The town of Redding is the main hub for exploring the panoramic Shasta-Cascades mountainous region of northern California. Located at the top of the Sacramento Valley, there isn’t much of interest in this town of 80,000 people. Most visitors who come through Redding merely use it as a base for fuel and supplies as they make their way into the wilderness areas of the Cascades.
Cheap motels, fast food chains and gas stations make up most of the urban backdrop in Redding. With summer temperatures hovering around 100°F and virtually no charm whatsoever to the town itself, there’s little to lure visitors to spend more than a passing moment here.
The town is laid out in typical grid fashion, making it easy to find your way around as you stock up on fishing line, dried goods and camping gear. The real attractions in Redding are found outside the town along the slopes of Mount Shasta, in the vast wilderness areas and the old mining camps of Shasta and Weaverville. You can find useful information and maps for all the regional highlights at the Redding Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Highlights
Shasta: just west of Redding is the old gold mining town of Shasta, which has been turned into a historic park complete with restored buildings and streets, making it one of the best ghost towns in the American West.
Weaverville: this wonderfully-preserved gold mining town from the 1800s has an informative museum full of relics from the Gold Rush era.
Trinity Alps: California’s second-largest wilderness area has some 55 lakes and streams to add to the rugged mountainous interior and is popular with hikers, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts.
Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area: Trinity Lake, with its 157 miles of shoreline, is the main highlight of this popular nature preserve.
Lake Shasta: the 370 miles of shoreline make this massive lake a favorite among boaters, anglers and water-skiers.
Mount Shasta: this iconic snowcapped volcano rises over 14,000 feet and provides all kinds of outdoor recreation activities throughout the year.