This PCT Day Hike May Have the Best Views of Mount Shasta

You don’t need months off work or a resupply strategy to experience the magic of the Pacific Crest Trail. One of its most rewarding bite-sized adventures sits right here in Northern California, tucked into the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Deadfall Lakes.

This stretch of the PCT is widely considered one of the best day hikes in the region, offering classic alpine scenery without committing to a multi-day trek. From the Parks Creek Trailhead, hikers can reach the Deadfall Lakes basin in about 6 miles round-trip. The trail cruises through forest and open meadows before spilling into a basin dotted with clear, cold lakes that feel tailor-made for a summer cooldown.

Looking to level things up? Keep going. A push to the summit of Mount Eddy turns the hike into roughly 10 miles and delivers a full-circle mountain panorama. From the top, you’ll finally see Mount Shasta rise dramatically to the north, a view hidden from the lakes below.

Another option is starting at Deadfall Meadows Trailhead, which trims distance but adds a steep 2,150 feet of elevation via relentless switchbacks.

The sweet spot for this hike is mid-June through mid-October, once snow melts and wildflowers take over the meadows. The trailhead is reachable by paved road and sits about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Redding. Just don’t expect cell service—download maps before you go.

For a day hike that punches far above its mileage, Deadfall Lakes is hard to beat.