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With nearly 445,00 acres of federally recognized wilderness, Siskiyou is the perfect place to experience the visual magnificence of nature. Many natural wonders exist, but this road trip itinerary will take you past six iconic “only-in-Siskiyou” hotspots.
Start with Mt. Shasta, the crown jewel of California’s North and the second highest peak in California. The mountain is visible on all sides, drawing everyone to it who sees it. The drive up the Everitt Memorial Highway is a great way to see Shasta.
For the next Siskiyou wonder, head to the nearby Castle Crags whose 6000-ft tall granite spires are the stuff of legend. Twenty-eight miles of trails of varying levels can be explored in the Castle Crags State Park or from the adjacent Castle Crags Wilderness.
Next stop: scenic McCloud Falls. A three-sectioned waterfall, explore all three falls from the trail or car. From there, head up to Medicine Lake. A beautiful lake in its own right, its also the exposed caldera of the largest shield volcano by volume in the Cascade Range.
Medicine Lake is also adjacent to another wonder: the unparalleled Lava Beds National Monument. The Monument holds hundreds of explorable caves, stargazing, historic sites and Petroglyph Point, one of the largest panels of Native American petroglyphs in the United States. (The Lava Beds National Monument is also neighbors with the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges!).
Once you’ve had your fill in the wonder of east Siskiyou, head west to either Hornbrook or Happy Camp. There you’ll find exciting recreation and access to Siskiyou’s 6th wonder: the Klamath River. The Klamath is the second largest river in California with some of the longest free-flowing stretches of river and whitewater in the state. It’s also the only river in the world granted personhood by the Yurok tribe.
For more detailed information on all of these wonders and more, visit here.
