Good news, Mt. Shasta lovers! Work will soon begin on 45-miles of new hiking trails in the beautiful Mt. Shasta area and we couldn’t be more hyped for it. As one of Northern California’s most iconic landscapes, exploring this region always makes for an exciting adventure. Once these hiking trails are completed, we can expect to take on even MORE fantastic adventures in this beautiful region. Read on to learn all about what this project in the Mt. Shasta area entails and start getting excited for the incredible adventures to come.
Work is expected to begin Spring 2020 on 45-miles of new and expanded hiking trails in the Mt. Shasta area. The entire project will encompass 5,000 acres and will connect with the existing Gateway trail system.
Back in 2013, the Mt. Shasta Trail Association (MSTA) and BikeShasta a announced a campaign called "100 Miles of Trail." This new project which will break ground this spring is part of the campaign, and was brought to life by the MSTA in partnership with the Shasta McCloud Management Unit of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
Made possible by a grant funded by the McConnell Foundation in 2017, construction on this project will take place in a phased approach. Plans for the Gateway Phase 2 Trail Project has been finalized since November 2019 and will allow for the construction of 45-miles of trails, four new day-use trailheads, and an expanded McBride Springs Campground.
The trail expansion will be designed with all sorts of users in mind. This includes hiking, mountain biking, trail running, and horseback riding. Additionally, the trail expansion will include three "zones", the first of which—the Community Zone—will be close town, easily accessible, and designed to quickly get in and out of the forest.
The second zone is called the Learning Zone, and its trailhead will be located at the Nordic Center. This zone will be focused on providing trails that are ideal for beginner hikers but still boast spectacular views from beginning to end.
The third zone, called the Big Mountain Zone, will be especially ideal for mountain bikers. The plan is to create a drop-in point at the Vista Point trailhead where bikers can choose which route they'd like to follow based on their desired difficulty level, ranging from intermediate to advanced mountain biking.
With the start of this project just weeks away, we couldn't be more excited for the new adventures that will come with this awesome trail expansion. Exploring the Mt. Shasta area is always a good time, and it looks like even more exciting adventures are on the way!
