Summary 
| Difficulty | 2 Beginner-intermediate |
| Length | 2.3 miles one-way to McGowan Road |
| Starting Elevation |
5550 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+650 one-way to McGowan Road |
| Navigation | Road |
| Time | Short |
| Season | Mid-December through early April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Lassen Peak, Mineral |
| Start | Christie Hill Road Trailhead on Highway 36, 3.7 miles east of the Mineral Post Office and 0.6 mile west of the junction of Highways 36 and 89. |
| End | Junction of Christie Hill Road and McGowan Road. There is no vehicle access to this point. Return via the same route or one of the other routes described in this guide. |
Description
Christie Hill Road, which has been set aside as a Nordic trail and is closed to snowmobiles, is a popular starting point. However, unless you return via the same route you will need a shuttle car.
Two excellent one-way tours can be created by either combining the Christie Hill Road tour with McGowan Road and Nanny Creek Road or with McGowan Road and Eighty-Nine Run tour. The latter one-way tour when skied starting with Eighty-Nine Run has an initial climb of 150 feet followed by a descent of 1000 feet. Ski it after a cold storm and it can be exhilarating.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 1.5
Elevation change: +300
From the trailhead (1), head north, but quickly you turn northeast, and ski a total of 1.5 miles until you reach a road junction (2).
A building is located to the southeast (right) of the road at the 1.0-mile mark. Don't be surprised if you pass by the building without noticing it. There is no landmark on the road.
At the road junction, the fork to the north (left) is the continuation of this tour. The fork to the south (right) is a lessor road, that might not even be visible. Whether you see it or not, at this point you make a turn to the north (left).
Waypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 1.5 - 2.1
Elevation change: +250
Ski north on Christie Hill Road for 0.6 mile until you reach a road junction (3). The terrain at the junction is fairly level and open, and sometimes it is difficult to tell that you are at a Y intersection. This tour continues on the northeast (right) fork.
Waypoint 3 to 4
Miles: 2.1 - 2.3
Elevation change: +100
Turn northeast (right) and ski for 0.2 mile until you reach McGowan Road (4).
