail while crossing Lower Panther Meadow via the Gray Butte trail.
Panther Meadows
The road to Panther Meadows and the Old Ski Bowl is open each year from July 1st through October 31st. The remainder of the year it is closed at Bunny Flat to motor vehicles but visitors on foot are welcome.
For a closer look at Panther Meadows, please access the slideshow below.
Old Ski Bowl
The Old Ski Bowl trailhead is the highest point you can drive on Mt. Shasta, terminating at timberline near 8,000 feet. The panoramic view includes Mount Eddy to the west, Lake Siskiyou and the Forks of the Sacramento River to the southwest, Castle Crags to the south, with the Trinity Alps on the distant horizon.
There are two parking areas for the Ski Bowl. The first one is the Lower Lot, which is on the right (west) side of the highway, and the Upper Lot which is a little higher and at the very end of the road. Parking restrictions are different for the two lots.
The Lower Lot is used primarily by people who are visiting Upper Panther Meadow where the source spring is located. Simply park and walk to the east end of the lot where you will see the access trail and information board. It is an easy half mile walk to the spring. The Lower Lot is also used by people who are backpacking into the Mt. Shasta Wilderness. They can leave their vehicle parked for up to 7 nights, which is the maximum stay in the wilderness. Backpackers are required to park in the Lower Lot to help ensure that there will be adequate parking at the Upper Lot for day visitors.
Parking is a bit limited at the Upper Lot and large vehicles may have a difficult time getting turned around. Although overnight parking is not allowed, people who want to enjoy the night views are welcome till midnight; hours of restriction are midnight to 6 am.
There are no parking fees at any of the trailheads on Mt. Shasta, including the Old Ski Bowl. There are no facilities at the Old Ski Bowl other than a few picnic tables. The nearest toilets are located at Bunny Flat, two miles down the road. Large events and lots of vehicles create congestion and traffic hazards. The parking lots will quickly fill up and overflow onto road shoulders and turnouts. There will be more foot traffic on the roadway; please use extra caution!
South Gate Meadows
These are a series of three meadows located about two miles east of the Old Ski Bowl. For directions on how to get there, please refer to the hiking section above. Similar to Panther Meadows, these meadows are comprised of Mountain Heather and Alpine Laurel, and therefore are just as susceptible to impact from people walking off trail. Also, when choosing a place to sit, please use rocks or open areas outside of the meadows. With the extra pressure of high visitation to Panther Meadows, it is anticipated that South Gate will receive a lot more use this year. Visitors need to remember that this is a wilderness area with special rules and regulations, as outlined in the hiking section. Please set up all overnight camps as far from the meadow, springs, and streams as possible, even farther than the 100 feet allowed. This will not only help protect the water quality and meadows, but will reduce the visual impact for other visitors in this high use area. Remember, unlike many other wilderness areas, fires and dogs are not allowed anywhere within the Mt. Shasta Wilderness, including South Gate Meadows.
Ascension Rock
In the Red Fir Flat Group Camp there is a rock formation that is locally known as “Ascension Rock”. There have been an increasing number of people asking about this site and access to it since it is inside the group camp. This rock formation is actually not the real Ascension Rock. The "real" Ascension Rock is the high point on the ridge just south of the day use parking area just inside the entrance to Red Fir Flat. However, people who have reserved Red Fir Flat for camping cannot obstruct visitors from using the area during daytime hours, including the "Ascension Rock" in the campground. Since Red Fir Flat is commonly used as a spiritual retreat, please show respect for all parties concerned and avoid excessive noise and large groups.
This year there will be a lot of people participating in workshops and retreats, both in the town of Mt. Shasta and on the Mountain itself. Here are some important things to be aware of:
Private gatherings are allowed, such as friends in meditation groups or ceremonial circles, etc. As long as there are less than 75 participants, you do not need to have a Special Use Permit. These gatherings must be of a non-commercial nature and not tied to, or an active part of, any commercial workshop or enterprise occurring elsewhere, such as in one of the surrounding communities. Where things get complicated is when the gathering is of a non-commercial nature (i.e. money is not exchanged) but a service is being provided by say, a group leader who was brought in specifically for the event. When a service is being provided, there is a question of liability, and that is the primary protection that a Special Use Permit offers participants. Another area of question concerns events that are advertised in the media, on the internet, or posted. These may appear commercial in nature and could be investigated. If you are a participant in a Mt. Shasta event taking place on the mountain or elsewhere on National Forest land, you should ask questions of the promoter to insure your safety and legality.
If your group size is MORE than 75 people....
As with all group events taking place on National Forest lands, you will need to obtain a Special Use Permit in advance if your group size is more than 75 people. The reason a permit is needed is to ensure responsibility in providing for the needs of your group, such as providing adequate shade, water, sanitation (portable restrooms), and removal of all refuse and equipment after the event. There may be additional requirements specified in the permit. There is no fee for the permit, but due to the processing time involved, please make your request as far in advance as possible.
If your group size is LESS than 75 people....
you do not need a permit, but you should still consider the needs of your guests.
Wedding locations on the mountain are a bit limited...
There are no permanent facilities except the toilets at the campgrounds and Bunny Flat. There is no piped water; you must bring your own. Sites cannot be specifically reserved; all areas on the mountain are open to the public. Due to the rules and regulations at Panther Meadows (especially group size limitations) the meadow area and campground is not a viable location. The open area at the top of the Everitt Memorial Highway, where the old ski lodge was located, has lots of room, open vistas, and easy access; however this area is heavily used by other visitors. Privacy and parking may be a concern. Nearest toilet facilities are at Bunny Flat.
Bunny Flat has the convenience of toilet facilities and plenty of parking, and has a nice view of the upper mountain, but is also heavily used by hikers and climbers since it is the primary trailhead on Mt. Shasta.
Red Fir Flat Group Camp is another option for smaller wedding parties. There is a toilet available but parking may be limited. It is a nice forest setting but has no view of the mountain. Although a permit is not necessary to use this site during the day, overnight use or camping does require a permit. Please check with the Ranger Station for availability, as other groups may already have this site reserved.
Another good option for wedding groups, especially larger groups, is Sand Flat. This area is located one mile off the Everitt Highway, has beautiful views of the mountain, shaded by Shasta Red Firs, is more secluded than the areas mentioned above, and therefore has a more natural feel to it. Drawbacks include access via dirt roads that are a bit rough for some vehicles and the sandy ash soils in Sand Flat, as elsewhere on the mountain, can be dusty when winds are blowing or other vehicle traffic is in the area.
Time of year is also a factor for weddings on Mt. Shasta...
On wet years, the upper part of the mountain, including Sand Flat and the Old Ski Bowl, can be under snow until July or even August. On dry years these areas may be fine as early as mid-June. It is also not unusual to get our first significant snows by the beginning of October. As a general rule, late July through early August is usually the best time, although afternoon thunderstorms can occur.