Shasta-Trinity National Forest
A cool experience with 6 to 10 mile hikes
Trek into the wilderness and sleep in the backcountry
Pups are welcome at camp and on hiking trails
Trip · 3-day backpacking trip
For · Friends and first-time backpackers
Vibe · Moderate and fun
Distance · 9.7 miles and 2,052 feet of elevation gain
Permits · Pick up a free wilderness permit at Weaverville Ranger Station (360 Main Street), and apply for a CA campfire permit online
Drive · 5 hours from SF
Ideal dates · September-October (to duck the heat and beat the snow)
Pets · Welcome on trails and campgrounds!
Shasta-Trinity National Forest (STNF) is the largest national forest in California! It features 2.2 million acres and over 6,200+ miles of streams and rivers. There are five wilderness areas: Castle Crags, Chanchellulla, Mount Shasta, Trinity Alps, and Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel, and more than 150 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail runs through the forest. This place is a natural wonderland that starts at 1,000 feet of elevation at Shasta Lake and tops out at Mt. Shasta at 14,179 feet. Ready to go galavanting? We are.
Official National Forest Website
Main image credit: Matt Whitman
In 1905, President Teddy Roosevelt designated over 1.2 million acres as the Trinity Forest Reserve, and a few months later created a separate Shasta Forest Reserve. These two areas officially became Shasta–Trinity National Forest in 1954.
Seven Up Peak is 8,100 feet tall and made of crumbling volcanic rock. It's surrounded by iconic Trinity Alps, such as Siligo, Gibson, and TriForest Peaks. From the top, you'll have views of Bear Basin, Granite Creek, and the Four Lakes Loop area.
California has the second largest number of wilderness areas in the country (Alaska has the most)
You won't be saving money, but you'll save space and weight with these camp sandals.
Clothes
Sleepover! This is a tent you can stand up in and have plenty of space for air mattresses, doggos, and more.
Shared Gear
A reliable, popular, and relatively affordable dual-burner camping stove that is fairly heavy, but performs well.
Kitchen
It's pricey, but the New York Times' Wirecutter recommended this attachment as a way for wheelchair users to navigate uneven terrain.
Essential Items
Instead of transporting stuff on your lap, use this storage bag to easily store items underneath your wheelchair.
Essential Items
Never dig around your pack to find some hand sanitizer. Instead, hang this one on the outside of your pack.
Personal Stuff
If you're an experienced backpacker, this is the lightest full-size, full-featured, frameless pack made.
Essential Items
Add a little magic to your experience by hanging these twinkling lights around your tent every night.
Shared Gear
Sometimes you just want a camp chair that gets the job done. Nothing glamorous or fancy. Well, this is it.
Shared Gear
The more you backpack the lighter your shelter becomes, and the lighter it is, the more expensive it can be.
Shared Gear
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.
