Mt. Shasta City

This relaxed Northern California town lies at the foot of its namesake, Mt. Shasta, a mighty volcano with a towering elevation of 14,179 feet and prodigious girth to match its height. In Mt. Shasta City, it’s impossible to ignore the volcano’s presence. Almost every street offers an eyeful of its hulking pyramid, which is often crowned with snow and ice deep into summer.

An hour’s drive north from Redding in the Shasta Cascade region (aka UpState California), Mt. Shasta City makes an ideal base for road-trippers, hikers, skiers, bikers, and scenery lovers hoping to get close-up with Mt. Shasta’s mystical beauty. This place has a way of drawing you in, so plan to stay a while.

Where to Play Outdoors in Mt. Shasta City

The 14-mile Everitt Memorial Scenic Drive winds up the slopes of Mt. Shasta, offering adventure at every curve in the road. The pavement ends at Old Ski Bowl, a great spot to snap photos of the volcano’s desolately beautiful talus slopes. Along the route, stop at Bunny Flat to hike 1.6 miles through gleaming meadows and Shasta red firs to the Sierra Club’s Shasta Alpine Hut. Step through the hefty door of the 1922 stone lodge to view exhibits on Mt. Shasta and the mountaineers who’ve climbed it since 1854. If you’re tempted to join their ranks, chat with the experts at Shasta Mountain Guides. Conquering Shasta’s summit requires serious training and preparation, plus local know-how.

Gentler hikes on the mountain start at the Panther Meadows Trailhead. Trek to the summit of 8,129-foot Gray Butte for full-frontal views of Shasta, or wander among delicate high-alpine wildflowers in Panther Meadows. Closer to town, the Gateway Trail System offers 30 miles of trails for mountain bikers, hikers, dog walkers, and equestrians.

Warm summer days may lure you to Lake Siskiyou, a pine-rimmed lake with warm water for swimming and water sports. Rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and patio boats at Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort Marina. In winter, Mt. Shasta Ski Park draws skiers and snowboarders with uncrowded slopes and friendly vibes. More than 600 acres of terrain and 38 trails carve through a winter wonderland of lava buttes and bowls. The park’s Gray Butte quad lift, opened in 2022, carries skiers to a powder-hound’s paradise at 7,500 feet in elevation.

Where to Shop in Mt. Shasta City

With so much hiking, climbing, biking, boating, and skiing on the agenda, you might need to supplement your outdoor gear. Find snowshoes, tent poles, sunglasses, warm gloves, and everything else you forgot to pack at The Fifth Season or Sportsmen’s Den.

If you’re visiting Mt. Shasta City for more soulful reasons—many believe the majestic volcano is a powerful spiritual vortex—you’ll want to browse the town’s crystal shops and metaphysical healing centers. At Crystal Tones, Crystal Keepers, and Soul Connections, you can shop for energy tuning forks, find out what your aura says about you, or take home an amethyst to relieve your stress or Shasta opal to help you focus. Shasta Vortex Adventuresleads guided vision quests, sacred site tours, and meditation retreats on the mountain.

Where to Eat in Mt. Shasta City

For a town of only 3,400 residents, Mt. Shasta City has a surprising wealth of great food. Skiers and hikers can fuel up with an ultra-healthy acai bowl or avocado toast at Alua’s Thrive Bar, and hydrate with a tall glass of kombucha (rotating flavors on tap). Yak’s Shackoffers hearty breakfasts in the form of overstuffed egg-and-bacon burritos and coconut crème lattes, and you’ll want to return later for grass-fed beef burgers piled high with onion strings, chipotle sauce, and lime aioli.

For a sit-down lunch or dinner, nab a table under the patio umbrellas at Lily’s, where the farm-to-table menu includes herb-stuffed trout, Cabernet-braised beef, and za’atar-grilled chicken. Pipeline Craft Taps & Kitchen offers a relaxed, meet-the-locals atmosphere and crowd-pleasing pub menu. Try the lamb burger paired with craft beer from Fall River Brewing or Etna Brewing Company. To satisfy cravings for Mexican flavors, La Perla Cantina brings the zest with carne asada fries and birria tacos.

Where to Stay in Mt. Shasta City

For those looking to stay downtown, Strawberry Valley Inn charms overnight guests with its woodsy property, dog-friendly rooms, and berry waffles for breakfast. The Best Western Plus Tree House offers an indoor pool, spacious guestrooms, and a welcoming lobby fireplace. For more luxury, book a chalet in the pines at Mt. Shasta Resort near Lake Siskiyou. Play golf on the resort’s challenging greens, dine on the patio at Highland House, or savor a little pampering at Sacred Mountain Spa.

Campers can pitch a tent on Mt. Shasta’s lower slopes at Panther Meadows Campground or along the shores of Lake Siskiyou at Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort. Campers traveling in large RVs or trailers will enjoy the full-service amenities at Mt. Shasta City KOA.