From My Shasta Home

My Corner of California

The Shasta Cascade region is a scenic, outdoor-rich area in northeastern California, known for its mountains, lakes, rivers, and volcanic landscapes.

Location and Geography The Shasta Cascade region occupies the northeastern and north-central parts of California, bordering Oregon and Nevada, and includes parts of the Sierra Nevada and the far northern Central Valley. It encompasses counties such as Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity, Tehama, Butte, Plumas, Lassen, and Modoc. Geologically, the area is dominated by volcanism, with Mount Shasta, a 14,000-foot volcanic peak, as its centerpiece. The region features numerous rivers, including the Sacramento, McCloud, Trinity, and Klamath, as well as lakes like Shasta Lake, Trinity Lake, and Lake Almanor.

Outdoor Recreation: The region is renowned for outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, fishing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, and swimming in its rivers and lakes. Winter sports include cross-country and alpine skiing, as well as dog sledding in some areas. Popular parks and natural landmarks include Lassen Volcanic National Park, Castle Crags State Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Shasta State Historic Park, and Lake Shasta Caverns. The Pacific Crest Trail also passes through the region, offering access to long-distance hiking.

Towns and Cities Redding serves as the civic hub of the region, providing a base for exploring nearby attractions. Other notable towns include Mount Shasta, Dunsmuir, Yreka, Chico, Susanville, Red Bluff, Oroville, and Burney. These towns offer cultural experiences, historic sites, and access to outdoor adventures.

What about the far northern counties to the west, such as Trinity, Humboldt, and Del Norte?

These three counties form the far northwest corner of California, a region that’s culturally and geographically distinct from the Shasta Cascade. They’re part of what many call the Far North.

The far‑northwest corner of California, of Trinity, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties, is a rugged mix of mountains, forests, wild rivers, and remote communities. The landscape is shaped by two major mountain systems: the Klamath Mountains inland and the Coast Ranges along the Pacific. Tucked between them are the Trinity Alps, a high, jagged range rising to 9,001 feet at Thompson Peak. Most of the area is protected within the 517,000‑acre Trinity Alps Wilderness, managed by the Shasta‑Trinity, Klamath, and Six Rivers National Forests.

From the volcanic peaks of the Shasta Cascade to the deep forests and wild rivers of Trinity, Humboldt, and Del Norte, this whole corner of Northern California feels like a tapestry God Himself stitched together. The landscapes change — granite to redwood, high lakes to ocean fog — yet His beauty runs through all of it. It reminds me that no matter where we stand, from mountain ridge to coastal trail, creation keeps pointing our hearts back to the Creator.