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As a local, I’ve been on the Dinner Train several times and have always greatly enjoyed my meal. The setting in these restored railcars is very nice, and the occasional views of Mount Shasta really round out the evening.
I’ve also had a fun time on the Pumpkin Train in October. This is great time of year to ride the open-air cars to really enjoy the view of the woods. Watching the kids carefully search for just the right pumpkin is fun too.

The waterfalls are beautiful, and the walking trail makes it really easy to see Lower and Middle Falls. The trail keeps going for miles along the McCloud River – you can hike or bike it. Lower Falls makes a nice place to stop for a picnic. You can sit at the picnic tables, or take your lunch down onto the rocks to sit level with the top of the waterfall. Some folks jump in – but that water is way too cold for me.
The McCloud Ranger Station in town can provide info and maps.

The Gardens are beautiful, and the sound of the Sacramento River cascading by really sets the scene. A friend of mine got married under the canopy of trees on the big lawn – quite the peaceful setting.

I love hiking at the Crags. There is so much diversity – from meadows to shaded streams to rugged hiking on rocky slopes. Some folks go rock climbing here as well, but it’s a specialized pursuit, since the granite is rotten. There are ranger led activities that help you learn more about the geology of the area and the flora & fauna. Spring time is great for wildflowers, and the south side of the Crags provides some of the earliest hiking in the area. If you’ve got your dog with you, go up the Castle Creek road outside the Park boundary to the Dog Trail where you can hike up to the Pacific Crest Trail, thereby bypassing the Park.

I go just for the sticky rice. In this small town this is the place to go for live music. Folks for neighboring towns come to the Blue Sky Room for night life. If you’re visiting the area, check out their calendar of events.

Climbing Mount Shasta is quite the undertaking. You’ve got to be fit, and then you’ve got to have your mind wrapped around that idea that for around 12 hours you’re going to suffer. Getting to the top of the 14,162’ mountain is no easy task – you’ll need special equipment, a guide and an intense desire to keep going. There will be times that you’re bent over sucking wind while somebody passes you by. But there are also the striking views, the exhilaration, the profound sense of accomplishment. You’ll bond with the people you climb with, and learn new things about yourself along the way.
Even if you don’t want to get to the summit, hiking up to treeline, where the scraggly pines drop away and you’re faced with the stark, rock strewn slopes shooting up towards the sky is a worthy endeavour.
Go with a guide if you want to attempt the summit – check it out at Shasta Mountain Guides (shastaguides.com) or Sierra Wilderness Seminars (www.swsmtns.com).

The Mt. Shasta Summit Century is for everybody – really. While you can choose the grueling 135-mile super century with its 16,500 feet of climbing, you can also join the majority of the field in the shorter rides. The half metric ride is friendly for everybody – with a 30-mile route that only has one climb, this is something that families with kids tackle enthusiastically. The metric and century build on that easy route, adding climbs up several different mountains, brief respites through valleys and the quick descents you are rewarded with when you complete the climb. The event is preceded by a Hill Climb up Everitt Memorial Highway to the old ski bowl on Mount Shasta – talk about a warm up.
Check it out at www.shastasummitcentury.com.

Our little town of Mt. Shasta comes alive every year for the 4th of July. The town celebrates with three days of live entertainment and street fairs in the small downtown area. Thousands of folks come for the annual Fun Run/Walk on July 4th. The runners head out for a 5 mile run through the backroads around town, while the walkers chat, snack and watch performances for the “parade in reverse.” Families attend year after year, taking part in the walk or the run, watching the small town parade and enjoying the barbecue at the golf course where we all gather to watch the fireworks shot off over Lake Siskiyou. It’s a great small town event – definitely worth visiting.
Learn about the Fun Run and Walk at www.mtshastarunners.com.

This bridge is so beautiful – it’s definitely worth traveling to get here. The deck is make out of steel with sheets of glass and granite. The white structure of it soars up to a point so high that you’ve got to tip your head all the way bay to see it’s tip. Below the bridge is a sort of courtyard that brings you to the waters of the river. The Sundial is a functioning timepiece, and you can read the time in the afternoons on the white stones placed at the edge of flower beds. Round out the trip by strolling through the Turtle Bay gardens or down the shady Sacramento River Trail. Totally worth it!

I live nearby, so I get to go to McCloud several times a year. My personal favorites – the McCloud River waterfalls, shopping at the cute little bookstore, big fat ice cream sundaes at the soda fountain and the treat of dining on the Shasta Sunset Dinner Train.