1. Bunny Flat Trailhead, Everitt Memorial Highway
The Everitt Memorial Highway is one of the most popular and accessible routes to explore Mount Shasta. This paved highway is a continuation of Lake Street from the City of Mt. Shasta and extends 14 miles up to Mt. Shasta Ski Bowl. This defunct ski resort is now known as Old Ski Bowl and is why a paved road leads so far up the mountain.
Approximately eleven miles up the highway, the Bunny Flat Trailhead is a gathering spot for several mountain activities. It’s also an easy spot to admire Mount Shasta, with a great view of its southern flanks, and starting from the trailhead, the 3.5-mile trek to Horse Camp and back is one of the most popular routes in the area.
The 1.75-mile trek to Horse Camp leads through a red fir and lodgepole pine forest to a historic stone cabin owned by the Sierra Club Foundation. The route is considered moderate, with just under 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Expect to encounter other trail users along the way.
2. Panther Meadows and Gray Butte, Everitt Memorial Highway
Several other recreation opportunities line the Everitt Memorial Highway. And while Bunny Flat Trailhead tends to see the most traffic, it’s not the only spot to enjoy the surreal mountain atmosphere.
A few miles up the road from Bunny Flat, the Panther Meadows area is also popular. It’s the site of Panther Meadows Walk-In Campground, one of Shasta’s most popular designated campgrounds. It’s free to stay the night at this first-come, first-served campground, with a three-day stay limit.
From the campground, Panther Meadows itself is a picturesque place to explore. A one-mile loop navigates these fragile meadows, where users need to stick to the trail when exploring. And for more of an adventure, the meadow trail lends access to the steep route ascending Gray Butte.
