Can you die without walking? Journey to American National Parks (14) Touring Mount Shasta, a sacred mountain known only to those in the know
Written by Sayaka Kato
Shasta is a sacred mountain in Northern California, near Oregon. Sedona is the famous thing that comes to mind when you think of the term "power spot in America," and Shasta is one of them. In fact, Shasta, which is not so popular with foreign tourists, is quiet and has few people, surrounded by beautiful water, forests and rocks, making it a special area rare in America.
When you actually step into this land, you can have an opportunity to look back at yourself, remember things you almost forgot about, and naturally you can find a balance that has been uneven inside you. There is something here that you can feel with your five senses, and I'm sure there are many people who have felt it among the visitors. It's the perfect place to spend some time relaxing and lay yourself in the clear air and sky, beautiful water and the majestic earth, and feel the energy there soaking into your body.
Shasta has many names, but it has been famous for its mountains, which have long been used as sacred sites by the indigenous peoples. A sacred mountain that has long been worshiped by people. Near the summit there are still many sanctuaries, which will bring visitors to a silence and solemn feeling. This area has beautiful water. The famous Crystal Geiser is produced using melted snow water from here.
Shasta is often called a city of water, a power spot, a sacred mountain, a swirl of vortexes, one of the seven great mountains, and a city with many hippies, but when you actually go there you will understand. Mount Shasta's dignified appearance gives you a sense of both strength and kindness despite her beauty. And around it is a river, lake, waterfall where crystal clear snow melting water flows out, and a wealth of forests. The Mount Shasta area offers a balanced view of the beauty of nature. It seems Shasta is protecting us and enveloping us. With such a great outdoors spread out, you can enjoy many outdoor activities. Hiking, water activities, buffets, horse riding, camping and all sorts of fun await you here.
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Recommended trails near Shasta, Black Butte
Mount Shasta is 4,321m above sea level. In addition to the main peak, on the west side is the Shastina side volcano at an altitude of 3,758m, and the twin peaks of the mountains. There are two summits, and the mountain looks like a couple standing there together. This time, we will introduce a hiking route on a rocky mountain called "Black Butte," also known as Baby Shasta, located in the sacred mountain area of Mount Shasta, Northern California, which is relatively easy to enjoy.
Black Butte (Baby Shasta) hiking data
- For intermediate students
- Recommended Hiking Seasons May to November
- Trailhead elevation: Approx. 1321m
- Black Butte Elevation: Approx. 1927m
- Round trip: Approx. 9.8km (6.1 miles)
- Height difference: Approx. 606m (1,991 ft)
- Course time: 3 to 5 hours round trip (including summit break)
Good things to carry on hiking
- Drinks (About 2 liters in the summer)
- Cold weather wear that can adjust the temperature, especially on the summit, it can be cold on cold days when there is wind. Be sure to prepare fleece or something similar.
- Trekking shoes (This trail has many rocky areas, so we recommend trekking shoes.)
- hat
- sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Snacks and more for eating while hiking
- If you have a regular medicine, first aid such as medicine or band-aid
- Rain gear (It will not rain mostly in April-September in California, but if you think it's necessary)
- Other normal hiking equipment
How to get to Mount Shasta (by car)
- It takes about 5 hours to drive north on I-5 from San Francisco. Approximately 245 miles (392km) in a straight line
- It's 3 hours from Sacramento. Also drive north on I-5
- Airports near Shasta are about 1 to 1.5 hours (on I-5) by car from Reading or Medford Airport.
A pyramid-shaped rock mountain called Baby Shasta is located just before Shasta, and is like a mini version of Shasta, so it is also called Baby Shasta (left photo below). From the middle of this trail you will have to walk along a rocky trail. It is also famous for its trails that always offer spectacular views and make Shasta beautiful.
Hiking Guide
Black Butte Trailhead
Address: Forest Rte 41N18, Mt Shasta, CA 96067
By the time you reach the trailhead here you will eventually have to drive on dirt off-road. Before you reach the trailhead, there is a separate path between thin off-road and thick off-road, and you can go either way, but use the main thick off-road (thick road). If you choose a narrow road with GPS, it may take a slightly detour, but we recommend using a thick road.
If you enter a narrow road, branches that extend from the trees along the road may protrude into the road, which could damage your car. The same goes for the return trip. The parking lot is just in front of the trailhead and has space for 5-6 cars to park (no bathrooms or other items). The photo was in the beginning of July and was 10am, but there were only about two cars and there were plenty of parking spaces.
There is a warning on the trailhead message board, and there are dangerous areas around 1.5 miles from the trailhead, so be careful! The explanation is provided along with a photograph. I didn't notice it when I was actually walking, but the Black Butte trails themselves are old and are not constantly being maintained in recent years, so be careful. There are some places that are about to collapse and some dangerous places, so be careful when walking.
So let's go on a hike. First, we walk through the forest with lush trees.
It's a little steep, but as you proceed, you'll soon find yourself in a rocky area like this.
From there, the view that spreads to the right is majestic and already filled with satisfaction.
This is a sight that makes you wonder how many kilometers you can see. The land extends from anywhere. And from here, Mount Shasta is already beautiful. After walking from the trailhead, I got such a spectacular view. I've come to Shasta! That's how it feels.
You will then slowly increase your altitude as you follow the zigzag path. The forest was at the beginning, and from halfway through it becomes a rocky view and a trail.
There is a rocky mountain right in front of me. The rocks are about to fall any longer. . lol
The trails are easy to understand so you won't get lost, but as you can see, the scaffolding is rocky and can be found on places like cliffs, so take your time in solid mountain hiking boots. The downhill trips can be particularly prone to knee injuries.
In July, I walked around the route and found an Indian paint brush.
Alpine plants such as fireweed. It colors the trail in a colorful way.
The spectacular view continues from here! There are no particularly difficult areas except for the rocky trails that are difficult to walk in. You can arrive at the summit smoothly for about two hours from the trailhead.
A spectacular view that stretches out to 360 degrees. There was a Mount Shasta right in front of me.
We had lunch and had a break time here.
The summit previously contained a Fire Lookout tower, and was also a place where you can check if a fire had started from here, as it has a 360-degree view. People were climbing here and checking the safety of the Shasta area from here. . The stone enclosure made at that time is still there.
After a break, we descend the path we came.
We arrived at the trailhead in an hour on the way back.
The trail Black Butte stands in front of Mount Shasta. There were also several families with children on the trail. With healthy legs, I think this course can be enjoyed by children in elementary school and older people.
Notes regarding the spread of COVID-19
As of November 2020, various countries are likely to experience a variety of situations, including entry restrictions due to the strengthening of quarantine systems, restrictions on admission to national parks, and restrictions on travel within the country. These conditions may change without notice, so when traveling, be sure to obtain local information such as embassies and consulates of each country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' overseas safety website (infectious disease risk information) and national park websites, and check the information about the transfer location, the countries where you plan to travel, and the area around the destinations you plan to visit before making any effort to plan and take reasonable steps.
Kato Sayaka
Leave your hiking and travel plans to Mount Shasta. Due to my father's influence, I have always loved outdoor activities, and since I was in Japan, I was captivated by the great nature of America and Canada, and as a result, I arrived at the United States, which I had longed for. We currently run ANAMI TOURS, which offers local optional tours that can be created with customers, including completely private hiking tours with Japanese guides. We will introduce you to some special options that you can find out because you are a local resident. If you are interested, please visit the website below.
