Bunny Flat to Deadfall Lakes — Trinity Alps High Road via Scott Mountain Summit
Granite, cold lakes, zero crowds — Trinity Alps.
The Trinity Alps are Northern California’s best-kept overland secret — a granite wilderness that feels more like the Sierra Nevada but with a fraction of the traffic. This route leaves the Bunny Flat staging area on Forest Road 40N22 and works north through Shasta-Trinity National Forest timber country, cresting at Scott Mountain Summit (elevation 5,401 ft) before dropping toward the Deadfall Lakes basin, where cold cirque lakes sit cupped in exposed granite beneath Mount Eddy’s flank. The road surface is rough gravel and dirt with embedded rock sections on the descent — the kind of trail that chews up low-profile all-seasons and laughs about it.
A true stock 4WD with decent ground clearance handles the route in good conditions, but the descent toward Deadfall can get gnarly with loose granite slabs after early-season snowmelt — typically mid-June through October is the safe window. No permits needed. Water is available from streams but filter everything. Dispersed camping is allowed on USFS ground along the route. Cell service is gone once you leave I-5 behind. Weed or Yreka is your fuel stop. What you get out here is real Trinity Alps country — no crowds, no pavement, just granite peaks, cold lakes, and the smell of Douglas fir.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 24 mi / 38.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5401 ft |
| Best season | June-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Weed, California |
| Land manager | USFS Shasta-Trinity National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Shasta-Trinity NF |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Tacoma handle this trail without modifications?
Yes — a stock 4WD high-clearance vehicle is the minimum and will get through fine under normal conditions. Lifted rigs have more comfort on the rocky sections near Scott Mountain Summit, but it's not required.
When does the trail typically open after winter, and is snow a real concern?
June is the earliest realistic window, but snow can linger at elevation into late June or early July depending on the snowpack year. Check with Shasta-Trinity NF before heading out — the summit section near 5,400 ft is the last to clear.
Do I need a permit to run this trail or camp along the route?
No permit is required for vehicle travel or dispersed camping on Shasta-Trinity National Forest land. A valid California Campfire Permit is required if you're building a fire — get it free at campfire.ca.gov before you leave.
What's the hardest section of the trail and what should I actually expect?
The approach to Scott Mountain Summit has the roughest surface — loose rock, off-camber ledges, and a few shelf road stretches with no room for error. It's not technically extreme, but it demands attention and a slow pace; this isn't a trail to rush.
There's no cell service on the entire route — how do I handle the water crossings without knowing current conditions ahead of time?
Call the Weaverville Ranger District before departure to get a current read on crossing depths — early season crossings can be thigh-deep on snowmelt years. Carry a paper topo or download offline maps; once you leave Weed, you're on your own.
Trail track
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