If You Have 5 or 6 Days

Get a glimpse of the Far North's heritage in Red Bluff before heading north on Interstate 5 to the town of Mt. Shasta. On Day 2, drop by the Forest Service ranger station to check on trail conditions on the mountain and to pick up maps. Pack a picnic lunch before taking Everitt Memorial Highway up the mountain. After exploring it, head south on Interstate 5 and spend the night in Dunsmuir at the Railroad Park Resort, where most of the accommodations are old cabooses. On your third day take an early morning hike in nearby Castle Crags State Park. Continue south on Interstate 5 to Lake Shasta and tour Shasta Dam Visitor's Center. Spend the night camping in the area or in Redding. On your fourth morning head west on Highway 299, stopping at Shasta State Historic Park on your way to Weaverville. Spend the night there or back in Redding. If you will be leaving the area on your fifth day but have a little time, zip north and visit Lake Shasta Caverns. If you're spending the night in Redding and it's between late May and early October, spend the next day and a half exploring Lassen Volcanic National Park. Highway 44 heads east from Redding into the park.