The Box Canyon Trail starts at the north side of Box Canyon Dam at Lake Siskiyou on the outskirts of the town of Mount Shasta. It’s a great hike any time of year, including in winter as long as there is no snow. The hike is a mostly level one mile to a lookout point over the upper Sacramento River. Watch small children closely, as there are a few places with steep drop-offs. And it’s a dog-friendly trail!
Siskiyou County Flood Control & Water Conservation District has jurisdiction over the trail.
Hiking the Box Canyon Trail
My sweetie Stephanie and I and our ever-older-and-slower-but-still-loves-to-hike golden retriever Molly played hooky yesterday and took a hike on the Box Canyon Trail.
The path leaves from Box Canyon Dam, which forms Lake Siskiyou (the favorite place to take a summer dip for Mount Shasta residents and visitors). We had it all to ourselves as we walked the undulating mile past seeps and springs to the trail’s end. Several spots give excellent views of the steep walls of the Upper Sacramento River canyon. We also caught the first phase of autumn color on the bigleaf maples and dogwood, both common residents along the Box Canyon Trail.
Directions to the Box Canyon Trail Parking Area
Take the Central Mount Shasta exit off I-5 (Exit 738). Go west 0.2 mile and then turn left on South Old Stage Road. Go straight onto W.A. Barr Road at 0.5 mile and then park on the right side of the road on the north side of Box Canyon Dam at 2.5 miles, just beyond a large parking lot for Lake Siskiyou access.
Nearby: Lake Siskiyou Trail
The Lake Siskiyou Trail, which basically encircles the lake, is on the other side of the road from the trailhead.
Note: The Box Canyon Trail gets a fuller treatment in Hike 38 of my book Day Hiking: Mount Shasta, Lassen & Trinity Alps.
Your Take
Have you done the hike? What did you think?
It’s a nice walk, just stay away from the river at that location as there are absolutely no fish on that stretch of the river, so bringing along, say, I dunno, a fly rod, would be a total waste of effort.
Just saying is all.
Yes, I concur completely. The trail allows a couple of views down on the river, and I can say that I saw absolutely no fish, at least not any that were visible from 200 feet away.
The trail always stays way above the river, and it would be a major scramble to get down there – for very good hikers only who are in excellent shape with sturdy hiking shoes.