Mt. Shasta Weekend Itinerary; All The Best Places to See, Eat, and Stay

By Mariah Cannon

Northern California does not get as much credit as it deserves. From the coastline to the Eastern border, it offers so much diverse scenery and things to see; it’s amazing.

The first time I visited was November of 2022 for an epic weekend of hiking/snowshoeing/food. I visited again recently in August or 2023 and am going to combine itineraries so you can change where needed for different seasons! Below I’ll share my favorite spots, best place to stay, and some epic outdoor adventure spots.

How to Get to Mt. Shasta

The closest airport to Mt. Shasta is Redding Regional Airport (RDD) being just 60 minutes South of the town. Some other airports nearby include:

Rogue Valley International Medford Airport (MFR)
Eugene Airport (EUG)
Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)

If You Are Driving

Nearby towns are:

Redding, CA – 60 miles
Medford, OR – 60 miles
Reno, NV – 217 miles
Sacremento, CA – 220 miles
Portland, OR – 360 miles

Things to Know Before You Go

The town itself is fairly small, there’s a couple of local cafe’s and diners, including the Original Black Bear Diner!

Some places to stay include tons of Air BnB’s for more solitude and a few great hotels in town. Alex and I stayed at Shasta Inn during the winter since it was super close to everything we wanted and would definitely stay here again. It is a very cute and quaint 3-star hotel and prices are typically pretty cheap during all seasons.

Weather can be very difficult to work around. Some days it’s sunny, but a storm can roll in any minute. The Mt. Shasta area tends to get quite a bit of snow. Make sure to plan your trip accordingly

Day 1

Start your day by grabbing some coffee and a breakfast snack from Seven Suns Coffee Cafe.
Head over to check out the Spring Hill Trail, a three mile round-trip trail that takes you through Manzanita to the top of the hill where you’ll find a picnic table and amazing views of the Castle Crags Wilderness as well as Mt. Shasta on a clear day!
While you’re still in town, check out the Mt. Shasta Sisson Museum. A museum that shows the history of former Strawberry Valley and has loads of facts about the Shasta and Wintu Tribes. This museum is closed December-March, so be sure to check during the time that you’re visiting. Admission is free, though the museum runs off donations.
After fueling up, make your way out to the Castle Crags Wilderness for some epic hiking and mountain time. Check out Heart Lake Trail From Castle Lake, a three mile round-trip hike with incredible views of the surrounding mountains and the lake below.
You’ve seen the Castle Crags Wilderness, but now it’s time to explore the State Park. Up for a challenge? Crags Trail to Castle Dome is an excellent option, that definitely gets your heart rate up. But the views are SO worth it! If you’re not feeling another long hike in you, here’s some other options:
- Vista Point Overlook .3 mile round-trip walk
- Upper Sacramento River Trail 4.4 mile round-trip trail rated as easy on AllTrails.
- Root Creek Trail 3 mile round-trip, rated as moderate.
Check into your cabin/hotel/Air BnB, relax for a moment, and get freshened up for dinner in downtown Mt. Shasta! During our 2022 visit, we ate at Pipeline Craft Taps and Kitchen and loved it. Be prepared to wait a while for a table, even as a group of two, we waited for about 30 minutes.

Day 2

Start your early morning with some liquid fuel from Theory Coffee Roasters.
Head over towards McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, a classic NorCal spot to wander around out. A day use park pass here is $10 per vehicle and is open 8am-Sunset, with a visitor center that is open Wed-Sun 11am-4pm.
At the State Park, grab your hiking boots and camera and check out the Burney Falls Loop Trail, a 1.1 mile round-trip that takes you down a paved path to Burney Falls (this place gets hopping so make sure to arrive as early as possible). There are some other great trails around the park, so if you didn’t get enough or have some extra time, definitely check it out.
Next make the drive over to the McCloud Waterfall Trail for more epic waterfalls. This is a 4 mile round-trip out and back, rated as easy on Alltrails. During heavy snowfall years, the gate to the road is closed, meaning you’ll tack on a couple of extra miles round-trip when this is closed. Regardless, just like Burney Falls, this area is popular – so be prepared to bump elbows with someone or wake up extra early to avoid the crowds.
After getting your epic waterfall shots, head over to Lake Britton to take in the 360 degree views. This is a photographers dream in the Fall time, and you’ll find tons of solitude here. If you’ve got a California Fishing License, you can also find some great fishing & boating opportunities here!
Now, if all that hasn’t worked up an appetite, we are two very different people (lol). Stop back in Mt. Shasta for some dinner right downtown at Sparky’s Landing!

Day 3

Start your morning by grabbing some sit down breakfast at The First Black Bear Diner, 25 years ago this chain restaurant started in small town Mt. Shasta and has grown from there on out.
While you’re still in town, check out some of the local shopping scene. There is quite a variety and some epic souvenir stores!
If you’ve got some time before your flight/drive out, try to head up to the base of Mt. Shasta where you’ll find some epic camping, hiking, climbing, and biking areas!
Hike the Mount Shasta via Avalanche Gulch Route (Bunny Flats) as far or as little as you’d like. I suggest at least making it to the Horse Camp. Friendly reminder, Shasta is a 14,000 foot mountain. It is a hard climb, if you are not in proper shape, have never done a summit before, don’t have all the gear you need, or haven’t eaten or don’t have extra food & water with you – do not attempt to summit.

If You Have Additional Time

Hikes:

Things to do:

Mt. Shasta Fish Hatchery
Take a day trip to Redding, CA!

Places to Eat:

Pin this guide to help plan future travels!

Let’s Get Adventuring!

Mariah

Mariah Adventures