Need A Break? – Get Out of the Car, Have Some Fun & Explore the Region

August 21^st – August 27^th

Shasta

• Invite the family and a few friends to plan an end- of- the- summer houseboating trip on beautiful Shasta Lake, where you’ll create lifelong memories.
• Visit the West Prospect Fire Lookout to learn how forest fires are detected and enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of Lassen Park and Lassen Nat’l Forest.
• Experience the thrills of whitewater rafting down the Pit River that was rated a class IV section by American Whitewater.

TRINITY

• Enjoy fun with the family & visit the Trinity County Fair with rides, livestock, exhibits, food, bull riding and much more, Aug 26^th-29^th.
• Invite some friends and attend a tour of Alpen Cellars, a local winery that offers tastings and amazing views of the Trinity Lake region.
• Trinity County has a thriving art community. Visit the Highland Art Center and Sam Lee Folk Art Center in Weaverville where local arts pursue their crafts and proudly display their work.

SISKIYOU

• Pack your camera and head for Johnson Creek Falls near Etna to breathe clean mountain air, witness a beautiful waterfall and amazing scenery.
• Take a self-guided or horticulturalist-led group tour of the Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens and you’ll be mesmerized by the garden’s beauty.
• Don’t miss the excitement and activities at this year’s Rollin’ Weed Show & Shine in downtown Weed, August 27th.

Lassen

• Pick up the horses and head to the Heart Lake Trail, a 4.7 mile Nat’l Recreation Trail with views of Lassen Peak & Brokeoff Moutain.
• Located near the Lassen Historical Museum is Roop’s Fort, a place where visitors can step into the past and see how the early settlers lived.
• For a chance to see the 2^nd fastest land mammal in the world, visit Honey Lake State Wildlife Area to view pronghorn antelope.

MODOC

• Pack some water and take a scenic hike to Mill Creek Falls, Modoc County’s largest waterfall, which can be accessed from Mill Creek Falls Campground.
• The Cressler-Bonner Trading Post, located in Cedarville, is Modoc County’s first trading post, built in 1865.
• Visit the Modoc County Museum to become better informed about this beautiful area and its authentic Cowboy and Native American history.

PLUMAS

• Rent a vintage diesel locomotive! The Western Pacific Railroad Museum offers a “Run-A-Locomotive” program, where you can rent a locomotive for up to 2 hours.

• You can still make a last minute run to Portola to take part in the annual Railroad Days celebration Aug. 20^th & 21^st.
• Quincy’s Plumas County Museum exhibits Maidu Indian basketry & artifacts from the rich gold mining era.

Butte

• Pack up the family and visit Butte County’s Sierra Oro Farm Trail to taste, see and discover the area’s history and locally grown products
• Invite a couple friends and attend the Butte County Fair to ride the rides or stroll through the many exhibits and vendors, Aug 25-29.
• Do you think you’ve seen it all when it comes to tools? Think again and check out the collection at Bolt’s Antique Tool Museum on Broderick St. in Oroville.

TEHAMA

• Your taste buds won’t be disappointed at the Corning Olive Festival, so spread the word and mark your calendars for Aug 26-27!
• Interested in learning about the history and culture of Tehama County? Visit Kelly Griggs Museum on Washington St. in Red Bluff, which features local Indian artifacts, antique furniture, and photographs from the county’s past.
• Go out for a picnic overlooking the Sacramento River at the William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park in Red Bluff.

Need A Break? – Get Out of the Car, Have Some Fun & Explore the Region

August 14^th – August 20^th

Shasta

• The 25 mile Sacramento River Rail Trail provides joggers, hikers, and mountain bikers with a tranquil escape along the Sacramento River.
• Take a 2 hour guided tour at the Shasta Caverns and experience the adventure and mystery of the caverns.
• Visit the Coleman National Fish Hatchery located on Battle Creek where there’s numerous opportunities to view and photograph wildlife.

TRINITY

• Explore the Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park. It’s the oldest continuously used Chinese Temple!
• Come check out the historic Courthouse Square right in the heart of downtown Weaverville that offers some unique shops.
• Grab your camera and head for “God’s Country”, also known as Hayfork, and be ready for that perfect landscape shot.

SISKIYOU

• Visit the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument. This used to be a Japanese American Incarceration Camp.
• Explore the Siskiyou National Forest and visit the many botanical areas. Some species of flowers are only found in this National Forest!
• Take an afternoon to explore and drive along the Western Siskiyou County Scenic Byway Loop and you might even catch a glimpse of the elusive Sasquatch.

Lassen

• Take a nice stroll or bike ride along the Bizz Johnson Trail that follows the Susan River from Susanville to Westwood along an old rail line.
• Bring your camera and visit the Ash Creek Wildlife Area to check out local wildlife and waterfowl.
• Those with adventurous hearts can explore the Nobles Immigrant National Historic Trail or Buckhorn Back-Country Byway.

MODOC

• Visit Modoc County Historical Museum in Alturas which features artifacts dating back 150 years!
• Explore Fandango Pass, a state historical landmark, and see what kind of treasures and history you can find!
• Get out your mountain bike and dust it off. Head to Devil’s Garden Mountain Bike Area to bike 3 miles of steep pavement and 2.3 miles of flat dirt roads appealing to beginners and advanced riders alike.

PLUMAS

• View all the greenery while taking the Feather River Scenic Byway. Take in the railroad history, historic river canyons, and the Northern Sierra Golf Country all from the comfort of your car.
• Frazier Falls is located in the pristine Alpine wilderness of the Lakes Basin recreation area.  The trail to the falls is a perfect picnic site.
• Plumas County pioneer Jim Beckwourth’s refurbished hotel and trading post, circa 1852, 1850’s refurbished log cabin is located in Portola.

Butte

• Try your luck gold panning at Forks of Butte area, 25 miles northeast of Chico. Call BLM-Redding Field Office 530-224-2100 for more information.
• Take a tour of Feather River Fish Hatchery and Nature Center. Witness a fish’s life cycle up close! 530-534-2306 for tour times.
• Visit Oroville Chinese Temple and Garden which was built in 1863 to serve a community of 10,000 Chinese. 

TEHAMA

• Drive through the Olive City North on HWY 99 and end in Historic Red Bluff to do a little antiquing!
• Dust off your mountain bike and hit the trails at the Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area.
• Have a picnic and enjoy the scenery at the Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area in Corning.

If you’re looking to cool off from the summer heat, then making your way to the volcanic landscape is one of the many solutions. The Shasta Cascade Region offers numerous areas for you and your friends and family to escape the valley rays.

This week we are highlighting the Hat Creek area just East of Redding on Highway 89. This area is home to Lassen Volcanic National Park. This Park just recently opened completely due to all the late snowfall this last spring brought. You can now play in snow in the beginning of August! How many other areas in California can offer snow play in shorts and flip flops in August? Take an adventure amongst bubbling mud pots, smelly sulfur pits, and amazing volcanic geography that’s still molding and shaping the Earth’s crust.

Another great area to stop by is the Subway Cave in Old Station, just north of Lassen Volcanic National Park. These are 20,000 year old lava tubes that hold a consistent cool temperature below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to bring a flashlight, jacket, and sturdy shoes. These caves are also very close to the famous fly fishing stream, Hat Creek. You can fish, take a dip, or just relax next to the cool stream with the relaxing sound of rushing water.

Let’s not forget about McArthur Burney Falls Memorial State Park. Here you can enjoy the sound of roaring water while cooling off in the mist at the basin of these spectacular 129-foot falls. The falls are so spectacular that President Roosevelt called them “the 8^th Wonder of the World”. The falls have a constant flow of water flowing over them year-round. This occurs due to the underground rivers that are formed from the volcanic geology which causes the water to just pour out of the rocks.

Keep checking back to get more tips, insides, and things to do in the Shasta Cascade Region!

Have a spectacular day!

The Shasta Cascade Team

August 7^th – August 13^th

Shasta

• Attend a tour of the historic Camden House, 15 miles west on Hwy 299, a 1852 home once the residence of the pioneer/prospector Charles Camden.
• Experience a unique camping experience by renting the Girard Ridge Fire Lookout that offers amazing views of Castle Crags and Mt. Shasta.
• For family summer fun, enjoy Kid’s Kingdom & Fantasy Fountain in Enterprise Park on Victor Ave. in Redding.

TRINITY

• Take a weekend adventure to Trinity Lake!  It is the third largest lake in California and offers houseboating, personal watercrafts, camping, fishing, hiking, and much more!
• With over 500,000 acres, the Trinity Alps Wilderness is the largest wilderness area in California.  Backpack or ride a horse to more than 60 alpine lakes on well-maintained trails.
• Take a walk back into history by exploring the Kellogg Cemetery in Hayfork. Tombstones date back to the1860’s.

SISKIYOU

• Visit the Lava Beds National Monument, which has a wide variety of awe-inspiring pictographs and petroglyphs.
• Visit the Turn of the Century Fine Arts Museum on Main St. in Weed, featuring work by local artists inspired by the gold rush.
• Take a drive back in time with the self-guided tour through the Victorian town of Yreka. Don’t forget to stop at the courthouse, which is home to the largest gold collection south of Alaska!

Lassen

• The Lassen National Forest lies at the heart of one of the most fascinating areas of California, where the granite of the Sierra Nevada, the lava of the Cascades and the Modoc Plateau, and the sagebrush of the Great Basin meet and blend.
• Take a self-guided tour of the beautiful murals in Susanville, which reflect the rich history of the area.
• Hike the beautiful 6 mile Child’s Meadow Trail on Hwy 36-89 west of Chester.  It connects to the Lassen Nat’l Park system.

MODOC

• Head to the Warner Mountains, where you can collect obsidian from any of the four designated collection sites.
• A visit to the Modoc County Museum in Alturas will enrich your understanding of this land filled with lava flows, forested ranges, and wide-open vistas.
• Lake City was surveyed by promoters in 1863.  Modoc Co. “firsts” claimed by Lake City include: the first white man’s dwelling, the first saw mill, the first school, and the first wedding. The first grist mill, built in 1869, is still standing.

PLUMAS

• Sierra Valley has a variety of birds to be enjoyed by birdwatchers.   The mountain species, scenery, wildflowers and community and historical sites are a photographer’s delight.
• Frazier Falls is located in the pristine Alpine wilderness of the Lakes Basin recreation area.  The trail to the falls is a perfect picnic site.
• Enjoy a self-guided auto tour of historic mining town sites along forest service roads surrounding La Porte.

Butte

• If you’re looking for a fun activity, head to Lake Oroville and try gold panning.  Fun for all ages!
• Stop by Paradise and experience all the fun things to do! There’s a Maidu exhibit, Nuggetville (a replica of an old western town), a walk-through mine, and not to mention all the antique stores. Who knows what treasures you’ll come across!
• Relax and enjoy a summer stroll through the shady campus of the California State University in Chico.

TEHAMA

• Check out Gaumer’s free Mining & Mineral Museum on Belle Mill Rd. in Red Bluff. This is a truly unique place.
• Enjoy a day at 7 mile long Black Butte Lake just south of Corning.  It’s great for camping, picnicking, boating & fishing.
• Mineral, at the southwest entrance to Lassen National Park, is a mecca for tourists, hunters and fishermen.

Need A Break? – Get Out of the Car, Have Some Fun & Explore the Region

July 31^st – August 6^th

SHASTA

• The Kanaka Peak Loop trail at the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is scheduled to open this week after repairs.  Give them a call at 530-246-1225.
• Experience a unique camping experience by renting the Girard Ridge Fire Lookout that offers amazing views of Castle Crags and Mt. Shasta.
• Enjoy Movies in the Park at dusk, Friday nights in Anderson River Park on Rupert Rd (free). Bring lawn chairs, blanket, & picnic.

TRINITY

• You won’t want to miss the Ruth Lake Summer Festival with raft races and the 56^th Annual Ruth Rodeo, featuring professional bull riding, Aug. 6^th-7^th.
• Bring your camera and hike through the Trinity Alps for a chance to see Sapphire Lake, a pristine alpine lake.
• Visit the enchanting town of Hayfork on Hwy 3, off Hwy 299, and enjoy the scenic beauty of Trinity County.

SISKIYOU

• If you’re a bird enthusiast and want to get up close and personal, then check into the Canoe Trail at Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
• Visit The People’s Center in Happy Camp, a cultural Center and Museum of the Karuk Tribe. There are many interesting artifacts to be seen.
• For something unique, out in the brush-filled flatlands off Hwy A-12 on the way to Montague is a well- hidden wonder, Pluto’s Cave.

LASSEN

• Visit the Old Jail & Courthouse, located on S. Lassen St. in Susanville, on land donated by Issac Roop in 1864.  These buildings are good examples of native stone used in buildings of that era.
• Wander through history as you explore the old town of Janesville founded in 1857.
• There are more than 20 lakes in the Caribou Wilderness Area in Lassen Nat’l Forest, providing pristine fishing opportunities.

MODOC

• Interested in bird watching?  Plan a whimsical day at Klamath Basin enjoying the Birding Trail.
• Visit Modoc County Historical Museum in Alturas featuring artifacts dating back 150 years.
• Experience the history of Louieville with authentic log cabins and old structures at the Modoc County Fairgrounds near Alturas

PLUMAS

• Graeagle Mill Pond is a popular swimming & picnicking site during the summer. Periodic arts & crafts shows dot the summer landscape.
• An hour’s drive south of Quincy is the historic community of La Porte and the nearby Little Grass Valley Reservoir.
• Lake Davis, near Portola, is well known for its excellent fishing and camping opportunities.

Butte

• See the astonishing Mother Orange Tree on Glen Dr. in Oroville, planted in the 1850’s; the tree spawned the entire citrus industry in Northern California.
• See the Bidwell Bar Bridge built in 1856 at the south end of Lake Oroville.  It was the first suspension bridge west of The Mississippi.
• Honey Run Covered Bridge, on Honey Run Rd. near Chico, is the only tri-level covered bridge in the U.S.

TEHAMA

• Check out the activities for kids at the Summer Fun Zone at the Red Bluff Community Center. (530) 527-8177
• Enjoy summer days at the Red Bluff River Park on Main St.  The park offers a bike path, community pool, boat ramp & more.
• May-Sept. take a trip to the Salmon Viewing Plaza on Sale Lane in Red Bluff to see the spawning cycle of Red Bluff’s indigenous fish population.