Fun and adventure facts

FUN AND ADVENTUROUS FACTS ABOUT REDDING AND SHASTA CASCADE The majestic region of northeastern California, abundantly scattered with lakes, rivers, mountains, and historic mining towns, offers unforgettable fun and adventure. Covering an area roughly the size of Ireland, the Shasta Cascade region is the perfect place to get back to nature, relax, and enjoy the great outdoor adventures it offers.

Boasting 300+ days of beautiful weather a year, this area offers boundless outdoor recreation with magnificent landscapes and breathtaking vistas. From towering volcanoes, alpine ranges, and glaciers, to waterfalls, lush forests, pristine lakes, and roaring rivers, this travel destination is one of a kind.

Redding, CA, located at the northern end of the Sacramento Valley, is the hub city in this incredibly vast region and offers great dining, events, lodging, and entertainment. Found at the crossroads of Interstate 5 and California state routes 299 and 44, straddling the great Sacramento River and located near several scenic and historic state and national parks, Redding is a fantastic gateway for exploration in Shasta Cascade.

Redding, California Only two hours north of Sacramento and three hours northeast of San Francisco, Shasta Cascade’s bustling hub city of Redding is just the starting point for expeditions into one of America’s most spectacular and pristine regional destinations. Called the “Gem of the U.S. Trails System” by the San Francisco Chronicle, there are more than 200 miles of hiking, biking, ATV, and equestrian trails all within a 15-mile radius of the city center, making Redding an outdoor adventurer’s dream. The Sacramento River runs right through town, and there are dozens of nearby lakes, rivers and streams offering the perfect backdrop for year-round kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, and fishing adventures.

From the Sundial Film Festival and the Redding Rodeo to music festivals, Redding’s list of year round cultural, sporting, and food & wine events draws visitors from around the world. Visitors relish shopping, dining, and wine tasting, plus Saturday mornings in the summer can be spent enjoying chefs’ cooking demonstrations at the farmers’ market at City Hall.

The scenic Sacramento River offers an abundance of water attractions within a stone’s throw of downtown, including the iconic Sundial Bridge, the world’s largest working sundial. Travelers have their choice of unique and varied lodging options offering rustic charm and modern comfort, including

pet and family friendly properties to suit any budget. And, don't forget to bring your GPS so you can experience GeoCaching—there are nearly 200 geocaches in the Redding area just waiting to be discovered!

Amazing Architectural Attractions • Pilgrim Congregational Church – Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, this church is open daily.

• Shasta Dam – Free daily tours take you deep inside the dam to see how it generates power.

• Sundial Bridge – Santiago Calatrava created an engineering and artistic masterpiece that should be experienced day and night from every angle. It’s not just a foot bridge, it’s an attraction that entertains in multiple ways: its soaring design, an aqua glass deck lit at night, views of the river and passing drift boats, surfaces covered with a mosaic of white Spanish tiles, a white pylon that casts its 217-foot-tall/66 meters shadow upon a time-keeping arc, views up and inside the pylon, and gardens leading to and surrounding the bridge.

Fishing is Top Notch!

• Fly Fishing – Redding is listed as number four on Forbes’ list of the nation’s top ten fly-fishing towns; the only city on the West Coast to receive this honor. It’s no surprise that the city is also home to “The Fly Shop;” the world’s largest fly-fishing shop. The Fly Shop is the place to go for fly-fishing equipment, fly ties, or to arrange guided trips for a unique fishing adventure.

Natural Attractions, some that even impressed Teddy Roosevelt!

• Whiskeytown National Recreation Area – a clear blue lake, free kayak tours, sailing, fishing, hiking, waterfalls, forest camping.

• Shasta Lake – the house boating capital of the world with marinas, jet skiing, wakeboarding and waterskiing, hiking, deep lake fishing, Shasta Caverns, views of Mt Shasta and Lassen Peak.

• MacArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park – a waterfall described by Teddy Roosevelt as the eighth wonder of the world.

• Lassen Volcanic National Park – all four types of volcanos can be found here: plug dome, composite, cinder and shield, along with bubbling mud, hissing fumaroles, spurting geysers, and amazing colors. Visitors can hike to the top of an active volcano.

• Mt Shasta – downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking, mountaineering, wildflowers, wildlife.

• Castle Crags State Park – rugged mountains, hiking, views of Mt. Shasta, camping.

• Shasta Caverns – tour beautiful caverns, see ancient stalagmites and stalactites.

• Subway Caves – walk beneath the Earth into total darkness inside an empty lava tube.

Performing Arts • The restored art deco Cascade Theatre in downtown Redding is Shasta Cascade’s premiere performing arts center, presenting regional and national artists.

Sacramento River • California’s longest and largest river.

• Viewing areas along the banks of the Sacramento River provide opportunities for people to spot salmon swimming upstream to spawn.

• Chartered and privately owned drift boats are often seen fishing the Sacramento River near Sundial Bridge.

• Home to rafting, kayaking, and stand-up-paddle board events and enthusiasts.

Sacramento River National Recreation Trail • One of America’s newest national recreation trails, the Sacramento River National Recreation Trail has 16.5 miles of paved concrete path between Redding and Shasta Dam. • This path rises only 400 feet/122 meters in elevation across its 16.5 mile/26 km length, providing easy walking or cycling.

• Exotic pink oleanders provide a colorful contrast to riparian oak woodlands and willows beside the river.

Three Remarkable Bridges • Sundial Bridge — One of the world’s most beautiful bridges. Sundial Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that crosses the Sacramento River through the middle of Turtle Bay Exploration, a complex of art, history and environmental museums, discovery centers and gardens. Designed by world-renowned architect, Santiago Calatrava, it is an artistic and engineering marvel. At 217 feet/66 meters tall, the pylon of this cable-stayed suspension bridge functions as the gnomon in the world’s largest sundial.

• The Diestelhorst Bridge — An arched, reinforced-concrete bridge that was built in 1914-15 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Diestelhorst Bridge, a pedestrian and bicycle path across the Sacramento River in Redding was named for Gotlieb Diestelhorst, whose family owned the land where it was built. The bridge has the distinction of being the first bridge for automobiles and the first reinforced-concrete bridge built across the Sacramento River.

• The Ribbon Bridge — The first of its kind in North America, this 13-foot-wide, 418foot-long concrete-stress-ribbon bridge provides a clear span of the entire Sacramento River floodplain. The bridge is supported by 236 steel cables inside the bridge deck connected to rock anchors drilled deep into solid bedrock. The Ribbon Bridge connects two legs of the Sacramento River Trail, a pedestrian-bicycle path that runs from central Redding via the Sundial Bridge to the Shasta Dam.

Population • Approximately 91,000 people live in the City of Redding, with about 180,000 living in Shasta County.

Transportation • The Redding Municipal Airport is served by United Express (San Francisco) with daily flights. www.reddingairport.net. Greyhound Bus Lines provide scheduled service throughout the region. Amtrak trains run daily between Los Angeles and Seattle; the Coast Starlight train passes through the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Barbara, Sacramento, Redding and Portland. Widely regarded as one of the most spectacular of all train routes, the Coast Starlight links the greatest cities on the West Coast.

Shasta Cascade Region of California The Shasta Cascade region is a wonderland of outdoor recreation. This region, covering 25% of California, offers unique experiences that include glistening lakes and world-class rivers, scenic drives and backcountry roads. Shasta Cascade is the perfect escape from the fast pace of city life, providing something for everyone to discover and enjoy whether it be great recreation, adventure or pure relaxation.

Shasta Cascade has a vast, unspoiled, landscape of breathtaking vistas, towering volcanoes, alpine ranges, glaciers, waterfalls, whitewater and lush forests. California’s Shasta Cascade contains national forests, national and state parks, the Trinity Alps, the northern Sierra Nevada and the California Cascade range – including two, massive glaciated volcanoes: the dormant 14,179 foot Mt. Shasta and the still-active 10,457 foot Lassen Peak.

From houseboating to whitewater rafting, hiking to spelunking, and gold panning to skiing there are amazing unique experiences at every turn. Of course, more traditional outdoor adventures including golf, fishing, hunting, mountain biking kayaking, cycling, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and sightseeing are in abundance as well. There is truly something for everyone in Shasta Cascade.

The Eight Counties of Shasta Cascade Shasta Cascade is made up of eight specific counties, each rich in history and filled with an abundance of outdoor activities. Find fun and interesting facts of each below.

1. Butte County – Golf, Gold and House Boating Population: 222,090 Size: 1636sq. mi.

Historical Tidbit In 1841, John Bidwell led the first overland expedition to California and discovered gold along the Feather River. The gold rush, ensuing railroad construction, and timber harvesting brought people here during the pioneer days for work and to strike it rich.

Today, the natural beauty, combined with historic museums, covered bridges, and murals make Butte County a great place to discover the past.

Outdoor Activities • Golf— Choose from 12 courses with widely varying terrains and views.

• Gold panning along the Feather River, and nearby streams.

• Houseboating on Lake Oroville. Rent a houseboat for a week, a fishing boat or a jet ski for the day.

• Fishing in Lake Oroville • Sailing, windsurfing and canoeing- The North Forebay is closed to motorized traffic- a sailor and paddler’s dream!

• Jet skiing and boating at the South Forebay, on a record setting course.

• Bicycling along the 41-mile Brad Freeman Bicycle Trail, or at Bidwell Park in Chico.

• Bird watching at the Oroville State Wildlife Area, and Gray Lodge Wildlife Area.

• Hiking on miles of trails in beautiful sanctuaries and recreational areas.

• Rock climbing in remote, beautiful locations.

2. Lassen County – Big Valley, Big Game, Big Fun Population: 32,163 Size: 4720 sq. mi.

Historical Tidbit The original settlers of the northwest region known as Big Valley were fur trappers. One such trapper was Peter Lassen, who in the 1840’s led John C. Fremont and his small army to Big Valley where they rebelled against the Mexican government and proclaimed California an independent republic. The Bear Flag officially became the state flag in 1911.

Outdoor Activities • Hunting for waterfowl in the Ash Creek, Honey Lake, or Willow Creek Wildlife Areas.

• Big game hunting in the fall for mule deer, black tailed deer, and pronghorn antelope.

• Mountain Biking on the many trails designated for this sport.

• Off highway vehicles can use the Fort Sage Off Road Vehicle Area, providing courses for every riding ability.

• Fishing in cool mountain streams, meandering brooks or clear lakes.

• Snowmobiling in Lassen County provides excellent winter recreation.

• Hiking and backpacking on improved trails, or in some of the most remote and beautiful country in the state.

• Bird watching and wildlife watching abounds at the Honey Lake Wildlife Area.

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Target shooting in designated locations in the Fort Sage Off Road Vehicle Area.

3. Modoc County – Rock Hounding, Hang Gliding and Land Sailing Population: 9147 Size: 4203 sq. mi.

Historical Tidbit This land has been inhabited for nearly 10,000 years. Native American ancestors of the present day Modoc, Pit River and Northern Paiute Tribes depended on the rich abundance of resources in the forests, plateaus and rivers. Plentiful sources of obsidian provided an excellent commodity for trading, and making high quality tools. Mid- 19 th century ranching families settled the land and developed the culture that still exists today.

Outdoor Activities • Horseback riding on thousands of acres of public forest and desert lands.

• Rock Hounding- Petrified wood, opalite, jasper and plant fossils may be found as well as obsidian, or volcanic glass.

• Land sailing on the dry lakebeds of Surprise Valley.

• Bird watching with the opportunity to see both bald eagles and sandhill cranes.

• Fishing in 255 miles of trout creeks and over 4000 acres of lakes and reservoirs.

• Hunting for mule deer, antelope and a variety of waterfowl.

• Backpacking in the South Warner Wilderness or the Modoc National Forest.

• Hang Gliding from the Warner Mountains to the east over the Surprise Valley.

• Fly Fishing at Ash Creek.

• Hiking on the Emigrant Trails that dissect this beautiful and empty land.

• Camping almost anywhere on public lands, or stay in one of 20 established campgrounds in the Modoc National Forest.

• Mountain biking- three routes of varying difficulty with spectacular views have been created on BLM lands near Alturas.

4. Plumas County – Amazing Hiking, River Rafting and Golf Population: 18,859 Size: 2613 sq. mi.

Historical Tidbit In 1850 James P. Beckwourth discovered the lowest pass over the Sierra Nevada. His wagon route penetrated the gold-rich canyons and timbered mountains of Plumas County. Portions of the Beckwourth Pass, a National Historic Trail, can be followed by car, bike or on foot.

Outdoor Activities

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Golf at 11 pristine golf courses have made the Graeagle and Lake Almanor areas renowned as golf vacation destinations.

Hiking 80 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, or literally thousands of other worthwhile hiking excursions in Plumas County.

Fishing in more than 1000 miles of streams and numerous lakes.

Birding and wildlife watching- Nearly 300 different species live in the surrounding national forests. Check out the Antelope Lake, Indian Creek or Lake Davis Wildlife Viewing Sites.

Mountain biking and road biking opportunities include abandoned logging and back country roads and trails.

Horseback riding- Hour long novice trips to overnight pack trips complete with meals. Plenty of trails, campsites and stables.

Gold Panning opportunities range from supervised panning to guided gold panning trips and the chance to strike out on public national forest land.

Snowmobiling on hundreds of miles of groomed trails throughout the national forest.

Skiing at Plumas-Eureka Ski Bowl or Stover Mountain; Cross Country Skiing from beginner-level groomed tracks to backcountry telemarking.

River Rafting or kayaking the world-class whitewater of the Feather River.

Hunting- Deer, bear and duck are among the most popular.

Camping at hundreds of campsites, many in alpine lake and forested streamside settings.

5. Shasta County – Sailing, Caving and Houseboating Heaven Population: 178,980 Size: 3775sq. mi.

Historical Tidbit The Sacramento River is prominently featured here, running directly through the center of Shasta County. It was named Jesus Maria by Spanish explorers who first discovered it in 1808. Other explorers seeing it for the first time on the Day of the Holy Sacrament later renamed it; thus, we have El Rio del Sacramento. By the mid 1850’s it had become the center of north state commerce and transportation.

Outdoor Activities • Cave exploring at Lake Shasta Caverns- A great family excursion beginning with a boat trip on Shasta Lake.

• Hiking at various locations throughout the county including a 17.4-mile trail along the Sacramento River in the city of Redding.

• Houseboating on a lake so huge, you could pull up to a different spot along the shore every night of the year.

• Fishing in hundreds of lakes and streams, where eagles and osprey might share your afternoon of fishing.

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Camping at sites throughout the county for both tent and RV enthusiasts.

Golf at a number of championship courses in the Redding or Intermountain Area.

Rafting and Kayaking the Upper Sacramento River, or take a float trip between Redding and Red Bluff.

Hunting for both big game and waterfowl.

Sailing the vast open waters at Whiskeytown Lake.

Water-skiing and jet skiing at Shasta and Whiskeytown Lakes.

Hang gliding from bluffs overlooking the Intermountain Area in eastern Shasta County.

6. Siskyiou County – Home of Spelunking, Hot Air Ballooning and Backpacking Population: 43,799 Size: 6278sq. mi.

Historic Tidbit In 1872, a band of 57 Modoc warriors and their leader, Captain Jack, entrenched themselves in a natural lava fortress now known as Captain Jack’s Stronghold. They managed to hold off an army of 1,000 soldiers for six months before being captured.

This was the only Indian war of consequence to be fought in California. The discovery of gold in the 1850’s led to the early settlement of the county.

Unique Outdoor Activities • Spelunking in the lava tubes at the Lava Beds National Monument or the many caves dotting the landscape of the Medicine Lake Highlands.

• Gold Panning— Look for “color” along the banks of one of the wild and scenic rivers.

• Hot Air Ballooning with a view of Mt. Shasta from the air or become a balloon watcher at the Siskiyou Balloon Faire.

• Rafting and Kayaking on the Sacramento River or one of the four Wild and Scenic Rivers that run through the county.

• Canoeing on the Klamath River or one of the alpine lakes.

• Bird watching and wildlife viewing at any of the six wildlife refuges in the Klamath Basin.

• Fishing in any of six major rivers, or numerous reservoirs and high mountain lakes.

• Downhill and cross-country skiing and snowboarding at the Mt. Shasta Ski Park.

Back country skiing on Mt. Shasta.

• Backpacking and Hiking from scenic walking paths to serious backpacking trails.

Hike into the exceptionally beautiful Marble Mountain Wilderness, or take a guided backpacking trip to the top of Mt. Shasta.

• Golf with views of Mt. Shasta including 18-hole championship courses and excellent nine-hole courses.

7. Tehama County – Fishing, Biking and Boating Population: 63,057 Size: 2951 sq. mi.

Historical Tidbit Tehama County was the home of the first and only president of the Independent Republic of California. William B. Ide’s original adobe home has been fully restored and is part of the California State Park system. Lassen Volcanic National Park is named for Peter Lassen, founder in 1843 of the town site, which would become Red Bluff.

Outdoor Activities: • Camping to suit everyone’s needs from recreational vehicle camping and tenting in developed campgrounds, to primitive camping in secluded sites with few or no facilities.

• Fishing the Sacramento River from Squaw Hill to Bloody Island is known as the best along the entire river.

• Hiking is fun for everyone from the casual walker to the serious backpacker with 300 miles of maintained trails of varying length and difficulty including the Pacific Crest Trail.

• Boating from drag boat races, sailing, and fishing to jet boat excursions, Tehama has it all for boating enthusiasts.

• Cross-country skiing in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

• Hunting for a variety of bird and mammal species. Tehama is famous for its hunting opportunities, both in shelters and primitive back country settings.

• Mountain biking for all skill levels in national forests; single track trails, logging roads and larger thoroughfares.

• Horseback riding on a network of excellent riding trails through lowlands and into the mountain ranges.

8. Trinity County – Alps, Lakes and Fly Fishing Population: 13,448 Size: 3179 sq. mi.

Historic Tidbit Late historian Jake Jackson contended that gold was discovered in Trinity County before Sutter’s Mill. The pirate Bill English and his rogue crew discovered gold on the Trinity River near Big Bar and left the area with their purses full before Sutter’s Mill was even built. The 1850’s gold discovery settled the county and built Weaverville.

Outdoor Activities • Hiking in the Trinity Alps Wilderness offers pristine views of rugged mountains, lush meadows, and rushing streams for the hardy outdoor enthusiast.

• Family camping along miles of picturesque shores or high in the Trinity Alps.

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Water sports at Trinity’s three major lakes offer great family fun including house boating, sailing, jet skiing, water skiing and sailboarding Whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Trinity River. The 5 mile stretch called Pigeon Run is class 3 whitewater. Burnt Ranch Gorge has class 4 and 5 rapids Mountain biking on miles of abandoned logging roads provide excellent access to many remote areas of the Trinity Alps Fishing for trophy-sized largemouth and small mouth bass, rainbow, German brown and brook trout, and Kokanee salmon. Fly fishermen, trollers, and anglers will find the fishing excellent Gold panning along the Trinity River will give even amateurs the opportunity to find “color” in their pans Driving tours where all the major roads are so beautiful, they are officially designated as scenic byways. ###

About Shasta Cascade Covering an area roughly the size of Ireland, the Shasta Cascade region is the perfect place to get back to nature, relax and enjoy the great outdoors. Comprised of eight rural counties historically known for being part of the pioneer gold rush in the mid-1800s, this majestic region of northern California is abundantly scattered with lakes, rivers, mountains and historic mining towns, and includes Lassen National Park, two National Monuments, six National Forests and seven California State Parks offering unforgettable fun and adventure. Boasting 300+ days of beautiful weather a year, this area offers boundless outdoor recreation with magnificent landscapes and breathtaking vistas. From towering volcanoes, alpine ranges, and glaciers, to waterfalls, lush forests, pristine lakes, and roaring rivers, this travel destination is one of a kind.

Shasta Cascade is easy to get to by auto, air or Amtrak, and offers an off-the-beaten-path experience where people discover the abundance of nature in one of the few unspoiled areas remaining in California. For more information or to request a visitor’s guide visit www.shastacascade.com, like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ShastaCascade , or find us on twitter www.twitter.com/ShastaCascade.

About Redding, CA Situated at the northern end of the Sacramento River Valley, Redding is the hub city in Shasta Cascade and is located just two hours north of Sacramento and three hours northeast of San Francisco. An incredibly historic and vast rural region, Redding offers a plethora of outdoor adventure and attractions all year long, along with great wine, food, sporting and cultural events, dining, lodging and entertainment. Found nearby several scenic lakes, rivers, state and national parks, including Shasta Lake, Whiskeytown Recreation Area and Lassen Volcanic Park, Redding is a fantastic gateway for exploration in Shasta Cascade, offering Any Adventure, Any Day. Voted in 2014 as the “Unofficial capital of Kayaking” by Time Magazine, Redding is located at the crossroads of I-5 and California state routes 299 and 44, straddling the great Sacramento River. For more information or to order a visitor’s guide visit www.visitredding.com, like our

Facebook page www.facebook.com/VisitReddingCA or find us on twitter at www.twitter.com/visitreddingca. For up to date happenings follow our blog at www.visitredding.com/blog.

Media Contacts Susan Hartzler Mental Marketing 818-585-8641 shartzler@mentalmarketing.com www.mentalmarketing.com Krista Buckel Visit Redding 530-225-4103 krista@visitredding.com

www.visitredding.com Lisa May Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association 530-365-7504 lisa@shastacascade.org www.shastacascade.org