Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
On the south slope of Mt Shasta, off Hwy 89 heading toward McCloud, this winter skiing
and snowboarding park opens depending on snowfall. The park has a 1435ft vertical drop,
32 alpine runs and 18 miles of cross-country trails. These are all good for beginner and in-
termediate skiers, and are a less-crowded alternative to the slopes around Lake Tahoe.
Rentals, instruction and weekly specials are available. It's Northern California's largest
night-skiing operation. There are lots of inexpensive options for skiing half a day or just at
night, when hitting the slopes and taking in a full moon can be enchanting.
In summer, the park occasionally hosts mountain-biking events.
The Lakes
There are a number of pristine mountain lakes near Mt Shasta. Some of them are access-
ible only by dirt roads or hiking trails and are great for getting away from it all.
The closest lake to Mt Shasta City is lovely
Lake Siskiyou
(also the largest), 2.5 miles
southwest on Old Stage Rd, where you can peer into
Box Canyon Dam
, a 200ft-deep
chasm. Another 7 miles up in the mountains, southwest of Lake Siskiyou on Castle Lake
Rd, lies
Castle Lake
, an unspoiled gem surrounded by granite formations and pine forest.
Swimming, fishing, picnicking and free camping are popular in summer; in winter folks
ice-skate on the lake.
Lake Shastina
, about 15 miles northwest of town, off Hwy 97, is
another beauty.
Information
Peak tourist season is from Memorial Day through Labor Day and weekends during ski
season (late November to mid-April depending on snow fall). The
ranger station
and
visit-
ors center
are in Mt Shasta City.
Mt Shasta City
Comfortable and practical Mt Shasta City (population 3330) glows in the shadow of the
white pyramid of Mt Shasta. The downtown is charming; you can spend hours poking
around bookstores, galleries and boutiques. Orienting yourself is easy with the mountain
looming over the east side of town and you may get a kink in your neck from admiring it.
The downtown area is a few blocks east of I-5. Take the Central Mt Shasta exit, then drive
