Climbing
In alignment with current federal, state, and local guidance for social distancing and to ensure the health and safety of climbers and employees, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest will temporarily close the area on Mt. Shasta above 10,000-feet in elevation, effective April 23, 2020.
Springtime is the most popular time to climb Mt. Shasta and during a typical year will attract up to 7,000 climbers. This creates a congestion issue at the Bunny Flat trailhead where hundreds of climbers park and embark from this one small area. Another concern is high-density camping at the small base camp known as Helen Lake, where climbers typically spend the night before attempting the summit.
Climbing also involves inherent risks, especially on the exposed upper slopes and ridges of the mountain, and each year, a number of climbers end up injured, lost or sick. Law enforcement and/or search and rescue operations may be limited at this time. Due to these public health and safety concerns, a Forest Order prohibiting entry or use of the upper mountain is deemed necessary.
High-risk activities such as rock climbing or backcountry activities that increase your chance of injury or distress should be avoided in all areas of the forest at this time.
This closure order will be in effect through April 30, 2020, and may be extended. You can view the order and closure map at www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd728978.pdf.
For more information, please call the Mt. Shasta Ranger Station at (530) 440-4509 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Mount Shasta Avalanche Center also announced yesterday that they are now closed for the season and have issued their final report.
The Mount Shasta Avalanche Center has closed the doors on the 2019-2020 winter season. We will resume issuing daily avalanche forecasts in the fall of 2020. For an overview of the most common springtime avalanche concerns, read the full spring avalanche statement below.
California is under a state stay-at-home order and the Mount Shasta Wilderness area is CLOSED above 10,000 feet until further notice. Climbers, please plan your trip for a later time. Thank you.
Mount Shasta is a potentially active volcano at the southern end of the Cascade Range in Siskiyou County, California. At an elevation of 14,179 feet, it is the second-highest peak in the Cascades and the fifth-highest in the state. Mount Shasta has an estimated volume of 85 cubic miles, which makes it the most voluminous stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc. The mountain and surrounding area are part of the Shasta–Trinity National Forest.
