{"id":2049,"date":"2011-09-02T00:19:51","date_gmt":"2011-09-02T07:19:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/?p=2049"},"modified":"2025-05-14T10:27:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T17:27:29","slug":"hiking-trail-caldwell-lakes-parks-creek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/02\/hiking-trail-caldwell-lakes-parks-creek\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiking the Caldwell Lakes along Parks Creek"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here’s all the info you need to hike or backpack the trails to the Caldwell Lakes, including Lower Caldwell Lake and the Upper Caldwell Lakes in the Parks Creek drainage in the Eddy Range west of Mount Shasta. This is Hike 58 in my guidebook Day Hiking: Mount Shasta, Lassen & Trinity Alps Regions<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

I hiked the trail on July 20, 2022 and it’s still beautiful and still in good shape and easy to follow.<\/strong> I only saw two other people.<\/p>\n

\"Caldwell
Caldwell Lakes Trail: Mount Shasta beyond a metamorphic ridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Caldwell Lakes Trail Key Information<\/h2>\n

Length:\u00a04.4 miles round trip
\nHigh Point: 7115 feet at the two upper lakes
\nElevation Gain: 1400 feet
\nDifficulty: moderate
\nWhen to Hike: early July to mid-October, as snow permits
\nControlling Agency: Mount Shasta Ranger Station<\/a>, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, 204 West Alma, Mount Shasta, CA 96067. (530) 926-4511.
\nMap: Mount Shasta area trail map<\/a>
\nSpecial Features: West Parks Creek and its meadows and wildflowers; swimming in the lakes, especially Upper Caldwell Lake; great views of Mount Shasta, Mount Eddy, and the Eddy Range<\/p>\n

Caldwell Lakes Trailhead Directions<\/h2>\n

Directions to the Trailhead: Take the Edgewood exit off I-5 (Exit 751) to the west side of the freeway and turn right. Go 0.3 mile and turn left onto Stewart Springs Road. Drive 4.0 miles to a major fork. You head right up paved Road 17 (Parks Creek Road) for another 5.4 miles to where Road 41N74 branches off perpendicular on the right, just before a creek crossing. Follow 41N74 for 300 yards to the parking area, which is just before the road makes a sharp right turn to become Road 41N74Y. Note: if you have a passenger vehicle, you may want to park near the paved road.\u00a0GPS: N 41\u00b0 22.802′ W 122\u00b0 32.224.<\/p>\n

If you want to find good dispersed camping sites<\/a>, continue another 200 yards up Road 17 and turn left onto Forest Road 40N46, which quickly drops down to Tamarack Flat.<\/p>\n

\"Caldwell
Caldwell Lakes Trail: hiking map. (courtesy Caltopo<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Caldwell Lakes Trail Description<\/h2>\n

Yes, you\u2019ll visit three lakes. And yes, they are attractive, as all lakes are. But when you\u2019re done with the hike, you\u2019ll almost certainly say what you liked most was the broad vista of Mount Eddy and Mount Shasta. Or the lush meadows sprinkled along the route. Or the abundance of wildflowers. Most people either don\u2019t know about the Caldwell Lakes trail, or they pass it by on the way to the more famous trails to the Deadfall Lakes and Mount Eddy. You owe it to yourself to explore this basin: you\u2019ll be very glad you did.<\/p>\n

Parks Creek tumbles audibly on the left for the first few minutes of the route. Your views encompass red metamorphic ridges on both sides, although you\u2019ll soon note that the metamorphic rocks switch to a gray color, matching China Mountain, the highest peak in surrounding the basin at 8,551 feet.<\/p>\n

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Best Day Hiking Trails in Upper California<\/h4>\n

\"Day<\/a>My<\/strong> compact guidebook has the 125 best day hikes:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n