Northern California is home to plenty of wide-open roads where adventure is just a drive away. Today, we’re focusing on a scenic drive that leads to some of the region’s most incredible landmarks, from majestic Mount Shasta to Lava Beds National Monument and so much more. The Mount Shasta-Cascade Loop is a roughly 500-mile drive, which means you’ll want to spend several days completing the loop and taking in all of the sights. Experiencing the best view of Mount Shasta is only the beginning. What are you waiting for? Let’s go!

Get ready for one of the most exciting road adventures in Northern California!
Mount Shasta, Mt Shasta, CA 96067, USA
David Prasad/Flickr
That is the Mount Shasta-Cascade Loop. Stretching for roughly 500 miles, this road trip is packed with beautiful scenery and natural wonders from start to finish.
The loop begins and ends in Redding. Spring, summer, and fall are all excellent times to complete this trip.
Redding, CA, USA
LassenNPS/Flickr
Since the loop is a long one, it's ideal for a weekend trip - although you could stretch it to be much longer if you want to add side trips and stops.
You'll start your journey by departing from Redding on I-5. As you drive north, you'll be treated to an increasingly majestic view of Mount Shasta.
Shasta Dam, 16349 Shasta Dam Blvd, Shasta Lake, CA 96019, USA
Frank Reedy/Flickr
This iconic peak is a highlight of the trip along with other nearby attractions such as Shasta Dam, Lake Shasta Caverns, and Castle Crags State Park.

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In fact, this route can be used to visit many of NorCal's greatest natural wonders.
Black Butte, CA 96094, USA
Stuart Rankin/Flickr
Black Butte is another fascinating site along I-5. The largest of Mount Shasta's satellite volcanic peaks, the prominent black dome is an extraordinary sight from the highway.
The route continues onto US-97, climbing into the Cascade Mountain Range, before turning onto CA-161.
Lava Beds National Monument, 1 Indian Well, Tulelake, CA 96134, USA
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
From here, the highway runs parallel to the Oregon-California border past destinations like Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and Lava Beds National Monument. This corner of California definitely isn't short on beauty!
Heading south towards Susanville, this section of the route showcases even more of NorCal's volcanic landscape.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, California, USA
Yi-Liang (Lucas) Liu/Flickr
After rejoining CA-89 from CA-36, you'll pass the incredible Lassen Volcanic National Park, a diverse park that boasts hydrothermal areas, four volcano types, and miles of otherworldly hiking trails.
After Lassen, the route rejoins CA-44 as it stretches westward back to Redding.
daveynin/Flickr
There's definitely a lot to see on this incredible Northern California road trip, so fill your gas tank, grab your road atlas, and check out this scenic drive for your next adventure.

Have you driven the Mount Shasta-Cascade Loop? It’s amazing how many natural wonders this Cascade scenic drive road trip packs in. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

There are also plenty of hikes in the area. You can get information on them by going to the AllTrails website.

If you love camping, be sure to check out the Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort.

If you’re still in the mood for more California adventures, take a look at this video about Yosemite National Park’s Legendary Firefall.

 

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More to Explore

For the Love of Northern California

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | August 18, 2023

Where can we find mountain towns in Northern California?

  • Truckee is a mecca for skiers and snowboarders and at one time was known as one of the top snowiest towns in the U.S.
  • Homewood features a homey, beach town vibe along Lake Tahoe.
  • Susanville is a quaint mountain town in Lassen County and one of the largest in that area.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other beautiful mountain towns in Northern California.

Where can we find ghost tours in Northern California?

  • Ione – Here, the Preston Castle is an old, abandoned prison constructed in 1894 in the Romanesque Revival style but made to look like the reform school that it was rather than a prison.
  • Placerville – The city’s nickname is "Hangtown" and here you can take a Hangtown Ghost Tour that guides participants through the tumultuous history of this town during the Gold Rush era.
  • Pleasanton – Paranormal fans can embark upon a two-hour guided Ghost Walk walking tour of Pleasanton's most haunted sites every fall.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other intriguing ghost tours in Northern California.

Where can we go winter hiking in Northern California?

  • The Lost Coast Trail in Ferndale is a 25-mile-long trail and a favorite with avid hikers.
  • The Arcata Community Forest Loop in Arcata offers fantastic views in winter, but is very popular all year long.
  • The Feather Falls Loop Trail in Oroville is an eight-mile trail featuring spectacular views of the Feather River Watershed

Read on to learn more about some of the many other exciting places to go winter hiking in Northern California.

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