Tunnel
- 1.6 mi
- round trip
- 178 ft
- climb
- 4,248 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Is Tunnel open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It doesn't name Tunnel, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Mud and Ash Creek Area and Road Closure
Agency closure covering Shasta-Trinity National Forest · Order 14-26-13 · USFS · Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Road Closure on Wild Mad Road
Agency closure covering Shasta-Trinity National Forest · Order 14-25-09 · USFS · Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Bailey Cove Road Closure Order
Agency alert covering Shasta-Trinity National Forest · Order 14-25-11 · USFS · Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Trout Creek Bridge Closure Order
Agency alert covering Shasta-Trinity National Forest · Order 14-26-02 · USFS · Shasta-Trinity National Forest
South Fork Suspension Bridge Closure
Agency alert covering Shasta-Trinity National Forest · Order 14-25-30 · USFS · Shasta-Trinity National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Tunnel is an easy, out-and-back hike of about 1.6 miles in the Mt. Shasta Ranger District of Shasta-Trinity National Forest in California. The trail starts near the low point of 4,060 feet and climbs to a high of 4,248 feet, a rise of 178 feet one way. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt. Shasta show July and August highs in the mid-80s and only about two wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the mid-40s and roughly 13 wet days a month. The trail is on natural surface and bikes are allowed. It is open year-round, and the surrounding area has several other places to visit. My Trail and Stump are both within a third of a mile. Byron's Boulder, a climbing area, is about 1.4 miles away, and Mcbride Springs Campground is about 1.9 miles off.
Best time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Tunnel
Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
44° / 27°
13 wet
Feb
48° / 28°
12 wet
Mar
53° / 31°
13 wet
Apr
59° / 34°
11 wet
May
68° / 40°
9 wet
Jun
76° / 46°
5 wet
Jul
85° / 51°
2 wet
Aug
84° / 49°
2 wet
Sep
78° / 44°
3 wet
Oct
64° / 38°
6 wet
Nov
50° / 31°
11 wet
Dec
43° / 27°
13 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Shasta, CA, 1.9 mi away at 3,613 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: deanetr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Muirs Ascension
~2 min drive
Moderate 6.37-mile climb with 1,503 ft elevation gain.
Sisson's
~2 min drive
3.50-mile out-and-back trail in California with 845 ft gain.
Lollipop
~3 min drive
1.20-mile out-and-back trail in California with 113 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Rainbow Ridge Trail
~8 min drive
11.7-mile out-and-back hike in California with 3,079 ft elevation gain and loss.
Gateway
~3 min drive
12.92-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,107 ft elevation gain.
Photo: JingKe888, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Lemurian Delirium
~3 min drive
3.40-mile out-and-back trail in California with 765 ft elevation gain.
Photo: deanetr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Sisson's Trail
~3 min drive
1.7-mile out-and-back trail in California with 711 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Bear Springs
~3 min drive
Remote 20-mile backcountry trek with 2,576 ft gain through California wilderness.
Photo: deanetr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Sisson's Trail
~5 min drive
2.5-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,247 ft elevation gain
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Elsa Rupp Trail
~5 min drive
0.82-mile out-and-back trail in California with 114 ft elevation gain