Shasta  Trinity  Tour
Travel Directions

The McCloud River in northern California.

Our Getaways offer written Directions, Maps and suggested scenery, spanning Oregon and northern California; places Brad and I have visited and loved. These getaways offer simplicity, yet beauty in scenery, waterfalls, hiking trails, campgrounds, mountains, hot springs, mountain lakes, equestrian trails, mountain biking trails, wild and scenic rivers, scenic byways, Crater Lake National Park, national monuments and more.

Protect our National Forests and Wilderness Areas. Leave NO Trace! Be sure to check out fire conditions at the Ranger Station before traveling, hiking or camping in the forest.

Forward ~ Shasta Trinity Tour Travel Guide.

Back ~ Scenery on the "Outback" Tour.

USFS: Shasta Trinity National Forest.

Brad and I invite you to explore the Shasta Trinity National Forest in California and surrounding area: Directions, Map and Scenery: Waterfalls, hiking trails, Mt Shasta, Castle Crags State Park, McCloud and Sacramento Rivers, mountain lakes, Cascade, Klamath and Siskiyou Mountains, but don't stop there. Try the California Outback northeastern part of the state: The Surprise Valley Warner Mountains Outback Tour including the south Warner Wilderness, Fandango Pass on the Applegate Trail, rugged rangeland, and the people that live there, hot springs, memories of the old west and more: Directions, Map and Scenery.

• Depending on how much of a trip you want to take, you have two alternatives when starting out:

  The most direct route would be to get on 97 and stay on it. If you wanted to see the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, you could turn left off of 97 just before the Inspection Station on the California border. Head east for a time and you'll come across the wetlands on your right. When you're done viewing, just turn around and get back on 97; follow it south to Weed.

  An alternative route would be to take 97 into Klamath Falls and get on 39, which would take you to the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Tule Lake National Monument and Lava Beds National Monument. If this is your preference, don't take the cut off when the directional sign on 97 says, "San Francisco," etc. Stay on the bypass, which will curve around the commercial part of Klamath Falls ending with a left or right turn on 39. You want to take 39 south, so turn left. Follow 39, and it will bring you into Tulelake. You can view Lava Beds National Monument if you like, as well as, Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge before heading west to view the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and then connect with 97 as stated above. The would be a considerable day trip, so you'd want to get a very early start.

Sites of Interest:

• Hwy 97

  Hwy 97 offers several vantage points of Mt Shasta. There are also very interesting rock formations and what appears to be an almost prehistoric landscape not far from Weed. Both are on the right as you travel south; they're quite beautiful. There's a veteran's memorial park with very interesting, emotive statues not too far from Weed.

• Weed, California.

  You'll connect with I-5 in Weed.

  In Weed, turn left at the blinking red light, follow the road under the freeway, and you'll see the entrance to I-5 South. However, before leaving town, the mercantile, which is part of the quaint, old historic mill, will take you back into another era. It's a great place to relax outdoors, escape the middle town congestions; snack and enjoy the views. If this appeals, turn left at the Chevron Station and drive until you see it on your left.

  There's a great bakery in Weed, but it closes at 3:00. It's across the street and just south of the Chevron Station, so if you're interested in something other than typical bakery fare, be sure to check this out.

• Shasta City ~ The mountain dominates.

  The slopes on the drive up Mt Shasta offer excellent views of the Siskiyous and Castle Crags. Early in the year the road ends at Bunny Flat Trailhead. Many hiking trails originate there. However, later in the season, one can drive further up the mountain to the old ski lift, and find many more trailheads to a variety of hiking trails.

  Shasta City Park boasts the headwaters of the Sacramento River, which originate in several springs that flow from the slopes of Mt Shasta. It's lovely to walk along the river. Unfortunately, the trail ends and the river flows into a culvert that takes it under the freeway. Still it's lovely for as long as it lasts.

  Finally, there's a marvelous natural food store in Shasta City.

• If you want to explore west from I - 5 rather than east:

  Explore Castle Lake. It's a lovely mountain lake and easy to find. Take the exit for Siskiyou Lake. Signs to Castle Lake are clearly marked on this route. Head south. You'll come to Siskiyou Lake; it's a reservoir. There's a lovely gorge when you cross the bridge. Soon after you'll see another sign for Castle Lake, turn to the left and follow until the road ends at the lake.

  When you decide to leave Shasta City, get back on I-5. Be sure to watch for the many different faces of Mt Shasta in all the places you visit, as well as when driving. Black Butte is the cinder cone that abuts I-5 north of Shasta City.

• McCloud, California.

  McCloud is a town out of the past. Railway tours are offered in the summer. The old mercantile building is a relic from the 1800s. The Upper, Lower and Middle Waterfalls on the McCloud River are beautiful, but I must say, they're prettier in spring than in summer. The pictures of the Upper and Middle Falls in the website were taken in May of 2000. The picture of the lower fall was taken in 2001. There is less water in 2001 than there was in 2000.

• McArthur Burney Falls

  It's quite a drive to McArthur Burney State Park, but the waterfall is exquisite.

• Dunsmuir, California.

  Dunsmuir is an old railroad town built along the Sacramento River. We've found two waterfalls in or near this charming community: Hedge Creek Falls and Mossbrae Falls. Hedge Creek Waterfall is on the north side of town. You'll come across it almost as soon as you exit the freeway. Look for a small parking lot on the right by the water bottling plant. It's a very short walk to the fall, but if you don't want to walk to the fall or feel you don't have the time to walk to it, be sure to check out the view of Mt Shasta from the Gazebo. It's great. The hike to Mossbrae Falls is 3 miles round trip along the railroad tracks. Like Hedge Creek Falls, these falls on the west side of the freeway. If you want to try this hike, look for the sign for Shasta Retreat not too long after you come into town. Make a sharp right which will take you down into the retreat, drive across the bridge and park in the gravel parking lot on your left. Follow the railroad tracks north for 1.5 miles. When you see the train trestle, you'll know you're at the falls if you haven't seen them already.

  Don't be in a hurry to leave Dunsmuir. The old part of town is further south, and it's quite picturesque. Just follow the main road. It will take you under the freeway and into the old part of town where you'll find time period buildings and the Sacramento River yet again. Redbuds bloom everywhere in the Spring. To get to the river and see more of the lovely town, turn left off the main road. Poppies bloom along the train tracks. If you want to go to Dunsmuir Railroad Park stay on this road by the railroad tracks. Follow it south; it will cross the river and then cross the river again. Castle Crags was photographed from the second bridge. Follow this road until you have to turn left or right. Turn left, then right. and you'll end up at the old Railroad Park. When you're done here get back on I-5 heading south if you want to go to Castle Crags. The entrance to the freeway is right by the Railroad Park.

• Castle Crags

  When traveling south on I - 5, the exit sign for Castle Crags State Park will indicate the last site included on this Day Tour. Follow the directions, and be sure to take the tour that will ultimately give you the great view of Castle Crags and Grey's Peak. After feasting here, return to I-5.

• Two alternatives to return to the retreat:

  You can get back on 97 at Weed and drive north. Or you can take I-5 north to Ashland/Medford and catch 140 at Medford. If this is your preference, and you like to get off the beaten track, take I-5 as far north as Yreka. Exit the freeway there, turn west and drive under the freeway. You'll come to a stop light and this is 99. Turn right and drive north out of town. After Yreka, you'll connect with the Shasta River. This is a spectacular route, the river, the mountains and the gorge. A wonderful old bridge crosses the gorge, you can pull off for a less cursory view if you're interested. All too soon you'll have to get back on I - 5. Follow I - 5 north until Medford, then get off at the Crater Lake Hwy where you can connect with 140, which will bring you back into Klamath Basin and ultimately the retreat.

Travel to the retreat from California: sight seeing, waterfalls, rivers, Castle Crags, Mt Shasta, hiking trails; mountains, mountains, mountains: Directions, Map and Scenery.

Travel Directions to and Day Trips of about 100 miles from the retreat.

Little known Scenic Places: hiking, sightseeing, wildlife viewing,
birding and more, near Crater Lake and the retreat and Crater Lake: Directions, Map and Scenery. Local Maps Introduction.

Website Directory for the travel pages      Home Page

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Contact Brad at Gathering Light ... a retreat.