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Heart Lake Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 117 Google reviews · Running trail in Dunsmuir, California · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from Heart Lake Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Hiking area offering scenic views along trails leading to Heart Lake, which allows walking on its surface when frozen.
What runners say about Heart Lake Trail
“We hiked castle lake trail up to heart lake, and got to the top just as the sun started to set and show some colors… it was beautiful!”
“The trail is not well marked at all although there seems to be multiple trails leading to it.”
“This place is widely known as the Heart Chakra gateway of Mount Shasta, and you can truly feel that peaceful, high-vibrational energy the moment you arrive.”
Incredible views the whole way. The further and higher you go, the better the views are. It's 1.2 miles to Heart Lake, 1.5 to Castle Lake View Point. The trail is a little rocky in places, but well-traveled and easy to follow. While boots and poles aren't necessary, flip-flops and Crocs are not a good idea.
05/27/24. Memorial Day. 4:30 PM. Parking is free. Heart lake tail is not accessible but some managed to make it despite the thick snow on the mountain top. If you plan to go heart lake, take trail pic or download it in your app. No signal on the top. We gave up as we cannot navigate which direction.
One of my fav trails in California. A short distance rewards you with jaw dropping views. Dog friendly. Easy parking. Very little people. Jump in the lake.
What an amazing hike! It’s rated moderate, but I found it pretty challenging at some parts of the trail. Definitely worth the hike up to Heart Lake. I wished the trail was marked more clearly on the paths, but there were enough hikes to provide guidance. Beautiful views. Amazing place to kayak fish for trout also.
Trail conditions & character
“We hiked castle lake trail up to heart lake, and got to the top just as the sun started to set and show some colors… it was beautiful!”
“Still snowy and frozen, if you plan to hike the whole trail, you will need snow shoes and walking sticks, snow is deep, and the mountain side where the trail is steep.”
“If you’re bringing you kayak, make sure to bring your wheels as it’s a short trip from the parking lot to the launch area.”
“This place is widely known as the Heart Chakra gateway of Mount Shasta, and you can truly feel that peaceful, high-vibrational energy the moment you arrive.”
“This ensures you have clear visibility of the trail to avoid getting lost, as some sections are rocky.”
Plan your run at Heart Lake Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitemountshastatrailassociation.org
- Social Instagram · Facebook
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Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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