Sacramento River Rail Trail
The Sacramento River Rail Trail is a historic and scenic non-motorized paved path running 11 miles north-south along the western shore of the Keswick Reservoir from just below Shasta Dam to Keswick Dam Road. Access is available from five BLM-managed trailheads including Coram Road, Matheson, Keswick Boat Launch, Rock Creek, and Keswick Dam trailheads. Hundreds of miles of trail connect to the Sacramento River Rail Trail, including the motorized off highway vehicle trails of Chappie-Shasta at the northern terminus of the trail.
There are two lanes for travel in either direction and sweeping views of the Keswick Reservoir and surrounding landscape. River access is available at multiple sites, including a paved boat launch at Keswick Boat Launch and several undeveloped areas where kayaks or other smaller craft can be launched. Shoreline fishing is also accessible at several locations, notably along the Fishermen's Trail, accessible from the Keswick Dam Trailhead.
Traveling south from Keswick Dam Trailhead, users can continue along a sister trail managed by the City of Redding, the Sacramento River Trail, to a variety of other trails and ultimately arrive at the Sundial Bridge. A paved trail outing could extend from Sundial Bridge to Shasta Dam and back, a 38-mile adventure. The most adventurous users could ride a combination of paved and dirt trails from the Sundial Bridge to Shasta Dam and back, a loop of over 40 miles along the western and eastern shores of the Sacramento River and Keswick Reservoir, and across the top of Shasta Dam.
You can visit the Rails to Trails Conservancy online to learn about these trails’ 2024 inclusion in Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame.
The trails are loaded with natural and cultural history. Between Keswick Dam Trailhead to Matheson Trailhead, users will find a series of plaques identifying trees and shrubs common throughout the region. The Upper Sacramento Ditch Trail has several historic signs about mining and railroad development. Middle Creek Trail, a few miles south of Keswick Dam Road, has information about the Ruggles brothers who robbed a stagecoach there in 1892.
Middle Creek Trail is also a paved, 2-lane route, which travels up and away from the Sacramento River to the terminus of the town of Shasta.
Accessibility Description (ABA/ADA)
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This paved, accessible trail along the Sacramento River extends from the Sundial Bridge in Redding, California, to the Shasta Dam. The southern part of the trail is managed by the City of Redding, but the BLM manages 4 trailheads, listed below in a south-to-north order. Cell reception is weak to nonexistent on the trail. Potable water is available only near the northernmost Shasta Dam trailhead.
Keswick Dam Trailhead
This trailhead has a paved parking area with room for 14 vehicles, including a designated accessible parking spot with an access aisle for vehicles with a mobility device ramp or lift.
The designated space is next to an accessible single vault toilet. There is also a shaded kiosk with site and safety information and a built-in bench. The area around the kiosk is natural surface.
A paved spur trail leads to 2 shade structures where there is 1 bench without arms and 4 picnic tables, 3 placed under the structures and 1 outside. Some visitors with mobility devices may find the configuration of the tables challenging.
From the parking area, the main trail has a steep grade (about 14 percent) for about 0.75 miles, until it flattens out at a ridge.
Rock Creek Trailhead
This trailhead has a paved parking lot with room for 10 vehicles, including 1 designated accessible parking space. A shaded kiosk with site and safety information sits next to the parking lot, on natural surface. There is no toilet or picnic table.
A paved spur connects with the main trail about 100-200 feet from the parking lot.
Keswick Boat Ramp
This boat ramp doubles as an access point for the Sacramento River Rail Trail, with the boat ramp access road crossing over the Trail.
There is a large, paved parking area near an accessible double vault toilet and a shaded kiosk with site and safety information and a built-in bench. There is no designated accessible parking space in the paved lot, but the entire parking area should be suitable for people with mobility devices. The path leading from the parking area to the toilets and kiosk is not paved and is narrow in spots.
Shasta Dam Trailhead
This trailhead is the northern terminus of the trail. It is near the Chappie-Shasta Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Area and the Shasta Campground.
The trailhead has a gravel parking area with room for 12 vehicles. Although none of the spaces are designated as accessible, the entire parking area should be suitable for people with mobility devices.
The parking lot is next to a double vault toilet that is kept locked except during special events. Also, due to erosion there may be a lip near the toilet’s entrance. Accessible toilets are available 0.4 miles away at the Chappie-Shasta OHV Recreation Area. Potable water is available from an accessible hydrant 0.4 miles away at the Shasta Campground’s day-use area, and there are other hydrants at the Campground and the OHV Recreation Area.
There is also a shaded kiosk on gravel with site and safety information and a built-in bench.
Middle Creek Trail
The Middle Creek Trail is a paved, 3-mile trail. There are no designated trailheads or accessible parking areas for this trail.
The Middle Creek Trail can be reached via the southern, City of Redding-managed portion of the Sacramento River Rail Trail. Visitors can also access the Middle Creek Trail by going to the Keswick Dam Trailhead and then heading south on the Sacramento River Rail Trail for about 2 miles, until it intersects the Middle Creek Trail.
From the start of the Trail to where it crosses over Iron Mountain Road, a 2-lane road with fast-moving traffic, the Trail has a gentle grade. From there to its terminus, at Shasta State Historic Park, the Trail becomes steeper, with a grade of approximately 10 percent.
Note: Descriptions and photos uploaded June 2025. Please note that actual on-the-ground conditions may vary due to natural events (e.g., weather, wildfires, erosion), normal wear and tear, or site improvements.
Phone
Geographic Coordinates
Directions
To reach the Sacramento River Rail Trail, via the Keswick Dam Road from downtown Redding, take 299 W 2.5 miles. Turn right on Iron Mountain Rd for 2 miles. Turn right on Keswick Dam Rd and travel 1 mile until you see the trailhead on your left, just before Keswick Dam. For directions to other trailheads, please refer to the map.