Ever book a spontaneous trip to a place you’ve been dreaming of exploring? Yeah, us too. If you haven’t booked a spontaneous trip before, here is your sign you should! Last week we realized that we wanted to escape this awful California heat wave and decided to escape to Siskiyou County. My husband has been wanting to see Mount Shasta for years now. It’s a bit of a drive for us so we haven’t been able to make it happen until now. We were searching Airbnb and got lucky to score a last minute rental house for the long weekend in the heart of Mount Shasta. So we packed our bags real fast, loaded the kids in the car, and hit the road! It was an epic trip and we saw some beautiful sights. From waterfalls to epic views of Mount Shasta to sipping on fresh spring water out of the headwaters of the Sacramento River, here are our top 5 must do things when visiting Siskiyou County.
McCloud Falls
McCloud River offers three epically beautiful waterfalls that are easy to access and family friendly to explore. While we opted not to do the 4 mile hike due to it still being a bit warm and having two younger kids, it would be a great hike for those who are used to moderate hikes. Located 5 miles east of McCloud, these waterfalls can be accessed year-round and are a must see while in the area. Our family loved the lower waterfall the most, but all are beautiful and truly remarkable to see in person after hearing about them for years. Did I mention it’s totally free?
Mount Shasta City Park
The Mount Shasta City Park is free and perfect for hiking, exploring, swimming, picnics, and soaking in the beautiful views of the surrounding nature. It also happens to be the headwaters of the Sacramento River with the Headwaters Spring. Dip your toes in to cool off, bring a jug to try some fresh spring water, and relax in the shaded grass. My kids loved playing on the playground and the Headwaters Bridge the most.
Lake Siskiyou
Lake Siskiyou offers one of the best views of Mount Shasta in my opinion. While there is free access to the lake in many day use areas, we opted to pay a small fee to access the beach which was perfect. There’s a snack shack and boat rentals on site too. It was the perfect place to cool off after a day of exploring. If you are looking to get the best views of Mount Shasta, try visiting early in the morning.
Black Bear Diner
Mount Shasta is home to the very first Black Bear Diner. As a kid, this was a diner we visited often and it holds a special place in my heart. It was my husband and our kids first time visiting. Needless to say, they loved it! Don’t forget to order a blackberry bear claw and some blackberry lemonade.
Downtown Mount Shasta
Downtown Mount Shasta offers many unique restaurants, local shops, and epic views of Mount Shasta. Our Airbnb was conveniently located near downtown which was a huge bonus because downtown Mount Shasta has so much to offer. Yaks is a huge local favorite that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as drinks with outdoor seating. There are also local coffee shops if you are looking for a caffeine boost in between shopping at the local shops along main street.
We fell in love with Siskiyou County and all the area has to offer. We can’t wait to visit again!
If you are looking for a great Airbnb when visiting, check out the house we stayed here. Learn more about Siskiyou County here.
Have you ever been to Mount Shasta?
Xoxo
Christian
Memories With The Mulkeys 