{"id":2050,"date":"2011-09-20T16:43:23","date_gmt":"2011-09-20T23:43:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/?p=2050"},"modified":"2025-05-14T10:27:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T17:27:10","slug":"hiking-trail-west-parks-lakes-lower-middle-upper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/20\/hiking-trail-west-parks-lakes-lower-middle-upper\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiking the Trail to West Parks Lakes &#8211; Lower, Middle, Upper"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Lower, Middle, and Upper <strong>West Park Lakes<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2084\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2084\" style=\"width: 520px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/20\/hiking-trail-west-parks-lakes-lower-middle-upper\/shasta-valley-lake-shastina\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-2084\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2084\" title=\"Shasta Valley and Lake Shastina from just below Upper Parks Creek Lake.\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/shasta-valley-lake-shastina.jpg\" alt=\"Shasta Valley and Lake Shastina from just below Upper Parks Creek Lake.\" width=\"520\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/shasta-valley-lake-shastina.jpg 520w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/shasta-valley-lake-shastina-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/shasta-valley-lake-shastina-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/shasta-valley-lake-shastina-50x38.jpg 50w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/shasta-valley-lake-shastina-490x367.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2084\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shasta Valley and Lake Shastina from just below Upper Parks Creek Lake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I did the West Parks Lakes as a day-hike in late August, the day after I explored the nearby <a title=\"Lower, Middle, and Upper Caldwell Lakes hiking trail\" href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/02\/hiking-trail-caldwell-lakes-parks-creek\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Caldwell Lakes<\/a>. (The two trails are within a mile or so of each other.) (Also <a href=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/21\/cement-bluff-lake-hike-pacific-crest-trail\/\">see my post on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to Cement Bluff and Bluff Lake from Parks Creek Saddle<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>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 <em>begins<\/em> like that, what&#8217;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. <strong>Update, October 2015<\/strong>: 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.<\/p>\n<h2>West Parks Lakes Trail Key Information<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Length:<\/strong> about 5.0 miles round trip, from the end of Forest Road 41N73 (see what I say above)<\/li>\n<li><strong>High Point:<\/strong> 7650 feet at Upper West Park Lake<\/li>\n<li><strong>Elevation Gain:<\/strong> 1600 feet to the upper lake; 1300 feet to the middle lake; 1100 feet to the lower lake<\/li>\n<li><strong>Difficulty:<\/strong> moderate<\/li>\n<li><strong>When to Hike:<\/strong> late June to mid-October, as snow permits<\/li>\n<li><strong>Map: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2025\/05\/14\/mount-shasta-trail-map-hikers-bikers\/\">Mount Shasta area trail map<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Controlling Agency:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/stnf\/\">Mount Shasta Ranger Station<\/a>, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, 204 West Alma, Mount Shasta, CA 96067. (530) 926-4511.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Special Features:<\/strong> meadows; wildflowers; swimming in the lakes; fishing; great views of Mount Shasta, Mount Eddy, the Eddy Range, and the Shasta Valley<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Directions to the West Park Lakes Trailhead<\/h2>\n<p>On Interstate 5\u00a0 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&#8217;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&#8217;t drive up 41N73 you can\u00a0 park about 100 yards downhill on the main road.<\/p>\n<p>I describe this assuming you&#8217;ve actually driven 41N73.<\/p>\n<div class=\"color-block\">\n<h4>Best Day Hiking Trails in Upper California<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2GUNIqj\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-3153\" src=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/day-hiking-shasta-lassen-trinity-trails-300-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"Day Hiking Mount Shasta, Lassen &amp; Trinity Alps Regions. Includes trails in other regions of Northern California: Castle Crags, Russian Wilderness, Marble Mountain Wilderness, Lava Beds National Monument, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Lassen National Forest, and the Redding area.\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" data-wp-editing=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/day-hiking-shasta-lassen-trinity-trails-300-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/day-hiking-shasta-lassen-trinity-trails-300-36x50.jpg 36w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/day-hiking-shasta-lassen-trinity-trails-300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/><\/a><strong>My<\/strong> <strong>compact guidebook has the 125 best day hikes:<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Mount Shasta and nearby<\/li>\n<li>Lassen Volcanic National Park<\/li>\n<li>Trinity Alps and Marble Mountains<\/li>\n<li>Redding area<\/li>\n<li>Whiskeytown and Shasta Lakes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Includes trailhead directions and detailed maps and trail descriptions<\/p>\n<p><strong>Buy it:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2GUNIqj\">on Amazon<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/22742\/9781680510584\">on Bookshop.org<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Often available at bookstores<\/strong> <strong>and outdoor stores <\/strong>(call first!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Hiking to West Parks Lakes<\/h2>\n<p>Cross the creek on a bridge and begin a steady climb through mixed forest and occasional meadow. You&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<h2>Lower West Parks Lake<\/h2>\n<p>This beauty awaits 2.0 miles from the trailhead. You&#8217;ll find a good campsite just as you arrive. (<a href=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/18\/california-campfire-permit-backpacking\/\">Backpackers need a California campfire permit<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2080\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2080\" style=\"width: 520px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/20\/hiking-trail-west-parks-lakes-lower-middle-upper\/lower-west-parks-lake\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-2080\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2080\" title=\"Lower West Parks Lake.\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/lower-west-parks-lake.jpg\" alt=\"Lower West Parks Lake.\" width=\"520\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/lower-west-parks-lake.jpg 520w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/lower-west-parks-lake-490x367.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2080\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lower West Parks Lake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Middle West Parks Lake<\/h2>\n<p>The topo map shows a trail to Middle West Parks Lake, but I couldn&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2081\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2081\" style=\"width: 520px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/20\/hiking-trail-west-parks-lakes-lower-middle-upper\/middle-west-parks-lake\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-2081\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2081\" title=\"Middle West Parks Lake. Lots of fish here!\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/middle-west-parks-lake.jpg\" alt=\"Middle West Parks Lake. Lots of fish here!\" width=\"520\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/middle-west-parks-lake.jpg 520w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/middle-west-parks-lake-490x367.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2081\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Middle West Parks Lake. Lots of fish here!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Upper West Parks Lake<\/h2>\n<p>Getting to Upper West Parks Lake\u00a0(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.\u00a0 This was my favorite of the three and it&#8217;s where I went swimming (OK, <a title=\"Skinny dipping in the Trinity Alps\" href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/29\/skinny-dipping-naked-women-trinity-alps-streams-lakes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">skinny-dipping<\/a>) and had a bald eagle fly 20 feet directly above me.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2082\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2082\" style=\"width: 520px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/20\/hiking-trail-west-parks-lakes-lower-middle-upper\/upper-west-parks-lake\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-2082\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2082\" title=\"Upper West Parks Lake.\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/upper-west-parks-lake.jpg\" alt=\"Upper West Parks Lake.\" width=\"520\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/upper-west-parks-lake.jpg 520w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/upper-west-parks-lake-490x367.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2082\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Upper West Parks Lake is the highest in basin, nearly 7750 feet. I swam about half way down on the left.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2083\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2083\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/20\/hiking-trail-west-parks-lakes-lower-middle-upper\/mount-shasta-west-parks-lakes\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-2083\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2083\" title=\"Mount Shasta from the West Parks Lakes basin.\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/mount-shasta-west-parks-lakes.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Shasta from the West Parks Lakes basin..\" width=\"500\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/mount-shasta-west-parks-lakes.jpg 500w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/mount-shasta-west-parks-lakes-490x653.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2083\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mount Shasta from the West Parks Lakes basin, just below Upper West Parks Lake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2079\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2079\" style=\"width: 520px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/20\/hiking-trail-west-parks-lakes-lower-middle-upper\/lake-shastina-shasta-valley\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-2079\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2079\" title=\"Lake Shastina and Shasta Valley from just below Upper Parks Creek Lake.\" src=\"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/lake-shastina-shasta-valley.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Shastina and Shasta Valley from just below Upper Parks Creek Lake.\" width=\"520\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/lake-shastina-shasta-valley.jpg 520w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/lake-shastina-shasta-valley-490x367.jpg 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2079\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lake Shastina and Shasta Valley from just below Upper Parks Creek Lake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"color-block\">\n<h4>Comprehensive Trail Map for the Greater Mount Shasta Region<\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8867 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/mount-shasta-trail-map-hiking-250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"371\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/mount-shasta-trail-map-hiking-250.jpg 250w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/mount-shasta-trail-map-hiking-250-202x300.jpg 202w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>This map is perfect for exploring Mount Shasta and the nearby areas of natural beauty:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hiking and biking trails on Mount Shasta<\/li>\n<li>Lake Siskiyou and nearby trails<\/li>\n<li>Mount Eddy\/Deadfall Lakes trails<\/li>\n<li>Trinity Divide trails, including Castle and Heart Lakes<\/li>\n<li>Castle Crags State Park trails<\/li>\n<li>Pacific Crest Trail<\/li>\n<li>Climbing routes to Mount Shasta&#8217;s stunning summit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Designed for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians<\/p>\n<p><strong>Buy it online from: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mountaineers.org\/books\/books\/mt-shasta-ca-no-1122sxl-green-trails-maps\">Green Trails Maps<\/a> | <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4k8JXgD\"><strong>Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Often available at outdoor stores and bookstores<\/strong> (call first!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Climbing China Mountain<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"color-block\">\n<h4>Camp for Free in California National Forests<\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-6295\" src=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dispersed-camping-boondocking-camp-free-300.jpg\" alt=\"Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping &amp; Boondocking on America's Public Lands book cover. Free camping in the United States.\" width=\"250\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dispersed-camping-boondocking-camp-free-300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dispersed-camping-boondocking-camp-free-300-188x300.jpg 188w, https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dispersed-camping-boondocking-camp-free-300-31x50.jpg 31w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><strong>California&#8217;s national forests and BLM lands have thousands of miles of dirt roads with lots of spots for dispersed camping (boondocking).<\/strong> My book provides all the info you need to get started (but is not a guide to specific sites):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Researching the best locations<\/li>\n<li>Finding the best camping spots<\/li>\n<li>Backcountry safety and ethics<\/li>\n<li>What to take<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2CPMlbP\">Buy it on Amazon<\/a><br \/>\nBuy it on <a href=\"https:\/\/books2read.com\/u\/3RnavL\">Apple, Kobo, and Nook<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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. I did the West Parks Lakes as a day-hike in late August, the day after I explored the nearby [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[279],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2050","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-shasta-trinity-national-forest-hiking-trails","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Hiking the Trail to West Parks Lakes - Lower, Middle, Upper - Northern California Hiking Trails<\/title>\n<meta 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