SHASTA COUNTY FAMOUS SUNDIAL BRIDGE, PICTURESQUE LAKES, A RECREATIONAL PARADISE

Adventurous vacationers love Shasta County’s urban seat: the perfectly-placed city of Redding. As the second largest California city north of Sacramento, it is both a recreational hub and epicenter of commerce, with essentials such as parks, shopping, theaters, golf, dining, and city trails. Redding boasts everything from world-class fishing on the renowned Sacramento River to the artistic and educational Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Landing a spot in calendars and coffee table books the world over, the internationallyrenowned Sundial Bridge stretches over the Sacramento River and welcomes you to Redding’s 17.4 mile Sacramento River National Recreation Trail, which is part of a 226-mile collection of pedestrian and cycling trails within a 10-mile radius of the city. If you don’t arrive in time to see the 217-foot-tall sundial cast its timetelling shadow, you can still enjoy seeing the glass-decked bridge lit beautifully at night, and this section of the trail network can be enjoyed year-round by enthusiasts of all strides.

The historic mining settlement of Shasta State Historic Park rests just west of town, and immediately beyond that is Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, a favorite for sailing, swimming, paddleboarding, water skiing, wakeboarding, canoeing, kayaking, and waterfall exploration. Mountain biking enthusiasts love the lake area’s bike trails, perfect for every skill level. Dog lovers can bring their buddies to picnic, camp and hike Crystal Creek Falls, one of four waterfalls in the area, a destination in and of itself. Visitors are also welcome to bring their bait and saddles, as fishing and horseback riding are also popular here.

With Shasta Lake being the largest recreational reservoir in California, it’s no surprise that it offers a wide variety of vacation experiences.

The “Houseboat Capital of the World” welcomes all, from basic campers on pontoons, to floating luxury condominiums, and several lakeside resorts and RV parks provide a relaxing vacation alternative to get away from it all. The lake was formed by one of the engineering marvels of the 20th century: Shasta Dam, the tallest center overflow dam in the world. If every family in the USA had a swimming pool, the water held back by the dam would be enough to fill every one of them! Dam tours are free, available daily, and include a ride into the heart of the structure in a 40 story elevator. Another attraction on the lake is Lake Shasta Caverns

National Natural Landmark, dated at least 200 million years, and formed by flowing water. Over the years this water drained leaving the caverns as seen today. The caves are made entirely of limestone and feature every type of possible formation, including stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, columns, and flowstone.

North of the lake, the awe-inspiring granite towers of Castle Crags State Park loom over I-5. The spires were formed 200 million years ago by volcanic activity, and while Crags Trail is a steep hike, perseverance is rewarded with breathtaking views of the Crags and of Mt. Shasta

To the south of Redding, Anderson and Cottonwood are located on the Sacramento River and provide small town atmospheres reminiscent of a bygone era. Anderson River Park has miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding or leisurely strolls. The park also showcases the Summer Serenade concert series, along with picnic areas, river access, handicap fishing access, and a challenging disc golf course. The city also serves as host to the region’s only factory outlet shopping center, Shasta Gateway Center. Nearby Cottonwood is considered a step back into yesteryear with its good-neighborly, cowboy downtown, quaint eateries, and several antique stores.

Eastern Shasta County combines cool mountain air, rich agricultural land, trout-filled streams, and beautiful lakes, such as Lake Britton, Big Lake, Fall River Lake, Eastman, Crystal and Baum Lakes. All accommodate activities such as sailing, water sports, and fishing. The Fall River valley produces 25 percent of the world’s wild rice, and the town of Fall River Mills hosts one of the region’s beloved museums, the Fort Crook Museum, which preserves the 150 yearold log buildings built to serve as an outpost. Shasta County’s eastern region also features the town of Burney, a humble logging town now developed into a popular destination.

Heading east on Highway 44 from the Sacramento Valley, you’ll find the northern entrance to Lassen Volcanic National Park, home to the serene Manzanita Lake and the Loomis Museum. The park boasts incredible mountain scenery reminiscent of Yosemite, as well as fascinating thermal wonders similar to Yellowstone, with a fraction of the visitors. Lassen offers three different types of geothermal features (steam vents, mudpots, and hot springs), all four types of volcanoes (shield, plug dome, cinder cone, and composite), and all types of naturally occurring lakes! Near Lassen

Peak, the road reaches 8,512 feet, making it the highest road in the Cascade Mountain range. Hat Creek, famous for its spring fed waters and abundant rainbow trout, is just north of Lassen Park. Numerous volcanic features in the area are highlighted by Subway Cave, an underground, easily-explored phenomenon. Campgrounds and picnic areas adjacent to the creek provide for memorable weekend getaways or perfect stops for a quick lunch. For further information on the entire UpStateCA region call 530-365-7500 or visit www.UpStateCA.com.