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Swasey Recreational Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 117 Google reviews · Running trail in Redding, California · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Swasey Recreational Area'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.
Park with numerous trails for hiking and horseback riding.
What runners say about Swasey Recreational Area
“The trails and forest are beautiful and we never get tired of the outstanding scenery.”
“It was a pretty warm day, but had lots of pit stops for shade along the way (wintu trail).”
When I first started posting pictures here this place had less than 10 reviews on google maps and now it has 70. Thats crazy! This place is popular now and Im honored to have helped people find and explore this amazing place! Tons of hiking horseback riding and biking to be had here. Highly recommend!
Took Mule to 4 corners, to Meiners loop to catch Escalator (which I LOVED!!!) It was a fun climb that is not super technical but you can crank it and go fast, to Summit Trail and up to the top of Bear Mnt, then down Snail Trail (which was a BLAST to crank it going down!) and Mules Loop to the parking area. 15 miles????
Hike, bike, horseback riding, you can do everything out here. No place to get water, so bring your own. There are 2 bathrooms, 1 at the lower parking lot, 1 at the back lot, vault toilets but usually clean. No camping.
My husband and I live near this park and visit it frequently. We have horses and ride them in this park almost every week. We are amazed at how nice the trails are and how long they are. The trails and forest are beautiful and we never get tired of the outstanding scenery.
Trail conditions & character
“The trails and forest are beautiful and we never get tired of the outstanding scenery.”
“Some incline but relief follows soon after with some down hill or somewhat flat sections.”
“There are 2 bathrooms, 1 at the lower parking lot, 1 at the back lot, vault toilets but usually clean.”
“It was a pretty warm day, but had lots of pit stops for shade along the way (wintu trail).”
“Trail was beautifully maintained, nice single track.”
“Took Mule to 4 corners, to Meiners loop to catch Escalator (which I LOVED!”
“Some incline but relief follows soon after with some down hill or somewhat flat sections.”
“There are 2 bathrooms, 1 at the lower parking lot, 1 at the back lot, vault toilets but usually clean.”
“And cleaned up since the burn all new trail markers.”
Plan your run at Swasey Recreational Area
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websiteblm.gov
- Phone+1 530-224-2100
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
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