What to do in Mount Shasta, one of 50 best places to visit in 2023
With outdoor recreation opportunities, boutique shopping, hiking/biking trails and an abundance of stunning vistas, Mount Shasta is a prime spot for winter fun.
And it’s only an hour’s drive north of Redding and a 35-minute drive south of Yreka in far Northern California.
Mount Shasta’s tourism appeal grew in popularity this year.
The mountain town placed 50th in online travel guide Travel Lemming’s “50 best places to travel in 2023.” The list features lesser-known destination spots worldwide, according to Travel Lemming. “The air is crisp, the lakes and rivers teem with trout, and cozy lodges invite you to the warmth of their stone-hearth fireplaces.”
Here are some of the things that make Mount Shasta fun for winter travelers.
Mount Shasta is home to Mt. Shasta, gateway to great outdoors
Mt. Shasta Ski Park and a variety of recreational opportunities — including downhill skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fishing, climbing, boating and hunting — are a short drive away.
But Mount Shasta also has a huge network of hiking and biking trails leading in and out of town.
The Gateway Trail at 1700 Everitt Memorial Highway is a great place to start, said Shannon Shaw at the Mount Shasta Recreation and Parks Administration District office, located in Mount Shasta City Park. There’s also the Lake Siskiyou Trail, an easy flat trail that loops around the lake in summer.
In winter, both trails are great for snowshoeing, Shaw said. There’s also cross-country skiing within a few miles of downtown.
The outdoor Siskiyou Ice Rink in Shastice Park on Rockfellow Drive opened Nov. 19. This park is a prime spot for young children to sled on its gently sloping hills, Shaw said.
For more information on recreation in the parks call 530-926-2494 or go to msrec.org.
For information on trail conditions and recommendations go to the Mount Shasta Trail Association’s website at mountshastatrailassociation.org.
Where to go for fine dining in Mount Shasta
Mount Shasta offers a large selection of dining choices.
Shoppers and strollers can stop at several cafés and coffee houses along Mount Shasta Boulevard.
On the south side of the boulevard is a Mount Shasta classic: Lily’s restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner (530-926-3372). Lily’s chefs use local and organic ingredients when available, and serve big traditional dinners and desserts. Like many restaurants in town, the menu includes vegetarian and vegan choices. Many menu items are gluten-free, restaurant staff said. Hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
Other dining spots that received stellar guest reviews on travel sites are the Tree House Restaurant and Coopers Bar & Grill on Morgan Way, both part of the Best Western Plus Tree House (530-926-3101). One of the two is always open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, restaurant staff said. They serve full breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a weekend brunch.
For gourmet dining, check out the Highland House Restaurant at the Mount Shasta Resort on Siskiyou Lake Boulevard. The restaurant — and the resort’s lounge — have giant picture windows with views of the mountain. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
For a list of places to dine in Mount Shasta, go to the Discover Siskiyou website at discoversiskiyou.com.
Where to spend the night in Mount Shasta
Mount Shasta is loaded with bed-and-breakfast and boutique hotels, but book ahead of time for two reasons: They often fill up fast at the holidays, and small hotel owners may close for periods for their own winter vacations.
If you’re looking for all-inclusive overnight or weekend packages, the Mount Shasta Resort (530-466-0056) plans to start offering package deals in January 2023, said Suzanne Bentley, the resorts general manager. The resort stopped offering packages in 2020 during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hotel is open year-round. Guests can rent a room in the alpine-style building or a cozy private cabin with a fireplace, situated on Lake Siskiyou.
There are snowshoeing and hiking trails within walking distance of the facility; and in summer, the resort attracts golfers to its 18-hole golf course.
If you’re aching after all that exercise, people can book a massage or other treatment at the Sacred Mountain Spa, located on the resort’s campus. You don’t have to stay at the resort to book a spa treatment.
Mount Shasta is an arts center with crystal shops and other boutiques
Take a walk along North Mount Shasta Boulevard — Mount Shasta’s main road through downtown — to shop at dozens of boutiques and book, organic clothing, local crafts, jewelry, crystal and metaphysic product stores.
Mount Shasta is an arts center in Siskiyou County, so expect to find art galleries selling paintings, sculptures, ceramics and other art media. Some galleries also sell locally made confections, edible art.
Its proximity to outdoor recreation sites means you’ll also find upscale sporting goods stores selling everything from backpacks and dehydrated camp food to après ski fashions.
Don’t forget to buy the Mt. Shasta Bar
For stocking stuffers or small Hannukah “eight nights” gifts, grab the town’s iconic candy: The Mt. Shasta Bar. It comes in milk or dark chocolate and has the mountain on the wrapper. Unlike most souvenir candy, this locally-made chocolate bar is high quality. It’s sold at checkouts at many stores on Mount Shasta Boulevard. Just ask a retailer or grocer where to find them; if their shop doesn’t have them, odds are they know a shop nearby that does.
Winter store hours may be shorter than during the summer tourist season, and some vendors close for lunch.
How to get to Mount Shasta
To arrive in downtown Mount Shasta, get off Interstate 5 at Exit 738 on to West Lake Street and park anywhere near the North Mount Shasta Boulevard intersection.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and entertainment stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
