01
Best overall pick
Clear Creek Greenway Trail
Clear Creek Greenway Southwest Of Redding • Creekside Multi-Use Trail Network • Local Favorite
Miles of mostly gentle paths hug Clear Creek, with easy access points, shade, and plenty of spots to cool off in the water.
If you only have time for one outing, the main Clear Creek Greenway Trail gives you the best feel for the area: riparian forest, open gravel bars, and a ribbon of clear water slipping between boulders. You can tailor the distance by starting from different pullouts along Clear Creek Road, making it equally good for casual strolls, trail runs, and family walks. In summer, many hikers pack sandals and a towel and turn the day into a hike-and-swim combo.
02
Best for natural history
Horsetown Clear Creek Preserve
Horsetown Area Along Clear Creek Road • Oak Woodland Nature Preserve • Guided-Hike Hotspot
Short, well-marked trails wind through restored oak woodland and down to Clear Creek, with seasonal wildflowers and salmon viewing.
Horsetown Clear Creek Preserve feels a bit more curated than the rest of the corridor, with signed trail junctions and interpretive panels that highlight the creek’s mining past and ongoing habitat restoration. The paths are modest in length but rich in detail, making this an easy recommendation for newer hikers, kids, or anyone who likes a little learning with their fresh air. In fall, it is one of the most accessible places to watch spawning salmon nosing upstream through the riffles.
03
Best short walk
Clear Creek Gorge Overlook Trail
Along Clear Creek Road West Of Redding • Accessible Overlook Path • Quick Scenic Stop
A brief, mostly level path leads to railings and viewpoints perched high above the sheer-walled Clear Creek Gorge.
For maximum payoff with minimal effort, the Clear Creek Gorge Overlook is hard to beat: you park close by, walk a short distance, and suddenly the canyon drops away beneath you. Benches, fencing, and a wide path make this one of the most accessible walks in the area, ideal for mixed-ability groups or a stretch break on a driving day. Try to time your visit for late afternoon, when the low sun lights up the water far below and the surrounding cliffs glow warm orange.
04
Best foothill loop
Cloverdale Loop Trail
Cloverdale Road Corridor • Rolling Oak Woodland Loop Trail • Best Workout Loop
A moderate loop over open, grassy hillsides with broad views toward the Sacramento Valley, Shasta, and the Trinity Alps on clear days.
The Cloverdale Loop trades creekside shade for wide-open country, weaving through blue oaks and past old fencelines as it climbs and dips along the foothills. It is a favorite training circuit for locals because it offers steady elevation changes without being punishing, plus enough junctions to lengthen or shorten your route. Go in spring for green hills and wildflowers, or in cooler months when the exposed stretches feel crisp instead of hot.
05
Best for longer outings
Mule Ridge Trail
Swasey Recreation Area West Of Redding • Hilltop Singletrack Network • All-Day Explorer Pick
A mix of flowing singletrack and old roads climbs to airy ridges, with linkups that let you build anything from a solid morning hike to an all-day tour.
Mule Ridge sits a bit above Clear Creek but still feels like part of the same landscape, with oak-dotted slopes, pockets of pine, and long, undulating ridgelines. Hikers share these trails with mountain bikers, yet there is plenty of room to roam, and you can string together loops that stay on the ridge for views or drop into quieter draws for solitude. It is a good choice when you want more mileage and elevation gain than the creekside paths provide, without committing to a full-on backcountry mission.