Waters Gulch and Overlook Trails

We drove towards Parckers Bay on Shasta Lake this morning to hike part way along the Waters Gulch Trail and then the Overlook Trail, which share the same trailhead. Our route was 3.75 miles with 500 ft of overall loss/gain. Lots of wildflowers along the Waters Gulch Trail!

I enjoyed hiking along this mixed deciduous and conifer forest, with lake views along the way. We found a lovely turn around spot at the end of the peninsula between Waters Gulch and Packers Bay.

peek-a-boo views up on the short Overlook Trail

some of the many wildflowers we saw along the trail today:

Mt Eddy via Deadfall Meadows Trailhead

We drove up FSR 17 in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest to hike up Mt Eddy from the Deadfall Meadows Trailhead. We also did a side trip to the Deadfall Lakes for a 8.5 mile round trip hike with 2,600 ft of gain. We didn't see any other hikers on our way up the trail, and only saw 7 on our way back down the trail. Amazing day with gorgeous views!

The meadows appeared dried, but we did find some wildflowers along the way.

There were 4 creek crossings in the lower meadow and a very muddy section.

The trail joins the Pacific Crest Trail after 1.5 miles and 800 ft of gain.

Two Deadfall Lakes are in the Middle Deadfall Meadows, this is a pano of the larger one.

We continued up to the Upper Deadfall Meadow where we saw two more lakes, this is the smaller one.

Mt Eddy is seen behind the larger lake in Upper Deadfall Meadows.

reflection in this lake

It is another 1.5 miles with an additional 800 ft gain to Deadfall Summit, view to the west and one of the lakes we passed below.

view to the southeast

From Deadfall Summit it is another mile with 1,000 ft gain to the top of Mt Eddy.

some views along the way to the top

Old fire lookout remains on the top of Mt Eddy (9,025ft)

We loved the views up here!

Mt Shasta and Black Butte to the east

zoom of Mt Shasta

view to the north

View from the west end of Mt Eddy

Looking East towards Mt Shasta from the west end of Mt Eddy

View to the southwest

zoom of the Trinity Alps to the southwest

zoom to the southeast with Castle Crags and a very distant Lassen Peak

Heading back down Mt Eddy with views of some of the lakes in Deadfall Meadows

Trail below Deadfall Summit

View of Mt Eddy form one of the lakes in Upper Deadfall Meadow

zoom of a hawk on a snag above the trail

We returned to the lakes in Middle Deadfall Meadow, pano of the larger lake

The small and lower lake in Middle Deadfall Meadow

some of the tall pines in Lower Deadfall Meadows

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today: