Hiking the Trail to West Parks Lakes - Lower, Middle, Upper

Lower, Middle, and Upper West Park Lakes lie just a few miles from Mount Eddy and the Deadfall Lakes, yet few people hike the trails to these gems, even though they are fairly easy to reach.

Shasta Valley and Lake Shastina from just below Upper Parks Creek Lake.

I did the West Parks Lakes as a day-hike in late August, the day after I explored the nearby Caldwell Lakes. (The two trails are within a mile or so of each other.) (Also see my post on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to Cement Bluff and Bluff Lake from Parks Creek Saddle.)

I present the details of the hike, followed by a series of photos. Note that I started from Parks Creek Road/Forest Road 17 because I decided not to take my Subaru Outback up Forest Road 41N73 because of the initial rough stretch for the first 200-300 feet. (I could have made it, but I thought if the road begins like that, what’s it like farther on?) However, if you can make that part (which you can see from Parks Creek Road), you can also make it through the next half-mile of occasionally rough road, which then turns into easy driving until you get to the end, a total distance of 2.5 miles that also saves you 1750 feet of elevation gain. And I recommend that you have a topo map or some device with topo software to guide you. Update, October 2015: I think the Forest Service did some work on Road 41N73. That initial part that bothered me now is quite doable for cars with a bit of clearance, but not for passenger cars.

West Parks Lakes Trail Key Information

Length: about 5.0 miles round trip, from the end of Forest Road 41N73 (see what I say above)
High Point: 7650 feet at Upper West Park Lake
Elevation Gain: 1600 feet to the upper lake; 1300 feet to the middle lake; 1100 feet to the lower lake
Difficulty: moderate
When to Hike: late June to mid-October, as snow permits
Map: Mount Shasta area trail map
Controlling Agency: Mount Shasta Ranger Station, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, 204 West Alma, Mount Shasta, CA 96067. (530) 926-4511.
Special Features: meadows; wildflowers; swimming in the lakes; fishing; great views of Mount Shasta, Mount Eddy, the Eddy Range, and the Shasta Valley

Directions to the West Park Lakes Trailhead

On Interstate 5 take the Edgewood/Gazelle exit. Go to the west side of the freeway, turn right at the stop sign, and 0.3 mile farther turn left onto Stewart Springs Road. Go 4.7 miles turn right onto Forest Road 17, which is also called Parks Creek Road. Drive 4.4 miles to Forest Road 41N73. See description of road above; it’s about 2.5 miles to a small parking area where the road is blocked off at a fork of Parks Creek (stay left at the one major intersection with another road). If you don’t drive up 41N73 you can park about 100 yards downhill on the main road.

I describe this assuming you’ve actually driven 41N73.

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Hiking to West Parks Lakes

Cross the creek on a bridge and begin a steady climb through mixed forest and occasional meadow. You’ll be on an ATV road much of the way. The Forest Service has plans to a eventually stop ATVs about a half-mile short of Lower West Parks Lake and have a footpath that continues the rest of the way to that lake.

Lower West Parks Lake

This beauty awaits 2.0 miles from the trailhead. You’ll find a good campsite just as you arrive. (Backpackers need a California campfire permit if they plan to have a fire.) The lake (7200 feet) is deep enough for a good swim, and there were a lot fish jumping when I was there.

Middle West Parks Lake

The topo map shows a trail to Middle West Parks Lake, but I couldn’t find it. I started on what I thought was the trail from the east end of the lower lake, but it quickly disappeared. No matter. I just made my way up an easy quarter-mile cross-country and found the lake (7440 feet) no problem. It also is swimmable and has even more fish.

Upper West Parks Lake

Getting to Upper West Parks Lake (7750 feet) takes some skill in navigating and climbing cross-country up steep terrain. Swing around the south side of the middle lake and head up and a bit to the left so you follow the drainage that leads from the upper lake to the middle lake, a total of a quarter-mile and 300 feet of elevation gain. This was my favorite of the three and it’s where I went swimming (OK, skinny-dipping) and had a bald eagle fly 20 feet directly above me.

Mount Shasta from the West Parks Lakes basin.. — Mount Shasta from the West Parks Lakes basin, just below Upper West Parks Lake.

Lake Shastina and Shasta Valley from just below Upper Parks Creek Lake.

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Lake Siskiyou and nearby trails
Mount Eddy/Deadfall Lakes trails
Trinity Divide trails, including Castle and Heart Lakes
Castle Crags State Park trails
Pacific Crest Trail
Climbing routes to Mount Shasta’s stunning summit

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Climbing China Mountain

Note: skilled cross-country hikers with the right equipment and maps should be able to climb nearby China Mountain from the West Park Lakes basin and drop down to the Crater Lake basin to the west.

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William Jones says

August 5, 2015 at 4:00 pm

31 July-2 August:
We attempted this hike last year with our three small children. When we arrived at the start, we attempted (as Gretchen did) to drive the initial section. We were unable to and backed down. We maid it about halfway but decided to turn back. Fast forward to this year (date above). Three friends and I decided to give it another try, sans kids. We arrived at the noted parking area before the road. When we passed the parking area we were pleasantly surprised to see a road grater parked in the area. We were able to make that initial first section and drive all the way to the end of the drivable road. We parked, gathered our gear and started the hike. The footbridge that had been missing is now back in place which made the cross of the creek a breeze. Overall, the trail was well taken care of and we made it to the lower lake. The one camp site (described on another site as poor quality) is now quite nice. It has a large rock fire pit along with log benches surrounding it. We were able to fit 3 small tents in the area. We stayed 2 full days and found the area beautiful. We hiked to the middle lake but had to return due to a approaching storm. That evening we stayed in our tent during a severe hail storm which almost made the trip better. The temperatures the first day were quite hot for the elevation (80+) but the weather cooled down following the storm. We did do a bit of fishing and found a good amount of lake trout. We caught 1 decent size fish, however, the others were fairly small. The wildlife was plentiful along with the flowers. Altogether the area was well kept and there were not many signs of visitors. I would say the road is passable for almost any type of vehicle in order to get to the initial trail head. Although I was driving my Toyota 4Runner.

Comments

Harleena Singh says
September 21, 2011 at 9:36 am
Beautiful photograpghs John!
No wonder you love to hike such trails! The lakes are out of the world! I wish I was living nearby, would surely have visited these awesome places!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Gambolin' Man says
September 24, 2011 at 6:52 pm
Excelente, ‘ombre! It’s on my list…
Jeanette K. says
September 29, 2011 at 10:32 am
Those photos are truly spectacular. Consider this hike added to my (very long) list, near the top! 🙂
Gretchen Hunter says
June 9, 2014 at 6:46 pm
Saturday 6-7-14 to 6-9-14 we had a wonderful backpack in, and it was just as you described. We were not able to drive the first 2.5 miles in our minivan, and agreed we might have done it in Dad’s Subaru Outback (I’d say 50-50 chance) – a little too steep to get traction in the minivan, which spun out on the granite gravel, and marginal clearance due to ruts and boulders, though we could have dodged a bit with minivan ju-jitsu. Not just on the first section as you found in 2011, but a few steeper places; you know, “road’s fine except where it isn’t.” So after a valiant attempt and expert backing up, we parked where you suggested and slogged the 4.8 miles from the parking place to the first lake. We did find nice water in streams at a couple of places going up (see China Mountain quad map), which our aussie appreciated. Gorgeous views, but quite a workout, coming and going (watch those rolling-underfoot-rock-knee-twisters). Met two guys coming back out Sunday morning (they reported small but stupid brook trout in the two lower lakes), and chatted with one day fisherman in the afternoon, who only had to hike 1.5 miles because he borrowed his son’s Jeep and made it to the trailhead. We got a late start and so camped the first night just above a pitcher plant meadow near the “trailhead” where the bridge across the creek is washed out, around 2.5 miles from the parking spot on 17 road, then trudged up the bouldery steep trail to the lower lake. Glory be, only a few mosquitoes, not too bad, considering the marshy areas around the lakes. Conditions in early June 2014 are probably more like mid-July in previous years.
- John Soares says
  June 10, 2014 at 8:30 am
  Gretchen, thanks for this update. Sounds like you had a very good time. I totally agree with you that the conditions you experienced would be like mid-July in a year with typical precipitation.
William Jones says
August 5, 2015 at 4:00 pm
31 July-2 August:
We attempted this hike last year with our three small children. When we arrived at the start, we attempted (as Gretchen did) to drive the initial section. We were unable to and backed down. We maid it about halfway but decided to turn back. Fast forward to this year (date above). Three friends and I decided to give it another try, sans kids. We arrived at the noted parking area before the road. When we passed the parking area we were pleasantly surprised to see a road grater parked in the area. We were able to make that initial first section and drive all the way to the end of the drivable road. We parked, gathered our gear and started the hike. The footbridge that had been missing is now back in place which made the cross of the creek a breeze. Overall, the trail was well taken care of and we made it to the lower lake. The one camp site (described on another site as poor quality) is now quite nice. It has a large rock fire pit along with log benches surrounding it. We were able to fit 3 small tents in the area. We stayed 2 full days and found the area beautiful. We hiked to the middle lake but had to return due to a approaching storm. That evening we stayed in our tent during a severe hail storm which almost made the trip better. The temperatures the first day were quite hot for the elevation (80+) but the weather cooled down following the storm. We did do a bit of fishing and found a good amount of lake trout. We caught 1 decent size fish, however, the others were fairly small. The wildlife was plentiful along with the flowers. Altogether the area was well kept and there were not many signs of visitors. I would say the road is passable for almost any type of vehicle in order to get to the initial trail head. Although I was driving my Toyota 4Runner.
- John Soares says
  August 5, 2015 at 4:14 pm
  William, thanks so much for updating the road, trail, and lake conditions. This is very valuable information!
- Gary A. says
  August 6, 2015 at 10:30 pm
  Bill,
  Thank you so much for the invite and confidence. It was a spectacular hike in. Although I let that rolling rock take me down to appear to be the stranded turtle, it was all worth it. What a great hike!
Gary A. says
August 6, 2015 at 9:39 pm
John, The inspiration to make the hike came from a friend* of mine who convinced an old(er) guy like me to “Ruck-Up” and camp at the West Park Lakes… This past weekend my inspirational friend, another buddy and my step-son made the ascent and spent a wonderful adventure at the first lake. Although a troublesome triple hail storm hampered our late Saturday afternoon, the days were picturesque and the campfire at night made for some great story tellin.
*thanks Bill
- John Soares says
  August 7, 2015 at 5:36 am
  Gary, I’m glad you all had such a good adventure. The rough weather often makes the trip much more memorable!

Hiking the Trail to West Parks Lakes – Lower, Middle, Upper

West Parks Lakes Trail Key Information

Directions to the West Park Lakes Trailhead

Best Day Hiking Trails in Upper California

Hiking to West Parks Lakes

Lower West Parks Lake

Middle West Parks Lake

Upper West Parks Lake

Comprehensive Trail Map for the Greater Mount Shasta Region

Climbing China Mountain

Camp for Free in California National Forests

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