Dunsmuir is one of several small towns circling the base of majestic Mt. Shasta, where skiing, snowboarding, mountain climbing, tubing, and other activities abound. Mount Shasta and the Ski Park are only minutes away from Dunsmuir, as well as many water falls, and hiking trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail. We have rivers and lakes for boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports. Fly fishing for rainbow trout on the Sacramento and McCloud Rivers and the surrounding lakes are amongst the finest fishing experiences available in California. We have large groups of Flyfishers return to our Lodge annually, as we are close to some of the best “spots” for Flyfishing.
Some interesting places to visit, along with travel times from the Dunsmuir Lodge:
Dunsmuir City Park and Botanical Gardens: Get some great food in town to-go and bring it here to eat by the river on one of the many picnic tables! The botanical gardens are a colorful and shaded respite from the summer heat. 3 minutes drive (in town).
Hedge Creek Falls: EASY, 5 min. walk down past falls (trail goes underneath the falls!) to the river overlook north, giving you the perfect post-card/instagram shot of Mt Shasta. 4 minutes drive (in town).
Mossbrae Falls: Right in town, 3/4 mile walk north on tracks. Absolutely worth the walk! Allow 35 minutes or so for hike on tracks. Watch/listen for trains, but there is ample space for most of the walk to get out of the way of trains. 3 minutes drive, plus hiking. Allow 1.5 hours for a relaxed hike and visit to the falls. It is over 100 feet wide and spans a bend in the river with a train trestle just north. Use your black and white filter in pics to make it look ‘rustic’!
Lake Siskiyou & Castle Lake (N. Shore Road, resort, wa barr road behind lake with river and swiming holes). This area is large with many campgrounds, meadows, creeks, Ney Springs Falls (now called fairy falls). Castle lake and the river behind Lake Siskiyou are ice cold all summer. Test your mettle in these alpine-blue waters!
Bunny Flats Trailhead: Open space to wander, plus Horse camp trail and green butte ridge trail. Cross country skiing, hiking and snowboarding.
Panther Meadows Trailhead: Beautiful meadow with wildflowers at over 6,00 feet! wander the trail and find the spring that feeds this areas flora.
Mt Shasta Ski Park: open all year for weddings and mountain biking too!
Mt Shasta Fish Hatchery: Fish are born and raised here to be stocked in local rivers and lakes. Bring change for the food machines to feed the fish! Kids love this place. 15 minutes drive north on I5 to central Mt Shasta exit.
McCloud Falls: Three falls in one; you can drive to each falls overlook, so you don’t have to hike… 35 minutes drive from Dunsmuir Lodge.
This is just a small slice of what’s to do around here… Ask in the lobby for a visitors’ guide to give you the full listing of the possibilities around here. Stay a week and we will fill your schedule each day with a new adventure. Bring the kids, and teach them something about the natural world around them in one of the most beautiful and diverse natural settings in California!
Useful links:
Mt. Shasta Chamber of Commerce
