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 Sac 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, that travels up and away from the Sacramento River to the terminus of the town of Shasta.