You do not need a lift ticket to have a great snow day near Blossom Sanctuary. Groomed cross-country trails, snowshoe routes and family sledding hills sit around Mount Shasta and Mt. Ashland, each within about an hour and a half of Etna. Here is our guide for the 2026 to 2027 season.
Mt. Shasta Nordic Center
Run by the nonprofit Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance, the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center sits on the McCloud side of the mountain near Mt. Shasta Ski Park, off Forest Route 31. It is not at Bunny Flat.
- About 23.5 kilometers of groomed skate and classic trails across 17 routes, plus a 2.5 kilometer snowshoe trail.
- Day passes: adult ski $30 or snowshoe $15, senior ski $20 or snowshoe $10, juniors 17 and under free.
- Rental packages with a pass: adult ski $50 or snowshoe $35. Free pull sleds for small children, first come, first served.
- Open Wednesday through Sunday in the regular season and daily over the holidays. A new off-grid lodge serves drinks and snacks. Phone (530) 925-3495.
Bunny Flat and Everitt Memorial Highway
Bunny Flat, at 6,950 feet about 12 miles up Everitt Memorial Highway from the town of Mount Shasta, is the main winter trailhead on the mountain, with parking and toilets. The road is plowed to Bunny Flat and stays open except in major storms. It is a popular family sledding spot. Above Bunny Flat, terrain enters the Mount Shasta Wilderness, where a free wilderness permit is required year round and avalanche conditions apply.
Castle Lake
West of town above Lake Siskiyou, Castle Lake is a favorite snowshoe destination. The small lot can fill by early afternoon on busy days, and the road has been closed in big storms, so check conditions first. The area is part of the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center forecast zone.
Sledding near Mount Shasta
- Snowman's Hill at the Highway 89 summit, across from the Ski Park Highway turnoff, has parking and bathrooms. Best for slightly older kids.
- Shastice Park in the town of Mount Shasta, by the ice rink, is good for little ones when town is snowy.
- Snow tubing at Mt. Shasta Ski Park runs weekends on two groomed lanes.
- Bring your own sled. Local hardware and variety stores sell them.
Mt. Ashland area
- Bull Gap Nordic trails: 8.1 miles through high forest, rated easiest to most difficult, plus the 2-mile Crest Loop for stronger skiers. Bull Gap Sno-Park is about 7 miles up the Mt. Ashland access road and has no restrooms or water.
- Grouse Gap Shelter: a winter warming shelter with a covered pavilion and a wood-burning fireplace, reached from the ski area parking lot.
- Deadwood Sno-Park and the Table Mountain Winter Play Area east of Ashland near Hyatt Lake.
Sno-Park permits
Oregon Sno-Park permits are required in designated Sno-Parks from November 1 to April 30: $4 a day, $9 for three days or $25 a year, plus any agent fee. They are sold at resorts and sporting goods stores and online through DMV2U. Oregon honors California permits, and California honors Oregon permits.
Closer to Etna
Etna Summit, about 12 miles from Etna where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses, and the road to Kangaroo Lake above Callahan are reached only when snow levels allow. In winter we suggest these only with a local guide, in daylight and never alone. For any winter outing, check the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center and our winter driving guide.
Rent gear
- McCloud Outdoors & Gear Exchange rents snowshoes, cross-country skis and sleds.
- The Fifth Season in Mount Shasta rents and demos winter gear.
- The Nordic Center rents skis and snowshoes at the trailhead.
Come home to the wood stove. See our full ski guide and price your stay.
Packing for slow mornings? The Vibes Valuta Winter Drop is six pieces in soft neutrals, embroidered in old gold thread: a ringer tee, rib tank, crew and pant, plus a yoga mat and bottle.
