MT. SHASTA - CALIFORNIA

MT. SHASTA - CALIFORNIA

Published: 10/05/2009 by D Travel

There’s so much more to Mt. Shasta than meets the eye, not to mention that what ‘meets the eye’ is, of itself, astounding in its year-round splendor. Whether you are making your initial pilgrimage to the mountain or are returning for the 20th time, Shasta’s majesty is always breathtaking to behold and ever-changing.

What else could it be if not amazing at an imposing 14,162 feet, making it the second-highest volcano in the United States. Although the last time it erupted was in 1786, Shasta is clearly still an active volcano, indicated by the presence of fumaroles (an opening in the Earth’s crust which emits steam and gases) on the mountain. Fortunately, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, Shasta is expected to remain dormant for at least the next couple of centuries.

In addition to its volcanic underpinnings, Mt. Shasta has seven named glaciers, four of which stretch from its main summit all the way down to below 10,000 feet. Among those, the Whitney Glacier is the longest glacier in California and the Hotlum is the largest.

With such geological abundance comes a plethora of outdoor recreational opportunities, and many visitors come to Mt. Shasta for the trout fishing, mountain climbing, skiing, biking, swimming and hiking. In addition to the exciting terrain for the outdoors-inclined, however, are many other, more spiritual pursuits to be had in this vibrant region, such as exploring sacred Native American sites, hiking through caverns and crystal caves and communing with nature in the network of parks and campgrounds. There are also many other activities to make your outing to Mt. Shasta a very unique experience, such as panning for gold or visiting historic buildings.

The following brief list should provide you with an excellent starting place and help to kickstart your next Mt. Shasta adventure:

Glass Mountain at Medicine Lake – the lava flow solidified so fast it turned to glass

Climb to the top of Mt. Shasta – for the athletically inclined, a strenuous, exciting climb to Mt. Shasta’s summit (recommended for June or July)

Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge – check out the local wildlife, especially the bald eagles (near Tulelake)

Personal Spiritual Pilgrimmage/Ritual – keep in mind that Mt. Shasta is considered to be one of the seven sacred mountains of the world

Sacramento River Trout Fishing – this river is renowned throughout the world for its fabulous trout fishing

Castle Lake – offers an amazing view of Mt. Shasta and don’t forget to go for a nice hike at Heart Lake nearby

Lake Siskiyou Campground – lovely for swimming in the summer, camping and boating, all within sight of Mt. Shasta

Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens – from March through November, explore ten beautifully-manicured hillside gardens

Ride the Blue Goose – from May through October, ride this train between Yreka and the ‘Old West’ town of Montague, enjoying Shasta’s serene scenery

Mt. Shasta Scenic Drive – you can drive up as far as the tree line (7,500 feet) on Everitt Memorial Highway up to Panther Meadows (for the rugged campers only, there are a few walk-in campsites)

Lake Shastina Windsurfing – best in Spring or Fall, located at few miles north of the town of Weed

These are just a few of the multitude of intriguing opportunities to enjoy in and around Mt. Shasta.