Sacramento River Rail Trail — paved return from Rock Creek
California · Greenway
From Rock Creek trailhead use the paved spur to the main rail trail. Head north along Keswick Reservoir for up to three miles and retrace before the Shasta Dam/OHV boundary or an earlier barrier. Natural shore paths, off-highway vehicle routes and dirt loop extensions are excluded.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Redding / Keswick · California
- Ride length
- Up to 6 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Paved two-lane non-motorized rail trail
- Road crossings
- Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure.
- Elevation
- Rolling reservoir-side rail corridor and access ramps. Do not assume uniformly flat terrain; the separate Keswick Dam approach has a documented approximately 14% grade.
- Starting location
- BLM Rock Creek public trailhead, Sacramento River Rail Trail, Iron Mountain Road, CA
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Approximate named public park/facility reference, not a surveyed entrance or parking stall.
Sacramento River Rail Trail — paved return from Rock Creek — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-22. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A selected outing on a documented improved bicycle route. Follow the stated public start and course.
Start and parking
Start: BLM Rock Creek public trailhead, Sacramento River Rail Trail, Iron Mountain Road, CA.
BLM describes a public paved Rock Creek trailhead lot for about ten vehicles and a short paved connection to the main path. No toilet is provided at this trailhead; do not rely on distant facilities.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 6 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: From Rock Creek trailhead use the paved spur to the main rail trail. Head north along Keswick Reservoir for up to three miles and retrace before the Shasta Dam/OHV boundary or an earlier barrier. Natural shore paths, off-highway vehicle routes and dirt loop extensions are excluded.
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Paved two-lane non-motorized rail trail. Rolling reservoir-side rail corridor and access ramps. Do not assume uniformly flat terrain; the separate Keswick Dam approach has a documented approximately 14% grade.
Crossings and shared use
Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and obey posted trail, park and parking hours. Follow current public visitor-parking terms; reserved activities and events have separate conditions.
Reviewed 2026-10-22. Current BLM profile expressly describes the paved non-motorized corridor and the Rock Creek approach. Its accessibility photographs/descriptions were uploaded June 2025 and explicitly are not a current condition inspection. The broader 38-mile Sundial-to-dam return is a separate outing. Check fire, heat and work controls before travel. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.