Attention all adrenaline seekers! With a summit height of 14,162 feet, eight glaciers and over 8500 vertical feet, this Cascade volcano will leave everyone breathless. The deep winter snowpack provides great skiing well into early summer! Ski down the steep Avalanche Gulch or Hotlum/Wintun Snowfield Ridge, one of the classic Shasta ski descents. Most ascents and descents are for the experienced only, but there are more routes and lines if you’re looking for a gentler start. If skiing on top of an active volcano doesn’t make your adrenaline levels jump, what will? Find out more about the best spots for backcountry skiing in California from the local guides.
Snowpack makes skiing possible well into summer
You’re skiing on an active volcano—what more is there to say?
Numerous access points, mellow glaciers, and more than 7000ft of epic descents
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Mount Shasta, please refer to the Official California State Government and County of Shasta websites.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get in this adventure:
What’s not included:
In order to enjoy these Mount Shasta tours, you need to have a moderate level of fitness. You will be on your feet for a full day. While there is terrain for all skill levels in Mount Shasta, you will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on blue level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.
Advanced Mount Shasta tours can last for 12 to 14 hours, which means you will have to be able to hike for long periods of time with a 30-40L backpack on your back and then ski challenging descents in tricky terrain.
Backcountry skiing isn’t just for pros looking for the ultimate thrill ride, it’s also beginner friendly, meaning anyone with blue level resort experience can have fun in the backcountry. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, heading out with a guide is your best bet. They’ll take care of the planning, introduce you to the basics, like skinning uphill, and teach you how to manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training to keep you safe.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
Ski rental locations are in Mount Shasta and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Group sizes and pricing:
Ski touring in Mt. Shasta can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If you plan to ski with anyone under the age of 18, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Mount Shasta, most people fly into one of the surrounding International Airports. Rogue Valley International Medford Airport is only 1.5 hours away from the town of Mount Shasta. From there, you can rent a car or take a bus. Sacramento International Airport is 3 hours away and Reno-Tahoe International Airport 4 hours away, with different flight and rental car options. However, Redding Municipal Airport is the closest one, being just an hour away.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. From there, you’ll head to your tour. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ski ability of the group.
Day Trips Cancellations
Fully refundable within the initial 48 hours from booking, unless the trip date is less than 7 days from the time of the booking.
Cancellations up to 7 days prior to the trip date are refundable 100%.
Cancellations within 7 days prior to the trip date are non-refundable.
