Leave No Trace 
All Eastside Keswick Trails users are asked to follow the BLM's Leave No Trace policy. This policy is easy to follow, including simple tasks like picking up after yourself, keeping pets leashed, and respecting the wildlife.
BLM Camping
Eastside Keswick Trails
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Redding is considered to be California's Trail Capital, and the Eastside Keswick Trails make this so. All located on the eastern side of the Keswick Reservoir and Dam in Redding, California, these trails make up over 25 miles of single-lane dirt tracks. Known for being easy to walk with pretty flat terrain, these trails are popular with locals and visitors for hiking, biking, and horse riding. These trails are owned and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a US government organization.
Many of the trails in the Eastside Keswick trail system include optional side treks, some leading to the edge of the reservoir where waterfalls and natural cascades can be seen during the wet season, usually in spring. The Hornbeck Trail in the system follows a historic mining railroad and was the first trail to be marked and added to the trail network. Other trails visitors can take include the Upper and Lower Sacramento Ditch trails, both of which follow the Sacramento water ditch. Another top destination in the trail system is Chamise Peak, a mountain peak that offers incredible views of the Keswick Reservoir and the city of Redding from above and can be accessed by taking the Chamise Peak Trail.
What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
Lower/Upper F.B. Trail
A great trail for bikers and joggers, the Lower/Upper F.B. Trail follows the banks of the Sacramento River and offers stopping points for fishing and swimming. The full length of the trail also includes side trails that can be taken for longer or shorter hikes.
Length: 21.6 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Sacramento River Rail Trail
The Sacramento River Rail Trail is a paved trail that follows the length of one of the historic railroads beside the Keswick Reservoir. This trail also intersects with the Sacramento River Trail and offers amazing mountain and forest views.
Length: 11.1 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Hornbeck Trail
A loop trail, the Hornbeck Trail was the first Eastside Keswick Trail and was named after Chuck Hornbeck, a local civil engineer who had helped construct the Old Diggings Railroad that the trail follows. This railroad had been built in the early 1900s and was used to transport quartz from a local mine to a smelting station named Kennett. Kennett is now under Shasta Lake, where trail users can stop to partake in fishing or boating.
Length: 5.5 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Fishing & Boating
Nearly all of the Eastside Keswick Trails intersect the Keswick Reservoir, a nine-mile-long reservoir between the Keswick Dam and Shasta Lake. Built in the 1960s to regulate the water levels of Shasta Lake, fish slowly began to populate the reservoir to feed on flies and other insects in the water. Today, anglers find that fishing here, mainly for trout, is a unique challenge because the reservoir's water currents are ever-changing, making the feeding areas of the fish also ever-changing. If you'd like to try your hand at fishing in this reservoir, try fly fishing in the quicker-moving current areas.
Fishing and boating are also possible in Shasta Lake and on the Sacramento River, both of which can be accessed by Eastside Keswick Trails like the Hornbeck Trail or Sacramento River Trail. Spotted, largemouth, and smallmouth bass are commonly found in Shasta Lake while very large steelhead and rainbow trout have been reportedly caught in the Sacramento River.
Wildlife Viewing
Since the Eastside Keswick Trails weave through the mountains and forests of Redding, you are bound to encounter a couple of different wildlife species. Large mammals residing in this area include black bears, deer, and mountain lions. Water animals such as otters, badgers, and water snakes are also easy to spot since there are many lakes, rivers, and streams near the trails. Whenever you hit the trails to see the local wildlife, be sure to keep your distance and do not disturb them.
Picnicking
Many of the Eastside Keswick Trails include benches and picnic areas at the trailheads for you to use when you want to enjoy a picnic. Some may also have trash bins for you to use; however, it helps to have your own trash bags on hand to use just in case there aren't. Whenever you eat on or near the trails, picking up after yourself is important so that you do not affect the ecosystem.
Bureau of Land Management Camping
RV Camping 
If you are looking for BLM camping with hookups, check out some non-BLM-owned local campgrounds. You can go RV camping at a place like Lakehead Campground & RV Park for full hookups and free Wi-Fi plus access to an on-site pool. You may also like Marina RV Park, which has the same hookups plus access to a marina on the Sacramento River.
Free Camping 
If you're looking for a Bureau of Land Management free camping option, check out Steiner Flat Primitive Campground near the Eastside Keswick Trails. This campground requires no fees for tents and RVs to stay, and it is located nearby a boat ramp and multiple trailheads. You can also try dispersed camping at the Salt Creek Dispersed Camping Area if you'd like to pick your own campsite on the edge of a large creek. Both of these Bureau of Land Management campgrounds are completely primitive, meaning you will have no water or electricity to use while there.
RV Rentals Near Eastside Keswick Trails Plan your next adventure
Planning your Eastside Keswick Trails BLM trip
Anytime you hike on the Eastside Keswick Trails, be sure to pack plenty of drinking water and check the weather to see if you will need rain gear. If you are planning on camping in a BLM-owned primitive campground, be sure to pack all the water you will need plus batteries and battery-operated equipment to make your stay more comfortable. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Leave No Trace
Eastside Keswick Trails Location
All of the Eastside Keswick Trails are located along the east side of the Keswick Reservoir, and most trailheads are found along Keswick Dam Road, Quartz Hill Road, Walker Mine Road, and Flanagan Road in Redding, California. To reach Redding from Sacramento, use I-5 North.
Ready to visit Eastside Keswick Trails? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.