Old Ski Bowl via Snow Bunny Flat Trail

This hike is best in early to mid-summer when the road to Old Ski Bowl is still closed. The closing and opening dates vary based on the arrival of snow in fall and how much snow had fallen in winter. It takes hikers on a mild climb up the slopes of Mount Shasta, guiding them just above the tree line and offering stunning vistas of the Mount Shasta Wilderness and the seemingly never-ending layers of mountain ranges of Klamath Mountains and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

Mount Shasta is formed of four cones, Shastina being the highest one. The volcano is the largest volcano by volume in the Cascade Range. It last erupted at the surface around 3,200 years ago (USGS), while its magmatic system has been avolving for the past 590,000 years.

Start at the Bunny Flat Trailhead and head out on Horse Camp Trail. After 0.2 mile, take a right turn onto Snow Bunny Trail. This trail junction might seem a bit confusing—reference the signs and if you’re not sure which way to go, take the trail that’s immediately on your right that follows the contour line of Mount Shasta.

After 0.25 mile, the trail forks into two; stay on the right to stay on Snow Bunny Trail. There might still be snow patches on the trail even in late summer. You’ll also see the sharp ridges of the flanks of this active stratovolcano. Mount Shasta has been erupting at least once every 800 years for the past 10,000 years, however, the eruption frequency increased with the volcano erupting once every 250 years in the past 750 years (NASA).

After another 1.8 mile, you’ll reach the Old Ski Bowl. You’ll see a big sign with a self-issue permit box (for those who want to venture further up the mountain) and a large gravel lot. In the south, layers upon layers of mountain ranges will be spread before you, seemingly never-ending, sometimes disappearing in haze, sometimes lost in clouds, and sometimes clear as day, standing against the tall sky.

Once you’ve enjoyed the view, head back down the mountain, simply retracing your steps all the way back to the Bunny Flat Trailhead.