Hike Chamise Peak

Chamise, Please

Hike to Chamise Peak in Redding, CA

11.16.2022

Hiking to a summit for an incredible panorama doesn’t have to take all day or be intense, which is partly why Redding’s Chamise Peak is so appealing. That, and the 360-degree vista of the region’s iconic scenery! At the summit, your spin-around view includes the Sacramento River canyon, Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, and Mount Shasta.

A lone picnic table at the peak is ideal for a snack break. The hike up is 5 miles (round-trip) and begins on the Flanagan Trail. Thank the Redding Trail Alliance for maintaining this trail system. Ascend amid a pine forest with oaks and manzanitas. A bench marks the halfway point at a trail intersection.

Follow the sign to Chamise Peak and get gorgeous views of Mount Shasta along the way. At the top, soak up all the S’s: Mount Shasta, Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, the Sacramento Valley and Sacramento River. Sssssensational!

The start of the Flanagan Trail is found at the Flanagan Rd. parking area, 17154 Flanagan Rd., Redding. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View

  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View

  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View