Driving on the I-5 between Mt. Shasta and Weed, you can miss the overlapping giant volcanic lava domes called Black Butte. The mountain often takes second billing in the area thanks to the titanic Mt. Shasta, but Black Butte is worth a visit in its own right. If you’re up for it, it’s a 2.5 mile hike with an elevation gain of 1,800 ft. to its summit, where you’ll be awarded spectacular views of Mt. Shasta, the Sacramento River Canyon, Mt. Eddy and the Klamath Mountains. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the trail in the 1930s, and it’s a moderate climb and easy to follow from May through mid-November. It may become a bit dicey when snow starts to fall, so take precautions in the winter months.
WHERE: North end of Strawberry Valley near the Central Mount Shasta exit of I-5. (google map)
MORE INFO: Mount Shasta Ranger Station, 530-926-4511 | SummitPost.org