Mt. Shasta Wilderness
Even first-time visitors to the area have no trouble identifying Mount Shasta. Dominating the landscape for several hundred miles in all directions, the mountain looms 14,179 feet, a beautiful snow-cloaked massif, second only to Mount Rainier in height among the famous Cascade Range volcanoes. Although the last documented eruption occurred in 1786, geologists classify Shasta as an active volcano. Most of the Wilderness lies on the upper slopes of the mountain. Below the seven glaciers that drape the mountain's slopes, you'll find a land of scenic wonder: ancient lava flows, a hot sulphur spring, waterfalls tumbling down deep canyons cut through rugged buttes.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 36,981 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 41.42° N, 122.21° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 22) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 4 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
10 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 17 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| North Gate | 3.4 | |
| Bolam | 2.3 | |
| Clear Creek | 2.2 | |
| Red Fir Ridge | 2 | |
| Inconstance | 1.9 | |
| Brewer Creek | 1.3 | |
| Coquette | 1.2 | |
| Sand Flat | 1.1 | |
| Black Lava | 0.8 | |
| Whitney Falls | 0.4 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 3.1 mi
- 5.7 miEdgewood Store ↗Edgewood, CA
- 10.8 miDunsmuir Historic Commercial District ↗Dunsmuir, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Mt. Shasta Wilderness?
36,981 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mt. Shasta Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mt. Shasta Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mt. Shasta Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Mt. Shasta Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Mt. Shasta Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 41.420° N, 122.207° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Mt. Shasta Wilderness?
The National Register has 3 listings within 15 miles, including Shasta Inn and Weed Lumber Company Boarding House and Edgewood Store.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.