Hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders can explore a new four-mile trail along the Sacramento River near Keswick Reservoir, with completion of a project by local volunteers and the Bureau of Land Management.
The Hornbeck Trail segment, named for a volunteer who was instrumental in its development, follows the path of a historic mining railroad on the east side of the river. It features gentle grades suitable for all age groups. The new trail is the first completed segment in a trail that will eventually allow “loop” trips from Keswick Reservoir to Shasta Dam and back using both sides of the river.
Volunteers unofficially named the trail segment for volunteer Chuck Hornbeck, a retired civil engineer and Shasta College engineering instructor, who was a leader in determining the trail route and recording important historic information. Hornbeck was recently honored by the BLM Redding Office for his contributions. The new trail segment follows the path of a historic mining railroad called the “Old Diggings Railroad,” the “Quartz Hill Railroad,” or the “Mammoth Mine Railroad,” said Dr. Eric Ritter, archaeologist for the Redding Field Office. The rail line was used in the early 1900s to haul quartz used as flux for nearby copper smelting at Kennett (now under Shasta Lake).
Directions to this trail To reach trailheads, take Market Street north from central Redding to Lake Boulevard and turn left. Continue west approximately two miles to Quartz Hill Road, turn left and continue about a mile to the trailhead. To reach a second trailhead, take Lake Boulevard past Quartz Hill Road and continue approximately two miles to Walker Mine Road. Turn left and continue to the trailhead. There is a map available for this area.