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Dunsmuir, Mount Shasta, and Castella as Pacific Crest Trail Resupply Options

Dunsmuir, Mount Shasta, and Castella as Pacific Crest Trail Resupply Options reference article on thruhikingwiki.com.

Overview

The I-5 corridor near Castella, Dunsmuir, and Mount Shasta provides multiple resupply and lodging options for Pacific Crest Trail hikers in Northern California, roughly midway between the Hat Creek region and the Klamath Mountains.

Key points

  • The PCT passes near Castella and the Interstate 5 corridor around the mile 1,500 range for northbound hikers.
  • Castella typically offers a small store and immediate trail-adjacent services, subject to seasonal operation.
  • Dunsmuir and Mount Shasta, reached via short rides from the corridor, provide larger-town amenities and full resupply.
  • This cluster of towns often serves as a reset point before the more remote Klamath and Trinity Alps segments toward Etna.
  • Hikers can choose between a quick stop at Castella, a deeper resupply in Dunsmuir or Mount Shasta, or a combination, depending on needs.

Details

After leaving the Hat Creek and Burney region, the Pacific Crest Trail continues through forested terrain and eventually approaches the dramatic Castle Crags area and the Interstate 5 corridor near Castella. This junction forms a natural gateway to several communities that together create a flexible resupply zone for northbound and southbound hikers.

Castella, located very close to the trail and highway, has historically provided a small store and other basic services. Many hikers stop here for a quick resupply, snacks, or a mailed package pick-up, especially if they prefer to keep town time brief and return quickly to the trail. Given its modest scale, selection may be limited, so some hikers treat Castella as a supplement to larger resupplies elsewhere.

Dunsmuir and Mount Shasta lie a short distance away along the Interstate 5 corridor and typically offer more extensive amenities. These towns often include full grocery options, multiple lodging choices, restaurants, and other resources such as gear shops or shipping services in some seasons. Hikers commonly arrange rides or hitches from the PCT access points to reach these communities, then return to the trail once resupply and rest are complete.

This cluster of towns serves as a practical staging ground for the upcoming miles through more rugged, rural, and less densely serviced terrain leading toward Etna and the Klamath Mountains. Many hikers use the opportunity to adjust gear, rotate footwear, or refine their food strategy for the successive climbs and descents that characterize the remainder of Northern California.

Because operations, transportation options, and hiker-specific policies can change over time, those planning to rely on Castella, Dunsmuir, or Mount Shasta typically consult current-season information when deciding how to structure their resupply stops in this region.

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Illustrative hiking footage

The following external videos offer general visual context for typical hiking environments. They are not official route recommendations, safety instructions, or planning tools.