Seven Natural Wonders of Siskiyou

With nearly 445,00 acres of federally recognized wilderness, Siskiyou is an outdoor enthusiastโ€™s dream destination. Its borders encompass rich volcanic history, bio-diverse forests, abundant alpine lakes, wild and scenic rivers, waterfalls, canyons, valleys and peaks. And, even for residents, thereโ€™s never a shortage of new natural sights to behold. But for a visitor just getting to know Siskiyou, here is a round up of some iconic only-in-Siskiyou spots. Of course, this list is by no means exhaustive, but these seven natural wonders of Siskiyou should be on your bucket list!

Mount Shasta

The grand-dame of Siskiyou, the magnificent Mount Shasta is without a doubt the โ€œunchallenged monarchโ€ of Northern California. At nearly 14,180 feet, it is the second highest peak in the state and visible from well over 100 miles away, towering over every other mountain in the region. Many come to summit it, while others come to marvel at it. Whatever calls you to the mountain, you will be changed after experiencing this natural wonder. For places to stay while visiting Mount Shasta, visit here. To experience other summits in the area (and fantastic views of Mount Shasta!) visit here.

Lava Beds National Monument

More than 700 caves, Native American rock art sites, historic battlefields, and a high desert wilderness await you at the unparalleled Lava Beds National Monument. Formed over the last half-million years by flows of smooth lava from the Medicine Lake Volcano, this rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features is definitely one of Siskiyouโ€™s natural crown jewels, and earns a spot in our list of Seven Natural Wonders of Siskiyou. For an alternative way to explore this National Monument, try the free driving audio tour that highlights the historic hotspots during the Modoc War that was fought in the Lava Beds during 1872-1873. To learn more about and access the tour, visit here.

Medicine Lake Shield Volcano

Not your typical โ€œvolcano,โ€ Medicine Lake Volcano is whatโ€™s known as a shield volcano, where the underlying rock has downwarped under the center of the volcano, leaving its old caldera exposed as Medicine Lake. Rising 3,900 feet above the Modoc Plateau with 140 cubic miles of lava flows, itโ€™s actually the largest volcano by volume in the Cascade Range, which also includes Mount Rainer and Mount Saint Helens. It is believed that the Medicine Lake volcano is unique, having many small magma chambers rather than one large one. To explore more recreational opportunities in East Siskiyou, visit here.

Castle Crags

On Siskiyouโ€™s southern border with neighboring Shasta County, the Castle Crags are an estimated 170 million years old, their impressive 6000-feet tall granite spires having inspired many enduring myths and legends. The fact that they are granite also makes them very different from much of the volcanic landscape Siskiyou is known for, affording visitors a slice of Yosemite without the crowds. There is both the Castle Crags Wilderness and the Castle Crags State Park, where 28 miles of hiking trails of varying levels means that everyone can enjoy this natural wonder. Itโ€™s also six miles from the charming railroad town of Dunsmuir, filled with great restaurants and lodging. For more inspiration on visiting โ€œThe Crags,โ€ see here.

Klamath River

Flowing 257 miles through Oregon and Northern California into the Pacific Ocean, the Klamath River is the second largest river in California and the most important river south of the Columbia River for anadromous fish migration (which means fish that migrate from the sea up to their natal freshwater streams, such as salmon and steelhead). It also includes many of the longest free-flowing stretches of river and whitewater in California, making thisย one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Siskiyou an excellent recreational destination. For a list of places to stay and play along the Klamath, visit here.

McCloud Falls

McCloud Falls is unique in that it is actually a series of three waterfalls located all within a walkable mile of each other and each with their own personality. At Upper Falls, the quiet river gathers itself into a massive rock chute, charging the water full of energy before it spills into a pool far below. Middle Falls spreads a sheet of falling water over a lava cliff, into a large pool, while lower Falls is a small chute spilling into a pool below.ย The water is icy cold, but in the summer you will find people frolicking in it, enjoying this favorite natural wonder. For a list of other visit-worthy waterfalls in Siskiyou, see here.

Miracle Mile

The Russian Wilderness is a wilderness area within the Klamath National Forest, located just above Scott Valley in Siskiyou. Along with the Trinity Alps Wilderness to the south and the Marble Mountain Wilderness in the north, it forms an important wildlife and recreation corridor. But the Russian Wilderness also happens to hold one of the richest conifer assemblages on Earth, with 18 documented species of conifer (including the Engelmann spruce, one of Californiaโ€™s rarest conifers) in a roughly drawn square mile around Little Duck Lake. This wonderously bio-diverse section of the wilderness has come to be known as the โ€œMiracle Mile,โ€ and can be explored on foot and horseback. Fort Jones and Etna, two of the many quaint communities in Scott Valley, make for a delightful basecamp. For places to stay while exploring the Russians, visit here.

This is just the beginning of amazing places to explore! Come stay in Siskiyou and discover it for yourself.

...
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
๐ŸŒฟ Tucked just off the highway in Dunsmuir lies a little slice of magic โ€” 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. ๐Ÿ’ฆโœจ

๐Ÿ“ธ: @backroadsculture 

#DiscoverSiskiyou #HedgeCreekFalls #DunsmuirCA #WaterfallWednesday #HiddenGems #NorCalNature #VisitSiskiyou
๐ŸŽถ Southern Oregonโ€™s legendary Rogue Suspects are bringing the groove to the Yreka Summer Concert Series this Friday, July 18! ๐ŸŽธ๐ŸŒŸ

Join us at the park for a night of classic, high-energy jams you wonโ€™t want to miss. Bring your lawn chairs, your dancing shoes, and your summer vibes! โ˜€๏ธ๐Ÿ•บ๐Ÿ’ƒ

๐ŸŽค Music starts at 6:30 PM
๐Ÿ“ Miner Street Park, Yreka
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Free & family-friendly!
๐ŸŒฎ Food + Beverage Trucks On-Site

#YrekaSummerConcerts #RogueSuspects #LiveMusicYreka #SiskiyouVibes #discoversiskiyou #seesiskiyou #redding #mtshasta #yreka #southernoregon #medford #ashland #norcal