PACIFIC CREST TRAIL w Hat Creek Route
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail extends 2,600 miles from Mexico to Canada. It passes through twenty-three National Forests, seven National Parks, Bureau of Land Management land, and portions of State, local, and private land.
The PCT, as it is often called, was established as a part View north to Mt. Shasta from Hat Creek Rim of the National System Act of October 2, 1968. The idea of a hiking and horseback-riding trail that would Continuing from the Potato Butte road, the PCT paral- extend through the western United States, from north lels State Highway 44/89, passes through the to south, was first conceived in the 1920’s. This trail Spattercone Crest Geological Area and continues on to has become the main south to north route between the crossing of Highway 44. From this crossing of High- Mexico and Canada for hikers and equestrians. way 44, the trail climbs the Hat Creek Rim to the new Rim Overlook and the Mud Lake Trailhead. At this point The Hat Creek Ranger District offers fifty-eight miles of the trail is without drinking water for approximately 26 trail that winds through scenic vistas and geologic miles. wonders. Elevations range from 5,500 feet in the south to 3,200 feet to the north. Portions of the trail are under The PCT traverses the Hat Creek Rim, through the Lost snow until late spring. It’s a good idea when planning Fire burn and continues north, dropping off the rim, your trip to give us a call to find out about trail condi- crossing Six Mile Hill road near the old Conrad ranch tions. The following information provides details about and down to Baum Lake. This PG&E lake is located the trail going through Hat Creek Ranger District. among oaks and mixed conifer forests at an elevation of 3,200 feet. Drinking water is available at the Crystal The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail leaves Lassen Lake Fish Hatchery. Volcanic National Park and resumes its course through Lassen National Forest near upper Hat Creek and From Baum Lake the Pacific Crest Trail continues north, Badger Mountain. The last opportunity to obtain crosses State Highway 299 East, through oak and pine drinking water is near the National Park boundary. forests to Arkright Flat and on past the south side of Take the trail that leads west from the self service Lake Britton, another PG&E lake. After leaving the bluff register at the Park boundary and hike approximately overlooking Lake Britton, the PCT crosses State High- one quarter mile to upper Hat Creek. way 89 and enters McArthur-Burney Falls State Park. By walking a short distance north from the highway cross- The PCT continues north on the Hat Creek Ranger ing, hikers will find a store, camping, showers and District after leaving the National Park. Approxi- drinking water at the State Park. mately one mile from the boundary the trail leaves its old location along the base of Badger Mountain and After leaving Burney Falls cross the dam at Lake Britton follows a new course, constructed in 1991, through the and continue on towards Rock Creek. Water is available West Badger Plantations and over to Hat Creek. It in Rock Creek at the PCT bridge and campsites can be continues along upper Hat Creek, past Twin Bridges, found upstream approximately one quarter mile. The to Potato Butte road. At that point the trail is within PCT continues its gradual climb through the mixed one tenth of a mile from the town of Old Station. It is conifer forest of this area, past Screwdriver Creek and on an easy walk to Old Station Post Office, general store, to Peavine Creek, where it leaves the lands managed by pizza parlor and resort. the Hat Creek Ranger District.
United States Pacific Lassen National Forest Department of Southwest Agriculture Region Hat Creek Ranger District To Mount Shasta To Alturas 89 299 a Dusty McArthur
Lake Britton z Hat Creek Ranger Station Burney Falls Fall River Mills Baum Lake 7R01 Hat Creek Crystal Lake Fish Hatery
Burney 299 Pacific Lassen National Forest 89 Crest Trail To Adin Hat Creek To Redding a Honn
Bridgea Hat Creek Rocky a Subway Cave Thousand Cavea Lakes Old Station Wilderness Hat Creeka Old Station Information Center q Crater Lake Spattercone Trail 44 Eagle a a Big Pine Lake 139 Vista Point Ashpan 44 West Prospect Bogard q Snowmobile 89 Hat Creek Fire Lookout Information A-21 Park 8 Center To Redding Rocky
44 Lassen Volcanic Knoll National Park Cariboua 89 Lake Silver A-1 Eagle Lake Bowl Ranger Station a Caribou A-21 44 Wilderness z 36 Susanville
Supervisors z Office To Red Bluff Pacific Crest 36 36 Trail Chester Mineral Almanor Ranger Station z Lake Westwood Hwy 395 Almanor To Reno
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Legend 89 a Campground To Chico To Quincy z Ranger Station q Information Center Pacific Crest Trail Association
The Pacific Crest Trail Association is a great source for information about the trail. They are a partner with the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management in protection and management of the trail. They also are the primary source for permits, maps, Lassen National Forest, Hat Creek Ranger guides, books, videos and trail condition information. District, P.O. Box 220, Fall River Mills, CA PCTA also sponsors public service volunteer projects. 96028 530-336-5521. Our office is open Contact them for more information at: Pacific Crest Trail 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Mon. - Fri. Association, 5325 Elkhorn Blvd., PMB #256, Sacramento, The Old Station Visitor Information Center CA 95842-2526 (916) 349-2109, FAX (916) 349-1268. They is open on weekends in the Spring & Fall also have an automated phone system (888) PC-TRAIL and seven days a week during the Sum- (728-7245) Email: [email protected], web site: www.pcta.org mer season.
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