Mount Shasta
A 4,322-metre volcano standing alone above northern California, with seven glaciers and a long history of spiritual claims.
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Shasta rises 4,322 metres and, because there is nothing near it of comparable height, it stands about three thousand metres above the surrounding country - which is why it is visible from a very long way and why it dominates so completely. It is an active stratovolcano with seven named glaciers, the largest in California, though most have been retreating; Whitney Glacier is the state's longest. Climbing to the summit is a serious undertaking requiring ice axe and crampons on the standard Avalanche Gulch route, with a permit and a human waste pack-out kit. Lenticular clouds form over the summit regularly. The mountain has attracted spiritual and esoteric claims since the 1880s, including a belief in a hidden city, and the town reflects that.
What you actually see
- A volcano rising three thousand metres above its surroundings - visible for a long way.
- Seven glaciers - the largest in California, and retreating.
- Lenticular clouds - forming over the summit regularly.
- A long esoteric tradition - reflected in the town below.
When to go
June to September for climbing; the mountain is visible year round. A full day, or two for the summit.
Honest expectations
The summit is a genuine mountaineering climb with rockfall and altitude, not a hike - people die on it. Permits and waste kits are required above 3,000 metres. Weather changes fast. Winter road access is limited.
Nearby
Castle Crags is south; Lassen Volcanic is south-east.
What to pack for Mount Shasta
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
