Heart Lake Trail in the Mt. Shasta region of Northern California is easily one of the most romantic trails we’ve ever hiked. If you prefer date hikes over date nights, this trail is for you! Never planned a date hike? It’s time to give it a shot. I think you’ll find Heart Lake Trail is “The One” you can’t stop talking about.
Don’t have a date? No problem! Heart Lake Trail is perfect whether you’re single, taken, or exploring your options!
❤️ Where is Heart Lake Trail?
Heart Lake Trail is located in Northern California’s Shasta-Trinity Forest approximately 11 miles from the city of Mount Shasta. The city is nestled on the flanks of its gargantuan namesake, Mt. Shasta, a 14,180-foot active volcano and the 5th highest mountain in the state of California. Don’t worry- it hasn’t erupted since the 1700’s.
If you’re looking for a convenient basecamp for all of your Mt. Shasta region hiking adventures, the city of Mount Shasta is a good choice.
You could spend weeks or even a lifetime exploring all of the trails the Mt. Shasta region has to offer, but if you only have a day or two, Heart Lake Trail is one you don’t want to miss, especially with that special someone.
❤️ Heart Lake Trail Stats
- Length- approximately 2.5 miles round-trip
- Elevation Gain- approximately 600 feet
- Difficulty- Moderate to challenging depending upon your hiking abilities
- Estimated Hike Time- Give yourself at least 2 hours for hiking and enjoying the views at the end. There are lots of photo-ops along the way! We spent 3 hours total on the trail and at the lake.
- Best Time to Hike- May-October (Always check weather conditions.)
❤️ Getting to the Heart
From the city of Mount Shasta, take Ream Ave., South toward Hwy. 5 and Lake Siskiyou. After approximately 1 mile, you will turn left onto WA Barr Rd.
Continue on WA Barr Rd. for approximately 1.7 miles and then turn left onto Ney Springs Rd. As the road curves, stay to the right and you’ll be on Castle Lake Rd.
After the curve, there is a continuation of Ney Springs Road to your left. Do not turn left on the continuation of Ney Springs Rd! This is where we got mixed up and had to turn around.
Drive approximately 7 miles on Castle Lake Rd. until you reach the Castle Lake parking lot. We were there on a weekday during the second week of September and plenty of parking was available.
❤️ Start the Heart at Castle Lake
You’ll be tempted to stop at Castle Lake and hang out for the entire afternoon. If you have time, go for it! This picturesque glacial lake is a dream spot for kayaking and swimming. A floating platform in the middle of the crystal-clear water gives swimmers a spot to practice their jumping skills. What an idyllic scene! A day at Castle Lake would be romantic, too, but don’t forget, you’re here to follow the Heart.
Note: There is a vault toilet available in the parking lot. You may want to hit the head before you hit the trail. You won’t find another one. Also, make sure you bring your own food and drinking water! There isn’t any available at Castle Lake. And your date does not want to wait around while you filter water from the nearby creek.
❤️ Follow the Heart
Heart Lake Trail became so popular over the years, the trail began to suffer with over-use and erosion. For that reason, a new one was created, and the old trail was de-commissioned. Avoid hiking on the de-commissioned trail to protect the fragile ecosystem. I read a great tip on the Mount Shasta Trails Association (MSTA) website about how to know you’re on the correct path. “If it is green, don’t tread there.”
Don’t worry, you’re not missing anything by not hiking the old trail. The new trail has more spectacular vistas than the old one.
The MSTA website has detailed wayfinding instructions for Heart Lake Trail. I suggest taking a look at that before you start your hike.
Before the switchbacks through the forested area began, we questioned whether we were taking the right path, but a local gentleman pointed us in the correct direction. We had no problem following the trail after that.
Be aware, there are lots of switchbacks on Heart Lake Trail to help you tackle the elevation gain. Stop to take a breather every now and then. Notice the vegetation, especially the wildflowers, and marvel at the mirror-like Castle Lake below. See Mt. Shasta back there? Stunning. But it gets even better.
As soon as the view of the mountains opened up, I swear I could hear Julie Andrews singing, The Sound of Music. I think I saw her twirling around.
Heart Lake Trail is 360 degrees of breathtaking alpine beauty! No photos can do it justice. You simply have to experience this trail yourself and maybe with someone else- if you’re lucky. You should never hike alone anyway, right?
Continue to follow the signs and cairns to stay on the correct path.
You will come to a spur on your right that leads to Mike’s Point. This is one of the many “can’t miss” photo-op spots. We stopped to have a quick picnic on the rocky outcrop.
Romantic Advice: If you want to impress a date, pack a mini charcuterie board. It doesn’t have to be fancy- just some slices of salami, or whatever meat you like, sliced or cubed cheese, a few nuts, a little fruit, olives, and a few crackers. Put everything in a small plastic container that will fit in your backpack. And don’t forget to bring a couple of napkins! I’m not the only one who is wooed by this sort of romantic gesture, am I?
❤️ And Here’s Why Heart Lake Trail Is “The One”
If what you’ve seen already isn’t enough to make Heart Lake Trail “The One”, then the end of the trail will surely convince you. Do you see the heart? (It’s upside down from this side of the lake.)
Everything about Heart Lake is enchanting, made even more so by the journey to reach it. I imagine many marriage proposals have been proffered here. What better place than the edge of a heart-shaped lake to profess eternal love? Now, that’s romantic!
Keep in mind Heart Lake is a popular spot. For a better chance at avoiding crowds, start your hike early in the morning, especially if you’re hiking on a weekend.
You can hike the trail around the lake which leads to Middle Peak (also known as Castle Peak) to get a right side up view of the heart and premier views of the surrounding Shasta region. Just be prepared for a rockier, more challenging climb. See the MSTA website’s Heart Lake Trail map for more information.
Well, what did you think? Can you see why I rate it “The One”? In all of our travels, I haven’t found another trail quite as romantic or endearing. Heart Lake Trail will always have a special place in my heart.
❤️ Hungry After the Heart?
The perfect place to satisfy your post-hike appetite is Yaks Shack in Mount Shasta. Yaks is casual, has outdoor seating, and a most quirky way of taking customers’ orders. Staff assigns a nickname to every customer, and you must listen for yours to be called to know when your food is ready. Our nicknames were “Mr. Always Right” and “Smarty Pants”.
Although Yaks has a variety of menu options, it is renowned for its burgers. Definitely try one, but get ready to drop your jaws, because Yaks’ burgers are huge! If you can eat yours without a knife and fork, I’ll be impressed!
If you’re up for stepping out of the classic burger zone and trying new flavor combinations, I suggest the OMG burger. Yes, it stands for what you think, and I said it after my first bite. I’m pretty sure my eyes rolled back in my head. The flavors of perfectly grilled grass-fed beef, lemon ginger marmalade, cream cheese, fried jalapeno chips, onion, tomato, lettuce, and aioli were OMG amazing!
Besides the unique variety of burger flavor combinations, Yaks Shack also offers a unique condiment, its house-made lavender ketchup. (No, it’s not purple.) I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the herbal flavor was surprisingly subtle and an interesting twist on traditional ketchup. Order up a side of fries and give it a try. (Yaks has good fries, too.)
Yaks Shack is also a prime spot for breakfast if you’d rather start your date with breakfast rather than end it with dinner. (Lucky for you if you get to do both!) The Sunrise Breakfast Sandwich was on point, but Yaks’ breakfast burritos are where it’s at!
If you’re into coffee creations and you like peanut butter, you must try Yaks’ peanut butter latte. I rarely drink anything but straight up breakfast blend, but the peanut butter latte blew me away. Pure decadence! The maple walnut scones were also a big hit for me and delicious paired with the latte. I definitely needed a hike after this breakfast!
❤️ Other Hikes in the Area
If you are interested in exploring other hikes in the area, here are some good options:
- Faery Falls/Ney Springs, Mount Shasta, CA
- McCloud Waterfalls Trail, McCloud, CA
- Crags Trail in Castle Crags State Park– Castella, CA- (There is a fee to enter the park.)
If you have at least a half day to spare, I recommend driving to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial Park in Burney, California. Believe me, the 60-mile drive from Mount Shasta is worth it to see Burney Falls and hike the loop trail- another very romantic experience.
Burney Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls I’ve ever seen. I’ll be writing about it when I cover my Circle of Discovery tour, the famed route through the natural wonders of Northern California and Southern Oregon. Until then, here’s a sneak peek at Burney Falls.
I hope you are inspired to someday take a date on the romantic Heart Lake Trail. It’s a winner!
As always, thanks for reading!
*The time I spent in the Shasta-Trinity region had a huge impact on my life as reflected in my poem Speck . It was one more re-assurance that we are all just specks on the landscape of time.
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