Introduction:

What? :

Little Backbone Creek located in one of the norths facing side arms of Lake Shasta in Northern California. Here you can explore the narrow canyon creek that cut his way in red rocks. The creek has running water year-round, and you can enjoy the smooth waterfall waterslide at the end of this short hike.

This short out and back hike with less than half a mile walk in the creek. The hike and the waterfall is accessible only from the lake side, so you need to come here with a boat or houseboat.

Where? :

Little Backbone Creek is located 2 miles north of Shasta Dam, on the west side of the lake. It is located northwest across Digger Bay at Shasta Lake.

If you are coming by boat from Bridge Bay at Shasta Lake you need to go for about 4 miles west, pass SlaughtherHouse island and then cross Big Backbone creek west and get into the inlet, progress with your boat all the way to the back of the inlet until you hit the creek and anchor there.

When we came here (June 2024) the lake level was high so we can progress deep into the creek but there were several other houseboats already near the creek, we had to anchor ¼ mile from the creek exit itself and swim to the start of the hike.

Google Map Link

When? :

The trail from the lake access is open year-round but the best time to visit here is during summertime where the weather is hot, and it is fun to spend time in the water.

Due note 1:

This short hike to the waterfall and it is accessible only from the lake side, so you need to come here with a boat or houseboat.

Due note 2:

When walking inside the creek with the running water use caution as rocks may be slippery.

Due note 3:

Bringing a waterproof camera along with you, we had to swim from our houseboat to the trail start so I did not have my camera or phone with me, this is why I can’t share pictures from the hike and the waterfall sliding.

Due note 4:

Be aware: The rocks here are full of brown – red minerals that can stain your cloths, swimsuits or water-shoes. darker colors is the best way to avoid red stains on your clothing. My wife complain on here ruined favorite swim shirt 😊

My thoughts:

At this Lake Shasta visit we rent our houseboat far from this section of the lake (Silverthorn Resort). It took us several hours of slow sailing to reach this west side of the lake. This was a fun hike in a beautiful red rocks canyon and the waterfall sliding was the highlight of the walk.

This is a short hike, but we spend here for about 1 hour and all had fun.

The visit:

Once you arrived with your boat to Little Backbone Creek, progress all the way to the

back of the canyon until you find a safe place to anchor your boat and head up to the canyon.

If you are far from the creek, it will be good to take water floats with you because you can’t walk to the creek exit on the shore, it is too steep.

Leave your floats at the canyon opening (ground them with a rock or a large wood) and start to walk up the creek.

We visit here during summer of 2024 (June) and there were a lot of water running in the creek.

Hike up the canyon creek, there is no clear marked trail but rather you need to pass a series of crystal-clear ponds and go over boulders. Sometime the trail pass through the water itself from side to side and in other cases you can progress on the upper side of the creek rocks.

When walking in the creek use caution as rocks are slippery.

After about 20 minutes walking up the creek you will reach a relatively large waterfall and a deep pool.

Here you can climb the rope and dangling ladder and go to the top of the 10 ft waterfall. The rock here is very smooth, and you can slide the waterfall and this natural waterslide into the pool below.

Be careful, and assess the risks before sliding the waterfall.

Sliding down the waterslide is a highlight of the short walk and it’s also super fun!

From here you need to walk back down the creek to the lake level and swim back to your boat.

Highly enjoyable short hike to the waterfall and something different to do during our Lake Shasta houseboat experience.

Additional Pictures:

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Lake Shasta - Little Backbone Creek

What? :

This short out and back hike with less than half a mile walk in the creek. The hike and the waterfall is accessible only from the lake side, so you need to come here with a boat or houseboat.

Where? :

Little Backbone Creek is located 2 miles north of Shasta Dam, on the west side of the lake. It is located northwest across Digger Bay at Shasta Lake.

If you are coming by boat from Bridge Bay at Shasta Lake you need to go for about 4 miles west, pass SlaughtherHouse island and then cross Big Backbone creek west and get into the inlet, progress with your boat all the way to the back of the inlet until you hit the creek and anchor there.

When we came here (June 2024) the lake level was high so we can progress deep into the creek but there were several other houseboats already near the creek, we had to anchor ¼ mile from the creek exit itself and swim to the start of the hike.

Google Map Link

When? :

The trail from the lake access is open year-round but the best time to visit here is during summertime where the weather is hot, and it is fun to spend time in the water.

Due note 1:

This short hike to the waterfall and it is accessible only from the lake side, so you need to come here with a boat or houseboat.

Due note 2:

When walking inside the creek with the running water use caution as rocks may be slippery.

Due note 3:

Bringing a waterproof camera along with you, we had to swim from our houseboat to the trail start so I did not have my camera or phone with me, this is why I can’t share pictures from the hike and the waterfall sliding.

Due note 4:

Be aware: The rocks here are full of brown – red minerals that can stain your cloths, swimsuits or water-shoes. darker colors is the best way to avoid red stains on your clothing. My wife complain on here ruined favorite swim shirt 😊

My thoughts:

At this Lake Shasta visit we rent our houseboat far from this section of the lake (Silverthorn Resort). It took us several hours of slow sailing to reach this west side of the lake. This was a fun hike in a beautiful red rocks canyon and the waterfall sliding was the highlight of the walk.

This is a short hike, but we spend here for about 1 hour and all had fun.

The visit:

Once you arrived with your boat to Little Backbone Creek, progress all the way to the

back of the canyon until you find a safe place to anchor your boat and head up to the canyon.

If you are far from the creek, it will be good to take water floats with you because you can’t walk to the creek exit on the shore, it is too steep.

Leave your floats at the canyon opening (ground them with a rock or a large wood) and start to walk up the creek.

We visit here during summer of 2024 (June) and there were a lot of water running in the creek.

Hike up the canyon creek, there is no clear marked trail but rather you need to pass a series of crystal-clear ponds and go over boulders. Sometime the trail pass through the water itself from side to side and in other cases you can progress on the upper side of the creek rocks.

When walking in the creek use caution as rocks are slippery.

After about 20 minutes walking up the creek you will reach a relatively large waterfall and a deep pool.

Here you can climb the rope and dangling ladder and go to the top of the 10 ft waterfall. The rock here is very smooth, and you can slide the waterfall and this natural waterslide into the pool below.

Be careful, and assess the risks before sliding the waterfall.

Sliding down the waterslide is a highlight of the short walk and it’s also super fun!

From here you need to walk back down the creek to the lake level and swim back to your boat.

Highly enjoyable short hike to the waterfall and something different to do during our Lake Shasta houseboat experience.

Additional Pictures:

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