Our first-ever Spring’s Out! Campout went great! Riders from the Redding area and other parts of Northern California joined us to welcome the Spring season. We rode fully loaded bikes and camped out for the first weekend of Spring—enjoying sunny skies and mild temperatures.

The campout was free, casual, and open-invite, following an “Intro to Bikepacking” clinic we hosted at the shop a few weeks prior. The goal was to make the trip accessible to riders of all skill levels and bike setups, including those who had never camped by bike before. It was a big success, with an amazing turnout: we counted 25 bikepackers in total, including around eight first-timers!

The ride started at Redding Adventure Hub around 11 a.m. on Saturday. We followed the Sacramento River Trail to connect to the Sacramento River Rail Trail, camping at Shasta Campground next to the Shasta Dam. The pace was slow and relaxed, with multiple breaks along the way to dip in the water and chat with fellow riders. Once we reached camp, everyone quickly found spots to set up their tents (or hammocks) for the night.

While waiting for the sun to set, some of the group hiked down to the water, while others pulled out a ping pong kit to play on one of the campsite tables. A select few rode to the top of Shasta Dam to take in the view and the setting sun. As night fell, we started a fire in the fire pit and gathered around—telling stories, joking around, and keeping an eye out for odd sightings in the night sky.

The next day, riders headed out shortly after 9 a.m. The group split into two: some rode back along the paved paths, while others climbed to the top of the dam and returned via dirt trails. Most of the group reconvened in downtown Redding to finish things off at the new Redding Public Market with celebratory drinks and lunch.

We were thrilled to see so many new faces. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves, and several even asked if we’d be hosting another bike campout in the future. We’ll definitely consider it. Thank you to everyone who came and rolled with us!

The Spring’s Out! Campout was a community bike campout, hosted and organized by Redding Adventure Hub and Bike, Camp & Chill. Redding Adventure Hub is your local hub for biking the great outdoors in Northern California. Bike, Camp & Chill is a just-for-fun adventure and media project focused on bikepacking, route development, and getting more people out riding and connecting outdoors—created by Dallas Mignano.

Youtube Video Link: https://youtu.be/ue_dvtSTqvI?si=s7P4I7puCoLU-5rF