Faery Falls in Ney Spring Canyon

Nestled in Ney Springs Canyon below Castle Lake lies a hidden gem. The 1.5-mile round-trip hike to Faery Falls will lead you through the ruins of the old Ney Springs Resort and up the beautiful canyon surrounded by evergreens and crag outcroppings. The falls are 50 feet tall, cascade down the canyon in spectacular fashion, and are a great addition to your adventures in the Mount Shasta area. The hike itself begins at the bottom of an old use road, and if you have a four-wheel drive high-clearance vehicle you can continue for about a half mile up into the area where the resort was located. According to the Mount Shasta Trail Association, Ney Spring was discovered by John Ney in 1887. It became a destination health resort based on the mineral waters there. The water has a pH of 11.6 and a silica content of 4,000 parts per million, the highest values known to occur in natural ground waters. The area became a popular destination for locals and people passing through the area, and with the ability to accommodate 50 guests, the resort had several buildings and multiple pools. Very little of the resort remains today. You will pass a few old pieces of machinery, a few retaining walls, and a few old pools if you go down to the creek in the resort section. The water in the pool is extremely slick and still bubbles up from below. As you continue up the singletrack road from the resort for about a quarter mile you will come upon a use trail heading down toward the creek. This trail will take you to a nice viewing area right in front and above the falls. From there you can work your way down to the bottom. Due to the mist from the falls, this makes a great late summer or early fall hike to escape the summer heat. Above the canyon on the north side there are also trails that lead to multiple crag walls that are local rock climbing attractions.