Top of the Hill Trail

California

Blocked todayCalifornia
Blocked today

Free — you'll pick up right here.

1.9 mi

Distance

3,174 ft

Gain

1h 32m

Time

Conditions: Blocked

for hike, today

An agency closure order is in effect for this area; weather is good

2 factors · 2 sources

Newest 15 h ago · oldest 16 h

  • problem: Agency alerts

    20 active alerts in Shasta-Trinity National Forest; most severe: Mud and Ash Creek Area and Road Closure

    USFSPosted May 2, 2025 · checked 16 h ago

  • clear: Weather

    Clear, high 90°F / low 58°F, 0% precip — 88/100 for hike

    OpenWeather15 h ago

Been out here in the last few days? One report keeps this current for everyone.

Why you'll love it

Through-trail
Big climb
Quick trip — under 2 mi

Here's your day, mapped

Top of the Hill Trail

Suggested plan · check conditions before you go

Building your full AI plan…

Meals

Building your meal plan…

Gear for the day

Building your gear list…

Elevation & route

Distance
1.9 mi
Elevation gain
3,174 ft
Elevation loss
3,174 ft
Highest point
2,077 ft
Lowest point
1,571 ft
More about this trail ↓

Photos

Directions & GPX

Get Directions

Permits & access

Managing agency
Forest Service

About this trail

Top of the Hill Trail is a 3.82-mile out-and-back route in California with 3,174 feet of elevation gain. The trail reaches a maximum elevation of 2,077 feet.

Facts about this trail

The climb

Starts at
1,571 ft
High point
2,077 ft
Total climbing
3,174 ft
Total descent
3,174 ft
Steepest stretch
25% grade around mile 0.8 on the way out
Length (round trip)
3.8 mi
Shape
Out and back

Source: Roamze elevation profile and trail geometry (DEM samples along the mapped route)

When to go

Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Shasta Dam, CA weather station, 11 mi away. High / low in °F.

  1. Jan55° high40° low
  2. Feb59° high42° low
  3. Mar63° high44° low
  4. Apr70° high48° low
  5. May79° high55° low
  6. Jun88° high63° low
  7. Jul97° high69° low
  8. Aug96° high68° low
  9. Sep90° high63° low
  10. Oct78° high55° low
  11. Nov62° high46° low
  12. Dec54° high41° low

The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this spot, so expect it to run cooler up here.

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020

Where it is

Managed by
Forest Service

Source: USFS EDW boundaries; USGS PAD-US 4.1

Conditions

Active alerts for Shasta-Trinity National Forest as of Oct 9, 2026:

Source: USFS forest alerts

Nearby

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)

Add to a trip & share

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Bailey CovePhoto: AB87, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bailey Cove

~5 min drive

5.41-mile out-and-back trail to Bailey Cove in California with 1,769 ft gain.

Overlook TrailPhoto: AB87, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Overlook Trail

~8 min drive

0.74-mile out-and-back trail in California with 292 ft elevation gain.

Sims BridgePhoto: Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sims Bridge

~28 min drive

0.78-mile out-and-back trail at Sims Bridge in California with 14 ft of elevation gain.

Sugar Loaf Creek

~15 min drive

5.68-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,648 ft elevation gain.

Waters Gulch TrailPhoto: AB87, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Waters Gulch Trail

~8 min drive

5.44-mile out-and-back hike in California with 2,104 ft elevation gain and loss.

Packers Fish LoopPhoto: james shaw, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Packers Fish Loop

~9 min drive

Packers Fish Loop is a 1.38-mile out-and-back trail in California with 237 feet of elevation gain.

East Packers

~9 min drive

East Packers is a 0.92-mile out-and-back trail in California.

Dry Fork Creek

~20 min drive

9.25-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,926 ft elevation gain.

Hirz Bay

~5 min drive

3.28-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,232 ft gain.

Palatine TrailPhoto: A Guy Named Nyal, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Palatine Trail

~32 min drive

0.64-mile out-and-back hike in California with 130 ft elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors