10 GREAT SPOTS TO STOP – RIGHT OFF I-5!

Interstate 5 cuts straight through the heart of Siskiyou โ€“ which also happens to be the perfect halfway point for a stop on the drive between Portland, Oregon and Californiaโ€™s Bay Area. And while Mt. Shasta, one of Siskiyouโ€™s biggest draws, is dramatically visible from the road, it can sometimes overshadow so many other hidden gems that are worth exiting the freeway for. Even if youโ€™ve only got an hour (or less!), here are 10 great spots to stop in Siskiyou that are mere minutes from the freeway โ€“ and will have you counting down to the days until you can come back to stay and play for real!

Hedge Creek Falls – Dunsmuir

One of the 10 Great Spots Right off I5 is an absolutely dreamy spot to stretch your legs.ย Hedge Creek Falls is a waterfall you can walk behind and is literally right off the freeway. At the Hedge Creek Falls exit in Dunsmuir, you can pull off the freeway and park, then take a five minute walk along a shaded trail to the waterfall.

Botanical Gardens – Dunsmuir

Dunsmuir in general is great for the I5 traveler, offering a ton in the way of delicious eateries, from Yaks On The 5 to Cafรฉ Maddalena and The Wheelhouse. But its downtown city park โ€“ home to the Botanical Gardens with ten acres of hilly wooded area, meadows and gardens โ€“ is a must. The native white dogwood here is prolific and provides a glorious show in the spring. Unique to this area are also the many Shasta lilies and fragrant native azaleas growing on the hillsides and along the river.

Sisson Museum & Fish Hatchery โ€“ Mt. Shasta

A perfect energy-releasing stop for even the youngest of travelers, the Mt. Shasta Sisson Museum is right off I-5. Itโ€™s completely child-friendly and housed in a 1906 building on the grounds of the oldest trout hatchery west of the Mississippi. Youโ€™ll find permanent and changing exhibits display the history and culture of the Mount Shasta area, along with a mountaineering wall, a model railroad, and a chance to feed some trout! Nearby, Cooperโ€™s Bar & Grill at the Best Western Tree House offers a delicious and easy access restaurant before hitting the road.

Lake Siskiyou โ€“ Mt. Shasta

Another one of the 10 Great Spots Right off I5, is nestled at the foot of the Trinity Divide, enjoying outstanding views of Mount Shasta.ย Lake Siskiyou is one of the prettiest reservoirs in Northern California, not to mention one of its recreational hubs. Itโ€™s a great place to stretch the legs with a beautiful pedestrian bridge and commanding views of Mount Shasta. In the summer there are even boat rentals and a Splash Zone for the kids. It will make you feel like the long road trip is a million miles away โ€“ instead of a few minutes from the freeway!

Sacramento Headwaters โ€“ Mt. Shasta

Theย Headwaters Springย in Mt. Shasta City Park is a highlight not to be missed.ย  Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the paved, ADA walkway around the picnic grounds.ย ย  Explore the nature trail by way of the Headwaters Bridge with the meandering Headwaters stream as your guide. And although filling up a water bottle for the road is not officially recommended, youโ€™ll see people doing it โ€“ the choice is up to you!

Weed Arch & The Weed Store – Weed

Although Weed gets its name from founder Abner Weed, who established the local lumber mill after discovering that the areaโ€™s strong winds were helpful in drying lumber, itโ€™s now become something of a novelty draw for its euphemistic reference to cannabis. Stop off the freeway and snap a selfie with the historic arch and a dramatic view of Mount Shasta, then pop into The Weed Store for your favorite Weed souvenir T-Shirt!

Bear Trail – Weed

Weed is home to the College of the Siskiyous and its beautiful main campus located just minutes off Interstate 5. If youโ€™re looking for a great walking loop to stretch your legs, look no further than the Bear Trail that meanders for two miles behind the back of the college. The mostly flat, wooded trail is great for all ages, and four-legged friends are also welcome on a leash! Itโ€™s also right next door to the Mt. Shasta Brewing Company/Weed Ale House and down the street from Montgomeryโ€™s Meat Co. deli, making it a worthwhile just-off-the-freeway food stop, too.

Historic West Miner Street

Not even a hop, skip and a jump off the freeway, stop off for an exploration of the burgeoning arts scene on historic and very walkable Miner Street in Yreka. In a few block radius youโ€™ll find art galleries, artisan shops, food and even a spot to paint ceramics while you enjoy an adult grilled cheese. There are also seven buildings that are recognized as California Historical Landmarks, and a self-guided walking tour of the surrounding neighborhoods with an impressive number of preserved Victorians.

Shasta Valley Wildlife Area

Just eight miles east of Interstate 5 (and a mile east of charming downtown Montague!) you can explore the pretty Shasta Valley Wildlife Area. Designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1991, it contains approximately 4,700 acres of Great Basin juniper woodland, riparian forest, seasonal wetlands, and cropland where you can keep company with cranes, waterfowl, raptors, and shorebirds.

Iron Gate Fish Hatchery

Our last (but not least!) of the 10 Great Spots Right off I5 is along the Klamath River. Iron Gate Hatchery is a salmon and steelhead hatchery that releases fish back to the Klamath River, and itโ€™s a great place to get out of the car and explore with kids, especially in the autumn (approximately mid-October through mid-December) during spawning season.

For more inspiration of things to see and do, visit here or check out our kiosk at the Collier Rest Area located right off the Interstate between Yreka and Hornbrook.

...
Today, we pause to remember and honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001.

May we all be reminded of the power of coming together, supporting one another, and finding peace in the beauty that surrounds us โ™ฅ

#DiscoverSiskiyou #SiskiyouStrong #UnityInCommunity #HonorAndReflect #CommunityMatters #InRemembrance
There's still time to vote! t๐ŸŽธ๐ŸŽต๐ŸŽค

๐Ÿ—ณ Text YREKA to 877-409-5525 or vote online at the link in our bio!

#discoversiskiyou #siskiyou #siskiyoucounty #yreka #yrekaca #northstate #norcal
โœจ 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. ๐ŸŒ 

๐Ÿ“ธ: @rockmaven56

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

๐Ÿ—ณ Voting closes Sept. 15. Help us bring more live music to Yreka's Miner Street Park! ๐ŸŽถ

#discoversiskiyou #siskiyou #siskiyoucounty #LevittAMP #norcal #redding #mtshasta
POV: you booked a fall trip to Siskiyou ๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿ—ป

๐Ÿ“ธ: @jbridges0214 

#discoversiskiyou #visitcalifornia #AutumnVibes #LeafPeeping #CozyFallVibes #mtshasta #norcal
๐ŸŽถ Help us bring more live music to Yreka! ๐ŸŽถ

We're in the running for a Levitt AMP Music Series Grant, and we need YOUR vote to make it happen! ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธโœจ

๐Ÿ‘‰ Vote at www.vote.levitt.org or text YREKA to 877-409-5525
๐Ÿ“… Voting open Sept. 5โ€“15
๐Ÿ“ 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 ๐ŸŒ‹ 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
๐ŸŽถ YREKA NEEDS YOUR VOTE! ๐ŸŽถ

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! ๐ŸŽค๐ŸŒž๐ŸŽธ

๐Ÿ—ณ Mark your calendar: Voting opens FRIDAY!
๐Ÿ“ Link to vote will be shared soon โ€“ stay tuned!

#Yreka #levittampmusicseries #siskiyou #siskiyoucounty #smalltownbigheart #yrekasummerconcerts #norcal
Labor Day Weekend = one last summer adventure. โ˜€๏ธโ›ฐ๏ธ From lakes to trails, Siskiyouโ€™s the place to savor every mom#peaceofmind 

๐Ÿ“ธ: @etch_in_love 

#discoversiskiyou #seesiskiyou #mtshasta #lakesiskiyou #MountainLife #california #labordayweekend #peace
Still soaking up summer? Us too. ๐Ÿ˜Ž But trust usโ€”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 ๐Ÿ”๏ธ๐Ÿ 

๐Ÿ“ธ: @kiwibandit 

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

๐Ÿ“ธ: @morgan_swartz

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

Just when you thought the Yreka Summer Concert Series was overโ€ฆ weโ€™ve got one more night of free music for you! ๐ŸŽถ

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!

๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ 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. ๐Ÿ’›

#YrekaConcerts #LevittAMP #EncoreShow #VoteForYreka
๐ŸŽถ Don't miss the final Yreka Summer Concert in the Park! ๐ŸŽถ

This Friday, August 1, wrap up the season with a sunset performance by the Seth Charles Band โ€” 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. ๐ŸŒ„๐ŸŽธ

๐Ÿ“ Miner Street Park, Yreka
๐Ÿ•• Music starts at 6:30 PM
๐Ÿ’ƒ Free & family-friendly!

Letโ€™s end the summer series on a high note โ€” weโ€™ll see you there! ๐ŸŽค๐ŸŽถ

#YrekaEvents #SiskiyouSummerNights #LiveMusicInThePark #DiscoverSiskiyou #SethCharlesBand