24.1
PDI
14.2 mi
DISTANCE
4,188 ft
GAINED
5.6 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Bruce Hamilton, La Quinta, CA; Stacy Topping, Tacoma, WA
INTRO
Mt. Shasta climbs 14.2 miles and gains 4,188 feet at a 5.6% average, from the town of Mt. Shasta (3,637 feet) up Ski Village Drive and then Everitt Memorial Highway to the Old Ski Bowl at 7,820 feet. Mt. Shasta is by far the furthest north of California's 12 true Fourteeners, and this is one of the great California cycling experiences.
The grade is never too steep, with the steepest mile at 6.9%, and the road is pristine with light traffic and a 35 mph speed limit. After turning left onto Everitt Memorial Highway at mile 0.9 we are soon surrounded by thick pine forest, including one striking straight stretch lined with tall, uniformly spaced pines. Between miles 10 and 11 the whole mountain comes into view, which makes a great photo op, and over the last third of the climb there are views south over the ridges of the Cascade Range.
You may also be interested in doing Mt. Shasta as a bike-hike (see "Full Summary"): we cycled 11.5 miles to Bunny Flat, then hiked the remaining five miles and 7,000 feet to the summit.
"Mount Shasta is a scenic climb toward its namesake mountain that is perhaps the most difficult in northern California. From the start the road immediately begins to climb up the southeast flank of the mountain. After just less than a mile, turn left on Everett Memorial Highway to soon find more solid grade. In several more miles you enter a pine forest which you glide in and out of all the way to the top with views of massive snow-capped Mount Shasta..." (This quote is presented with the approval of John Summerson, from The Complete Guide to Climbing (by Bike) in California, pg. 64.)
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The average grade of Mt. Shasta is 5.6% and the climb remains a fairly consistent one, with 58% (8.2 miles) in the 5-10% range and 39% in the 0-5% range, and only a fraction of descent and grade of 10% or more. The steepest quarter mile is 8.3%, the steepest continuous mile is a very manageable 6.9%, and the steepest five miles average 6.2%.
The opening mile along Ski Village Drive is the easiest at under 4%, and from there the climb settles into a steady 5-7% that barely changes all the way to the Old Ski Bowl. It is a climb you can pace by feel.
Roadway: Excellent. Everitt Memorial Highway is a paved two-lane road with a 35 mph speed limit. It is a seasonal road with gates that close for heavy snow: the McBride Springs gate and the Bunny Flat gate were both closed for snow in early April 2025, and the road is not plowed to the Old Ski Bowl until the snow clears. By mid-June 2026 the road to the Old Ski Bowl was open with no snow on it, and the upper road is usually open from early summer to mid-fall. Check Siskiyou County Public Works or call the Forest Service at 530-926-4511 for current gate status.
Traffic: Minimal overall. Expect a few more cars near Bunny Flat, the trailhead for the standard summit routes, and on summer weekends heading to Panther Meadow.
Parking: At the start of the climb: Map; Street View.
Provisions: Stock up in the town of Mt. Shasta, which has restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations. There are no services on the climb itself, so carry the food and water you need for the whole ride.
Gear: You gain more than 4,000 feet, so the top is far cooler and windier than the start. Carry a jacket and arm warmers for the descent, and check current conditions at the finish with our Weather tool before you go.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
We have stayed in the adorable mountain town of Shasta where the climb begins. There are also many options for peaceful vacation rental cottages and cabins in the area as well.
The Mt. Shasta Visitor Center at 300 Pine Street can help with road and gate updates. At the top, the Old Ski Bowl is the trailhead for Panther Meadow, which is usually open from early summer to mid-fall, with wildflowers at their best from July to early August. We rank this climb alongside Mt. Ashland, about 70 miles north, as a Destination Climb worth traveling for, so the two make a natural pairing on one trip.
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Ben_and_his_Bike
Shasta has a great visual approach, with the highly visible peaks growing around every turn until the whole bowl finally opens up to you. Having watched it stark on the horizon on the drive over, finally getting right up to the edge is satisfying.
The road is in great condition with the exception of the topmost half mile which is breaking apart--a small price for the access it provides us to that final rest. While you can explore a little off road from there, it's all gravel and sand so you won't get far.
Grade is pretty easy. Felt like Mt. Hamilton.
Bunny Flats offers bathrooms and water before that last bit. As others have said, you can cruise down this entire mountain with almost no braking thanks to the merciful road and the toothpick-thin trees which provide visibility around turns. You can ruin your 5 and 10-mile best efforts on Strava by blasting non-stop down it if you haven't already. The views going down were beautiful as well.
Skotscott
July 9, 2024
From CG in Shasta.
A nice, long spin on a good road with light traffic and great views. Narrow shoulder but not an issue with courteous drivers and slow speeds. Road was blocked to traffic at Bunny Flat but open to bicycles for the last 2 miles up to the end of the road. Last ¼ mile on rough, broken pavement but no issues with no cars in the way. A fun no-brakes descent all the way back down - road not steep enough for dangerous speed.
carlinguernsey
A steady gradient, but still a good challenge due to the length. There are places to stay in Shasta, or you can do the climb as a day stop while working in some other ones (Lassen, Mt. Ashland, etc.).
