Redding, CA: Your Gateway to Adventure in UpState California

Kayaking on Whiskeytown Lake, California © Emily Sierra

Redding, CA: Your Gateway to Adventure in UpState California

Covering 20 per cent of the Golden State and roughly the size of Ireland, UpState CA must be seen to be believed. High deserts, lush river valleys, rolling foothills, and volcanic wonders are all a short drive from one another in this natural wonderland.

The picturesque city of Redding serves as Shasta Cascade’s hub and is home to the internationally acclaimed Sundial Bridge. This stunning, glass-decked pedestrian bridge links the north and south sides of the Sacramento River. It connects the extensive walking and biking trails that make Redding “the trail capital of California.”

For those who’d prefer to be on the river instead of alongside it, according to Forbes magazine, the trout fishing in Redding is second to none in the western United States, and Redding is the second sunniest city in the country, with 300 sunny days per year, making it easy to get outside and explore.

Redding, CA, may be famous for its world-renowned Sundial Bridge, but more and more visitors are discovering that the “city-with-the-sundial” is also a great home base for trips to the nearby national parks. First, just outside Redding, you’ll find Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. This park is an outdoor lover’s paradise, boasting waterfalls, mountain trails, beaches, and wildlife viewing. It’s also a paddler’s dream, with ample opportunities for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding—you can even join a ranger-lead paddling tour in the summer. For the historically inclined, the park has plenty to teach about California’s gold rush and was dedicated by President Kennedy just months before his death.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is just an hour’s drive east of Redding. It offers incredible mountain scenery and fascinating thermal wonders. Children and avid backcountry adventurers alike enjoy the wide variety of trails, which offer opportunities for every nature lover, from birdwatching to snowshoeing. Lassen Park is one of the few remaining sanctuaries of natural darkness with fantastic star-gazing opportunities.

Round out your tour of Redding’s National Park designations with a visit to Lake Shasta Caverns National Natural Landmark. A trip to Shasta Caverns is three adventures in one with a scenic catamaran cruise across Shasta Lake, a fun bus ride to the cave entrance, and an information-filled tour of what some geologists consider one of the most beautiful limestone caves in the U.S.A.

Want to learn even more? When you’re in the area, stop on by the California Welcome Center in Anderson. It’s open seven days a week and staffed with friendly local experts who can help you find maps, activity guides, museums, art exhibits, and waterfall hikes and answer any questions you might have. It’s also conveniently located right off one of California’s most-travelled highways, Interstate 5, in Anderson, and is only closed four days per year.

If you can’t make it to the Welcome Center, check out ChooseRedding.com. In fact, when you book a two-night stay through ChooseRedding.com, you’ll get to choose from over 40 gift cards that can be used for restaurants, rentals, theatres, activities, and more.

Whether you go outdoors for tranquillity or excitement, Redding has an expansive, unspoiled stretch of nature just for you. For an unforgettable diversity of experiences, look toward the giant sundial in UpState, CA.

Learn more about Redding and choose a free gift card when you book your trip at ChooseRedding.com/Attractions