Mount Shasta, CA Will Reopen Above 10,000-Feet on May 16th

Following a three-week closure above 10,000-feet, Forest Service officials have announced Mount Shasta will reopen on May 16th. 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 temporarily closed the area on Mt. Shasta above 10,000-feet in elevation on April 23, 2020, with that order expiring May 16th.

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Although the mountain will reopen, officials are pleading with the public to practice responsible social distancing guidelines. A summit pass ($25), wilderness permit, and human waste pack-out bag are still required to summit the mountain, and rangers will be checking. A spike in coronavirus cases in the area could result in another closure. Springtime is the most popular time to climb Mt. Shasta and during a typical year will attract up to 7,000 climbers.

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 still be limited at this time. 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.

You can view the original order and closure map at www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd728978.pdf.

For more information, please call the Ranger Station at (530) 440-4509 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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.