It's The Water
Story ideas for Mount Shasta Country
Photo of the Shasta River near Montague, © and courtesy Kim Solga Arworks. All rights reserved. Please contact solga.com for photo availability and price.
It's the water that draws people to the Mount Shasta Country of upstate California. With so many ways to enjoy water year round, the area is quickly becoming a destination for families, adventurers, nature lovers and leisure travelers. In the past year Siskiyou County has received attention for the water use issues in the Klamath Basin; however, the rest of the county's water resources have remained largely unaffected by the Klamath Basin issue. With four watersheds feeding lakes and rivers in various recreation areas, Mount Shasta Country has a wealth of water opportunities to offer.
Visitors to Mount Shasta Country often marvel at the quality and abundance of water here - the town of Dunsmuir on the Upper Sacramento River has 11 full time fountains posted on the city sidewalks. The quality of water, which comes from Mount Shasta, the Trinity Alps and the Eddy Mountains, has drawn three water bottling plants to the south county area that distribute internationally.
"Everybody in Siskiyou County has some kind of relationship with water and every visitor finds that some part of their relationship with this area has something to do with water," said Siskiyou County Tourism Director Joanne Steele. Visitors can enjoy rafting, fishing, climbing glaciers, sliding on the snowpack, and hitting a golf ball over the water while in Siskiyou County.
Ways to enjoy the water:
Lake Siskiyou was the first lake in the state to be built purely for recreational purposes. Families can stay at the Lake Siskiyou Campground Resort to make use of a private beach and watercraft rentals, or join with the locals on North Shore for fishing and swimming in the protected cove or along the stretch of beach flanked by a quiet forest.
The McCloud and Upper Sacramento Rivers are world renowned fly fishing rivers teeming with wild trout. There are catch and keep areas in the Upper Sacramento River town of Dunsmuir where grandparents can take their grandchildren out to catch their first fish. More remote spots on rivers offer challenging fishing to experienced casters. To hook a big Chinook Salmon, head to the Klamath river in the fall when the fish head upstream.
River rafting begins in late April with raging spring rivers for thrill seekers and experienced rafters and kayakers. Memorial Day Weekend rafting is a tradition on the Cal Salmon River, where class four and five rapids like Cascade Falls and Freight Train test the skills and nerve of guides and guests. In the summer months, families can enjoy a wilderness experience accompanied by fine food and a hike to Ukonom Falls on multiple day float trips.
Leisure travelers and families can stop for a picnic at the spectacular Lower McCloud Falls and drop a line in below the falls, then follow the trail for an easy hike to Middle and Upper Falls. Several waterfalls are tucked away on Siskiyou County's rivers, like Ukonom Falls on the middle Klamath River that can only be reached by boat.
Alpine lakes are wonderful places for camping, fishing and hiking. Castle Lake is a favorite with visitors and residents who enjoy the setting in a glacier-carved bowl, which provides just enough sense of wilderness. Hikes around the lake will lead to higher alpine lakes, beautiful meadows of wildflowers and incredible views. More remote alpine lakes are spread throughout the county for those looking for a complete sense of wilderness.
River towns run the gamut from Dunsmuir with its San Francisco style restaurants, to Happy Camp with its Native American heritage, to the small hub of Cecilville, an outpost in the rugged Salmon Mountains. Each town can serve as a origin for adventure into the backcountry of the county, or as a turnaround point to a return to less wild country.
Mount Shasta Country is home to the headwaters of four rivers: the Sacramento, Salmon, Scott and McCloud. Visitors can collect water from a fountain in the Mt. Shasta City Park which marks the headwaters of the Sacramento, or venture out into wilderness areas and National Forests to seek the headwaters of the other rivers.
Snow! In the winter and spring, water is enjoyed as snowpack. The Mount Shasta Board and Ski Park offers a friendly, safe atmosphere where parents can relax in the lounge or on the slopes while their children learn to ski or board. The Park's cross country center offers 30 kilometers of groomed runs with great views for skiers and snowshoers. For those who hear the call of the backcountry, guide companies offer summit and ski/board descent packages in the late winter and spring and seminars and lessons for those looking to build their backcountry skills.
When the spring arrives, climbing fever comes to Mount Shasta as adventurers flock to the mountain's snowy slopes and glaciers. At 14,162 feet, Mount Shasta is a mountain to be respected by the more than 10,000 climbers who attempt to summit annually. The Forest Service reports that only a third of climbers actually summit. At tree line on the main route up the mountain, the Sierra Club Cabin offers camping sites and water from a mountain spring for those on their way to the summit and for those who don't feel the need to reach the top.
|
