Siskiyou’s Stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail

Siskiyou is blessed with vast wilderness, jaw-dropping views and quaint towns, topped by a mystical mountain and picturesque Alpine lakes. And through that rugged and breathtaking landscape weaves the Pacific Crest Trail, also casually referred to as the “PCT.” Made household-name-famous in Cheryl Strayed’s book “Wild,” the Pacific Crest Trail spans 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington, with 120 miles of that trail in Siskiyou.  California’s north even includes the mid-point of the trail that falls near Dunsmuir.

But it’s Siskiyou’s small towns along the PCT that have become almost as well-known as the journey itself, referred to as some of the “friendliest towns” on the trail. They provide places to shower, rest, wash clothes, resupply, with great restaurants where hikers can down a 4000-calorie breakfast and pour back some amazing locally crafted beers! Here’s a little snapshot of what Siskiyou’s four PCT towns offer to hikers who take the time (and energy!) to refuel, resupply, and rejuvenate in town.

 

Dunsmuir

Situated in a canyon and surrounded by the dramatic Castle Crags wilderness near the Soda Creek Trailhead, Dunsmuir is a charming railroad town with lots of great food and lodging that has been a go-to stop for hikers for a long time. The Dunsmuir Lodge is a favorite option that offers comfortable lodging and gives rides to PCT hikers when possible, and the Railroad Park Resort offers the “only in Siskiyou” experience of eating on a caboose and sleeping in a train. When it comes to food, it’s hard to beat Dunsmuir, but both the Cornerstone Café and the Bee Kind Bakery offering breakfast and goodies to refuel, and Yaks on the Five can deliver a hiker’s much-needed caloric bang for a few bucks with burgers built on cinnamon rolls and more than 20 craft beers on tap – many from other towns along the trail! And, it doesn’t get more local than the Dunsmuir Brewery Works, which also serves great seasonal food featuring local ingredients.

City of Mount Shasta

No other mountain dominates the Pacific Crest Trail the way Mount Shasta does, so it’s no surprise that the city of Mount Shasta was proudly named the first official “Trail Town” of the Pacific Crest Trail. With so much outdoor recreation and nearby hiking, you can imagine how much the city of Mount Shasta loves its visiting hikers!

There are a variety of yummy places to eat in town, and PCT hikers can indulge in particularly large breakfasts at the original Black Bear Diner and Cooper’s Restaurant in the Best Western Tree House. The Berryvale Market & Café and Mount Shasta Grocery offer great local food resupply stops, and there is a wealth of outdoor shops in town for hiking needs. There’s even an outdoor beer garden, Garden Tap, at the Native Grounds Nursery.

There are also lots of lodging options, including the Shasta Inn and Strawberry Valley Inn next to Native Grounds, as well as the recently renovated Inn at Mount Shasta. You can even find adventure and hiker-friendly accommodations at LOGE Mt. Shasta that offers everything from hotel rooms to hostel bunks and camping.

Etna

A few day hike from Mount Shasta, the charming town of Etna, population 700, has been called “the friendliest town on the trail.” It’s situated in the valley below Etna Summit and is home to Etna Brewing Company (one of the oldest breweries in California!). The tiny town is also home to the Denny Bar Co. – a craft distillery-restaurant.

The local post office is known to bring in an extra dumpster during PCT “hiker season” and the local high school art students design the town’s annual trail patch. It’s not unusual to see backpacks lining Main Street, or locals giving rides to hikers to and from Etna Summit. The lovely Collier Hotel and Etna Motels are quaint and comfortable options right in town, and there are a number of vacation rentals in town as well.

Seiad Valley

Seiad Valley, located near Happy Camp and close to the mighty Klamath River, has the singular charm of the fact that every through hiker on the trail actually has to pass straight through the little enclave of buildings that make up “Seiad.” One of those buildings is the Seiad post office, which makes it a convenient resupply point.

One of the other buildings is the Seiad Café, which happens to be the home of the famous (infamous?) pancake challenge that was once featured on the Food Network. For PCT hikers, or anyone crazy enough to take the challenge, the task is to eat five giant pancakes and the meal is free. Sounds easy, until you realize the size of the spatula hanging on the wall! International hikers are also pleased to discover that the café regularly stocks all kinds of things you wouldn’t expect to find off the beaten track simply because of the number of hikers that roll through each summer. (Vegemite, anyone?) Of course, there are lots of other things to choose from on the menu too, so you don’t have to be a glutton for pancake punishment to enjoy the stop to refuel!

For hiking enthusiasts that aren’t currently on the PCT, there are a ton of other opportunities to explore Siskiyou as well! For inspiration on eight Siskiyou summits above 8000 feet, click here.

...
There's still time to vote! t🎸🎵🎤

🗳 Text YREKA to 877-409-5525 or vote online at the link in our bio!

#discoversiskiyou #siskiyou #siskiyoucounty #yreka #yrekaca #northstate #norcal
✨ The stars shine brighter in Siskiyou.

With low light pollution and wide-open skies, our region offers some of the best stargazing in California. Bring a blanket, look up, and lose yourself in the magic of the cosmos. 🌠

📸: @rockmaven56

#DiscoverSiskiyou #StargazeSiskiyou #AstroPhotography #NatureAfterDark #stargazing #california #LookUp
Have you voted yet? Text YREKA to 877-409-5525

🗳 Voting closes Sept. 15. Help us bring more live music to Yreka's Miner Street Park! 🎶

#discoversiskiyou #siskiyou #siskiyoucounty #LevittAMP #norcal #redding #mtshasta
POV: you booked a fall trip to Siskiyou 🍂🗻

📸: @jbridges0214 

#discoversiskiyou #visitcalifornia #AutumnVibes #LeafPeeping #CozyFallVibes #mtshasta #norcal
🎶 Help us bring more live music to Yreka! 🎶

We're in the running for a Levitt AMP Music Series Grant, and we need YOUR vote to make it happen! 🗳️✨

👉 Vote at www.vote.levitt.org or text YREKA to 877-409-5525
📅 Voting open Sept. 5–15
📍 Support Yreka. Support local music. Support community vibes.

Please share to help spread the word!

#VoteYreka #LevittAMP #Yreka #yrekaca #SupportLocalMusic #norcal #LevittAMPYreka #siskiyou #siskiyoucounty #discoversiskiyou
Shaped by fire and time, Siskiyou is home to some of the most fascinating volcanic landscapes in the American West 🌋 From the towering majesty of Mt. Shasta to the surreal lava tubes of Lava Beds National Monument and the bubbling caldera of Medicine Lake, Siskiyou invites you to explore a world where geology and beauty collide.

Our top picks? @lavabedsnps,  Medicine Lake/Glass Mountain, Black Butte, and Captain Jack's Stronghold

#DiscoverSiskiyou #NatureGeeks #RockFormations #HiddenGemsOfCalifornia
#NorCalAdventures #GetOutside #IGTravel #NatureGram #caves
🎶 YREKA NEEDS YOUR VOTE! 🎶

Help bring more FREE summer concerts to our community!

We're in the running for a Levitt AMP Music Series grant, and public voting opens this Friday. If we win, we will be able to expand the Yreka Summer Concerts in the Parks for the next three seasons, adding more shows and booking bigger bands! 🎤🌞🎸

🗳 Mark your calendar: Voting opens FRIDAY!
📍 Link to vote will be shared soon – stay tuned!

#Yreka #levittampmusicseries #siskiyou #siskiyoucounty #smalltownbigheart #yrekasummerconcerts #norcal
Labor Day Weekend = one last summer adventure. ☀️⛰️ From lakes to trails, Siskiyou’s the place to savor every mom#peaceofmind 

📸: @etch_in_love 

#discoversiskiyou #seesiskiyou #mtshasta #lakesiskiyou #MountainLife #california #labordayweekend #peace
Still soaking up summer? Us too. 😎 But trust us—fall in Siskiyou is worth planning ahead for. Golden trails, cozy nights, and mountain views are waiting. Link in bio for our top five spots to find fall color in Siskiyou 🏔️🍁 

📸: @kiwibandit 

#DiscoverSiskiyou #VisitCalifornia #ExploreCalifornia #NorCalAdventures #NorthernCalifornia #CaliforniaFall #FallGetaway #AdventureAwaits #HiddenCalifornia #SiskiyouCounty #FallInCalifornia #MountainEscape #WanderNorCal #AutumnAdventures
Trail to the sky. ⛰️✨ Hiking Castle Crags State Park means big views, fresh air, and feeling on top of the world. 

📸: @morgan_swartz

#DiscoverSiskiyou #CastleCrags #ExploreCalifornia #VisitNorCal #AdventureAwaits #GetOutside #SiskiyouCounty #HiddenCalifornia #NorCalHikes #ForestEscape #CaliforniaMountains #TrailViews #WildCalifornia
✨SURPRISE ENCORE SHOW!✨

Just when you thought the Yreka Summer Concert Series was over… we’ve got one more night of free music for you! 🎶

Join us for a special encore concert on Friday, 9/12 at Miner Street Park as we celebrate community, live music, and our chance to bring even more free concerts to Yreka in 2026-2028!

🗳️ We are in the running to receive a Levitt AMP Music Series Grant, which would allow us to expand the Yreka summer concert series over the next three years. We have advanced to the semifinals round, which is PUBLIC VOTING from Sept. 5-15. 

We'll share the voting link when it's live! For now, spread the word about this special encore concert and let's rally together - Yreka deserves it. 💛

#YrekaConcerts #LevittAMP #EncoreShow #VoteForYreka
🎶 Don't miss the final Yreka Summer Concert in the Park! 🎶

This Friday, August 1, wrap up the season with a sunset performance by the Seth Charles Band — known for their soulful blend of rock, blues, and Americana vibes. Bring your lawn chairs, pack a picnic (or grab local eats from a variety of vendors at the show), and enjoy one last evening of live music under the Siskiyou sky. 🌄🎸

📍 Miner Street Park, Yreka
🕕 Music starts at 6:30 PM
💃 Free & family-friendly!

Let’s end the summer series on a high note — we’ll see you there! 🎤🎶

#YrekaEvents #SiskiyouSummerNights #LiveMusicInThePark #DiscoverSiskiyou #SethCharlesBand
🌿 Tucked just off the highway in Dunsmuir lies a little slice of magic — Hedge Creek Falls! This easy walk leads to a waterfall you can literally walk behind, with mist on your face and views of Mt. Shasta peeking through the trees. A perfect quick stop that feels like a secret. 💦✨

📸: @backroadsculture 

#DiscoverSiskiyou #HedgeCreekFalls #DunsmuirCA #WaterfallWednesday #HiddenGems #NorCalNature #VisitSiskiyou