The One Of A Kind Adventure In Northern California You Never Knew Existed
There are endless opportunities for adventure here in Northern California, and one of the greatest places to explore is located right here in Siskiyou County. You can swim, hike and spend quality time with loved ones at Castle Crags State Park, which makes for a marvelous base camp while you visit the area. Read on to learn why you should come here for your next family camping trip.
The state park is located about an hour north of Redding off Highway 5. Castle Crags is a breathtaking granite rock formation that has taken millions of years to create.
The park features 64 campsites where you can pull right in and set up home for the duration of yours stay. It's a place where you and your loved ones can relax and soak up some good old fashioned family fun.
Many campers and visitors to the state park take the hike up to Castle Crags. It's a 5.3 mile round trip trek and is considered an intermediate hike. It will burn your legs but the view at the top will be well worth the effort!
If you like exploring small, quaint towns in Northern California, you are also in luck. Castle Crags State Park is located close by the wonderful little town of Dunsmuir.
In addition to being a fun overall place to visit, Dunsmuir is also steeped in railroad history. Take a train ride or discover things you didn't know at a museum.
Sights like this are common place in Dunsmuir. A southbound QEDRV (Edmonton, AB - Roseville, CA) freight pulls out of Dunsmuir moments before sunset. The train consists of a long string of Canadian Pacific hoppers.
A Siskiyou county adventure would be incomplete if you also didn't visit some of the many lovely waterfalls that are sure to delight and amaze you. This is the iconic Burney falls.
Another popular place to look at some incredible cascades is along the McCloud River, which flows along the south side of Mt. Shasta. The Upper, Middle, and Lower falls are all incredible and definitely worth the drive.
Note the wild flowers growing in the mist on the far side!
The Castle Crags region of Siskiyou county offers unparalleled opportunities for adventure. Do yourself a favor and plan a weekend adventure there ASAP.
Northern Californians seem to have a thirst for adventure, and I wouldn’t be surprised if many people reading this have already camped here! Share your thoughts about Castle Crags and Northern California camping with us on Facebook!
Jill is a freelance writer from a small Northern California town and lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains. If you have an idea for an Only In Northern California story, email her at jsanford@onlyinyourstate.com.
