Crane Mountain Out and Back

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Allowed

An out and back on the southern end of the Crane Mountain NRT.

The route can be done as an out and back from either the Crane Mountain lookout or the start of the Crane Mountain Trail above Cave Lake. It can also be done as a shuttle or a very long loop with forest roads.

Drive to the start of Crane Mountain NRT. Pedal on two-track west and then north towards the edge of the high cliffs above Cave Lake. The tread narrows to wide singletrack as it heads into the trees. The route is gently sloping up and down. You’ll be pedaling through a mix of small and big pines. Follow the red and blue national recreation signs.

As you near the rim for the first time, you’ll cross the border of California into Oregon. The trail continues and bears right for a short section and then orients itself north again to parallel the edge of a long rim. It continues through dense trees and and then starts to break through small meadows. Eventually, the trees give way to bigger meadows, blanketed with sage. Views to the west also open up and Mt Shasta is in clear view.

From here, the route alternates between easy pedaling through pockets of forest and moderate climbs across open rocky hillsides. For the most part, the trail skirts the eastern edge of the ridge to the Crane Mountain Lookout Road.