California Official Visitor's Guide 2021 - 78

shasta cascade

146 Go Underground at Lake Shasta
Take a guided tour of California's largest underground limestone caverns, studded with
crystals, multi-colored ﬂuted columns, and milky white ﬂowstone deposits cascading in
miniature waterfalls. Formed 250 million years ago, Shasta's crystalline chambers are the
perfect spot to cool off on hot summer days-the temperature inside is a steady 58 degrees
Fahrenheit. The journey is part of the fun-you'll take a catamaran cruise across Shasta
Lake's McCloud arm and a steep shuttle ride up the mountainside.

147 Unplug at
Drakesbad Guest Ranch
Take the family for a rustic getaway at Lassen
Volcanic National Park's 120-year-old ranch
in the verdant Warner Valley. Since there's
no WiFi, you'll play dominoes under glowing
kerosene lamps and roast s'mores over the
campﬁre instead of checking your email. Hike
to the Devils Kitchen hydrothermal area to see
bubbling mud pots and steam vents, take a
guided ride on the ranch's gentle horses, and
bathe in the property's hot springs pool. Rates
include three meals per day.

148 SKI OR SLED ON A VOLCANO
Even in summer, the 14,179-foot Mount Shasta wears a permanent cap of ice and snow, but winter
really brings on the powder. " The Mt. Shasta Ski Park has ski and snowboard runs rated from black
diamond for experts to a bunny hill for children, " Mathis says. " If you're not a skier, you can go sledding
at Snowman's Hill near the Ski Park turnoff. " And then tell your friends you ripped on a volcano.

149 Brake for Burgers
Most Northern California road trips include
a stint on Interstate 5, which zooms up
the middle of the state. That's your excuse
s in Dunsmuir.
for a food stop at Yak's
" Yak's is famous for its deliciously huge
grass-fed burgers, including the Blonde
Bombshell, with French-fried onion strings,
and the Cilantro Bomb, with Cajun rub,
lime, cilantro. Everybody stops there
re driving I-5, " Mathis says. And
when they're
everybody orders a side of tater tots.

150 Catch a
Famous Trout
More than 100 years ago, the
Mount Shasta Fish Hatchery
bred McCloud River rainbow
trout that were shipped to
waters in South America and
Australia. Today, you can
ﬂy-ﬁsh for that coveted ﬁsh
at The Nature Conservancy's
McCloud River Preserve,
where turquoise water
ﬂows over rocks to create
classic riffles and pools.
" Fly-ﬁshermen love the
McCloud River, " Mathis says.
" It's world-class ﬂy-ﬁshing
on one of the most beautiful
wilderness rivers. " Make a
reservation-only 10 anglers
may ﬁsh at once.

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OUR EXPERT
Darlene Mathis owns
the 1896 McCloud River
Mercantile building with her
family. Today her landmark
12-suite hotel is listed on
the National Register of
Historic Places.

California Official Visitor's Guide 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Official Visitor's Guide 2021