Cougar To Mount Shasta Trail

Cougar To Mount Shasta Trail

Cougar To Mount Shasta Trail – Mount Shasta Wilderness

Location: Weed, California
Length: 43.8 km
Difficulty: Intermediate
Features: Ohv / off road driving, wildflower, rocky terrain, skiing, snow-capped mountain, 

About the Cougar To Mount Shasta Trail

Cougar to Mount Shasta is an intermediate level trail that’s best for access in the months May until October. Part of it is paved and the rest are logging roads. It can be finished for about 90 minutes to 3 hours on average depending on how you want to go through it. Some visitors have reached it by car for most of the trail, then walking through the remaining path. You will pass by a few river crossings. Logging trucks often pass by on the way to the secluded part of the mountain and surrounding areas. They drive fast so you need to look out for them.

Trails In The Mount Shasta Wilderness

Mt. Shasta wilderness is part of the National  Wilderness Preservation System. The magnificent ice-capped Mt. Shasta is the focal point of Shasta wilderness. It’s known as one of the country’s greatest summits and 2nd highest peak in the Cascade Range. The wilderness offers easy to intermediate level trail treks and the more technical ones going up the mountain peak. It also features a waterfall. 

Day trips on these trails below are allowed from June until late October. They’re closed in winter due to excessive snow. If you are up for easy hikes that’ll will take you less than an hour on average, you can take John Everitt Vista Point and Panther Meadow Loop. For more challenge and hike, go through Old Ski Bowl Trail, McCloud River – Lower and Middle and Upper Falls. If those trails haven’t stretched your muscled enough, go for Bunny Flat Trail, Sand Flat Trail, Grey Butte Trail, Squaw Meadows Trail. Each is at least more than 3 miles long with uphills and climbs and definitely great views!

Top 3 Adventure Hacks

1) Check avalanche and climbing conditions

Shasta and McCloud Ranger Stations will readily provide these information to make sure you have a safe adventure. Non-technical and non-experience climbers should especially seek and monitor the conditions.

2) Wilderness permit

If you live nearby and plan to visit this wilderness often, be sure to get a permit from either Mt.  Shasta or McCloud Ranger Stations or any open trail head. It’s free of charge and will allow you to visit all year round. It’s an important source of information in cases of rescue operations in the wilderness.

3) Summit pass

If you are planning to climb above  10,000 feet towards Mt. Shasta peak, this pass is required for people above the age of 18 and can be bought from the locations mentioned above and  through participating vendors. You can choose from the $25 summit pass that will be valid for 3 days from purchase date or the $30 yearly pass