5. Spring Hill Trail
Spring Hill Trail is a family-friendly hike across Mt. Shasta Boulevard from Mt. Shasta City Park. Spring Hill, also known as Sisson Cone, is the prominent feature, jutting 600 feet into the sky behind the park.
It’s just over a three-mile round trip to reach the summit of Spring Hill and back. The route switchbacks plenty, offering a minimal grade to climb the 600-plus feet to the top. And this moderate uphill travel is well worth the effort with great views of the city, the mountain, and Trinity Alps upon reaching the summit.
After the hike, the nearby Mt. Shasta City Park is an excellent place to visit for a packed lunch or hangout. Alongside plenty of open green space, the park is home to Big Springs, also known as the Headwaters of the Sacramento River. This water source is where Spring Hill gets its name.
6. Elsa Rupp Trail
The Elsa Rupp Trail is a lovely extension to the Mount Shasta Hatchery and Mount Shasta Sisson Museum. These historic city facilities are on the opposite side of Interstate 5 from downtown, and they offer a quiet and peaceful place to get away on busy summer days.
The trail begins at the parking area for the hatchery and museum, denoted by a sign describing who Elsa Rupp was and why she donated the land. The route quickly crosses Old Stage Road and enters the Elsa Rupp Nature Study Area. Here, several looped hiking trails invite exploration.
The Nature Study Area has approximately a mile of interwoven hiking trails. Many of the routes cross tributaries of Big Creek, offering the sound of babbling water along the way. It’s not a big enough area to truly get lost within, but the trails crisscross enough that it’s easy to feel a bit turned around. And many people come to Elsa Rupp for this feeling of losing themselves.
