Northern California

Spectacular granite peaks known as the Castle Crags tower over Castle Crags State Park in Northern California. This dramatic enclave of peaks is largely inaccessible to hikers, but you'll get a great taste of the Castle Crags on Crags Trail, which climbs to the foot of Castle Dome, a 4,996-foot granite dome that looks plucked from the Sierra. Although Crags Trail stops below the summit of Castle Dome, it gains 2,150 feet of elevation on a sincere ascent through a jungle of granite crags. ...Read more.

Root Creek Trail presents an easy 2.2-mile round trip hike, starting in Castle Crags State Park. Most of the trail is wheelchair-friendly, until it passes into Castle Crags Wilderness in Shasta-Trinity National Forest where the trail gets just a bit less maintained on the final push to Root Creek. When you reach the creek, you can relax and watch tumbling water cascade past mossy boulders and trees. ...Read more.

A popular destination for visitors to Castle Crags State Park is the scenic overlook at the end of Vista Point Trail. This easy half-mile round trip hike leads to a triptych of views. On your left, you'll spot the Gray Rocks rising above evergreen ridges. On your right, there is a clear view of Mount Shasta. In the center, rise the Castle Crags, a fortress of daunting granite peaks. ...Read more.

Castle Crags State Park covers nearly 4,000 acres of evergreen forests and rugged granite peaks. The park borders Castle Crags Wilderness, an area of Shasta-Trinity National Forest, which further expands the area that visitors can explore. When one day simply isn't enough, there is camping available at Castle Crags State Park. The park has year-round camping, with 76 developed campsites that may be reserved in advance during summer months. ...Read more.

The Mount Shasta Area is full of daunting mountain peaks (not the least of which is Mount Shasta) but that doesn't mean you can't find a shorter summit hike with rewarding views. Spring Hill Trail is located conveniently close to Mount Shasta City and while this hike is just 2.9 miles round trip with 625 feet of elevation gain, you'll get an eyeful off the beautiful surroundings, including nice views of nearby Black Butte and Mount Shasta. ...Read more.

For a short, pleasant stroll, what could be better than a level, lakefront loop through evergreens? Set out for Lake Siskiyou, a reservoir southeast of Mount Shasta. From the edge of the lake's calm blue waters are clear views of massive Mount Shasta and the surrounding mountains. If you're feeling ambitious, you can hike all of Lake Siskiyou Trail on an over 7-mile loop around the lake. ...Read more.

Want to visit historic ruins and a waterfall you'll be wild about, all on a hike that's under 1.5 miles round trip? Set out for Ney Springs Creek near Mount Shasta City, where you can hike 0.7-miles (one way) up an evergreen canyon to Faery Falls, which plunges about 50 feet. Along the way to this beautiful attraction, you'll pass what remains of Ney Springs Resort, a former destination for its silica springs that has since been overtaken by nature. ...Read more.

Normally when you hike a trail, you don't spend your time speculating what motivated the trail builders to put the path where the did. Perhaps the CCC was eager for work when it designed Woodland Trail in Richardson Grove State Park. The east side of this 1.25-mile lollipop loop is sensible, passing through pockets of redwoods at the base of a hill. ...Read more.

Richardson Grove Redwoods State Park protects approximately 2,000 acres of woodlands in Humboldt County on the North Coast of California. Outside the main redwood grove near the park visitor center, the park is less impressive than its sister parks to the north. Instead of a rainforest of redwoods and ferns, most of Richardson Grove Redwoods State Park consists of oak-dominated forest with coast redwoods scattered throughout. ...Read more.

Avenue of the Giants runs for 32 miles down Humboldt Redwoods State Park, providing a scenic passage through an enchanting wilderness. About halfway through this autotour, the road passes the park visitor center, which sits directly across from a grove of old growth redwoods. Gould Grove Loop Trail is half a mile long with just 50 feet of elevation change. ...Read more.