Everitt Memorial Highway
The road from town up the mountain's flank to Bunny Flat and, in high summer, the Old Ski Bowl, with huge views and easy walks into the meadows. The best way to feel the mountain without climbing it.
Mount Shasta
A lone snow-capped volcano held sacred by local tribes and a magnet for seekers of every kind, with alpine lakes, wildflower meadows and the springs of the Sacramento River.
Mount Shasta rises alone from the plains of far northern California, a snow-capped volcano over 14,000 feet (4,300 m) high that you can see from a hundred miles away. The Shasta, Wintu and other local peoples hold it sacred, and for the last century it has drawn seekers of every kind: the town at its foot is full of crystal shops, retreat centers and people who came for a weekend and stayed.
You don't need to share any of the beliefs to feel the pull. In summer a road climbs high onto the mountain's flank to alpine meadows and trailheads, the Sacramento River bubbles up as springs in the town park, and there are clear lakes, waterfalls and forest all around.
- Best Time
- July–September, when the high road and trails are clear of snow
- Time Needed
- 1–2 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round; the upper mountain road opens in summer
- Getting There
- Off I-5, about an hour north of Redding (nearest airport) and four hours north of Sacramento. A car is essential.
What to See
4 of 4 are freeSacramento River Headwaters
In Mount Shasta City Park, the river begins as cold springs flowing from the rocks. Locals fill bottles here; the water is snowmelt that has filtered through the mountain.
Lake Siskiyou
A lake just outside town with the classic reflection of the mountain at sunrise, a shoreline trail and summer swimming.
McCloud Falls
Three waterfalls on the McCloud River, linked by a riverside trail, a short drive southeast of the mountain.
Know Before You Go
- Climbing to the summit is a serious mountaineering trip, not a hike: it needs a summit pass, a wilderness permit and snow skills.
- Snow closes the upper road most of the year. Check conditions with the Mount Shasta Ranger Station before you go.
- Some places on the mountain are used for ceremonies. Leave offerings and prayer objects where they are.
Where to Stay
Stay in the town of Mount Shasta, at the foot of the mountain, or in McCloud or Dunsmuir nearby.
Where to Eat
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Last checked 2026-10-31. Part of the California list.