I love the winter season in Siskiyou because there are lots of outdoor activities to participate in like skiing at Mt. Shasta or snowshoeing at the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center. I’m looking forward to snow-filled adventure trips to Siskiyou in 2019!
In addition to plotting my winter adventures, I’m brainstorming summer vacation ideas because the summer season is a great time to explore Siskiyou. For example, my husband and I stayed at the Mt. Shasta Resort in 2016. It had been on our bucket list for a few years, so we planned our summer trip during our winter break.
I hope our adventures inspire you to celebrate the summer in Siskiyou!
Day 1: Monday
We booked a small cabin at the Mt. Shasta Resort for the trip, and Lake Siskiyou was directly behind our room. It was a pleasant surprise! After settling into the cabin, we located the Lake Siskiyou trail. Accessing the trail from our room was easy because it was just beyond the cabin’s back door.
After exploring a portion of the trail near the lake, we walked to the golf course at the Mt. Shasta Resort. We planned our trip to coincide with the 4th of July so that we could watch the fireworks from the resort!
The golf course was filled with people, and we found food and beer vendors, too. After buying some food and drinks, we put a blanket on the lawn, ate dinner, listened to live music, and watched people wander by with picnics. While we waited for the show to start, we experienced a beautiful sunset. The setting was magical!
The fireworks started once it was dark, and we enjoyed watching the show in the sky. The fireworks are launched from boats on the lake, and since the golf course is at a slightly higher elevation, we had a clear view over the trees. After the show, it was a quick walk to our room. That was a sweet treat!
Day 2: Tuesday
Tuesday was dedicated to an adventure walk and swimming in Lake Siskiyou. After coffee and breakfast in our room, we hit the trail and walked from our cabin to the Lake Siskiyou Beach and Camp. The beach is at the other end of the lake, and it’s a great place to swim, relax, and take photos.
After playing in the water for a few hours, we walked back to our cabin. The trek to the room was long because we were hot and tired. All the walking was worth it because we stopped along the way for snack breaks, short swims, and we took photos of the lake.
On our walk back to the resort, we decided to eat at the Mount Shasta Resort’s Highland House Restaurant & Lounge. The giant windows in the restaurant showcased Mt. Shasta and the lush green golf course. We enjoyed wine and a quiet steak dinner together; a perfect way to celebrate summer break!
Day 3: Wednesday
We savored our final morning at the resort by sleeping in, drinking coffee on the back porch, and reading while listening to the wind blow through the pine trees. After packing our stuff, we had breakfast at Seven Suns Coffee & Cafe in Mt. Shasta. While eating breakfast burritos, we decided to hike to Heart Lake because it was another place we’d meant to see for years.
The hike to Heart Lake was the perfect way to end our mid-week trip. The path to the lake offered spectacular views of Mt. Shasta and Castle Lake. Plus, Heart Lake was a joy to see in person because it was tiny and magical. I wish we’d brought along a picnic and spent more time savoring the views. Next time!
Happy summer adventuring!
PRO-TIPS
Lodging: Mt. Shasta has a plethora of lodging options like the Mt. Shasta Resort and the Cold Creek Inn. I enjoyed my stay at both properties.
Good Eats: You’ll find all kinds of good food in Mt. Shasta like Seven Suns Coffee & Cafe or the Highland House Restaurant & Lounge at the Mt. Shasta Resort. Also, Dunsmuir is a short drive from Mt. Shasta, and there are excellent restaurants to choose from including Dunsmuir Brewery Works and Cafe Maddalena.
Hiking Resources: Hike Mt. Shasta offers an excellent summary of the Heart Lake Trail, the Castle Lake Trail, and the loop around Castle Lake’s shore.
Trip Planning Tips: Before you plan a trip to Siskiyou, read Field Notes: Preparing for Your Trip to Siskiyou. And don’t forget to utilize Discover Siskiyou’s website to help you locate lodging, good food, and other activities to do while you’re in the area.
Keywords
Cabins, Castle Lake, Cold Creek Inn, Dunsmuir Brewery Works, Heart Lake, Highland House, Lake Siskiyou, Mt. Shasta, mt. shasta resort, Seven Suns Coffee & Cafe, Summer Vacation
