Overview
Dunsmuir is a city in the Shasta Cascades region of California.
1 sights · 8 things to do · 9 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 9 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Dunsmuir
Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens
Showcases the local native vegetation. Walking trails and fishing.
Mossbrae Falls
A 2.4-mile roundtrip hike will take you to this 150-ft wide, 50-ft tall waterfall.
Tauhindauli Park
Dunsmuir ArtWalk
Artists showcase their work in downtown Dunsmuir.
Fishing
The upper Sacaramento River runs past Dunsmuir offering excellent wild trout fishing opportunities.
Mossbrae Music Festival
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 100°F; winter lows dip to about 37°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby Redding)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- RDD Redding Municipal Airport, Redding — 48 mi away. Directions
- MFR Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, Medford — 86 mi away. Directions
- RNO Reno Tahoe International Airport, Reno — 177 mi away (major hub). Directions
Amtrak's Coast Starlight serves Dunsmuir daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Other stops include Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank. The train is scheduled to stop in Dunsmuir heading southbound at 12:35AM and heading northbound at 5:04AM, but delays are not unusual.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $22–$99 a night (typical $64), from 6 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $8 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$50, mid-range ~$120, comfortable ~$210.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens, Mossbrae Falls, Tauhindauli Park
- Lunch All Aboard Espresso
- Afternoon Railroad Days, Train watching/Railfanning
- Dinner Brown Trout Café
- Evening Dunsmuir Brewery Works
Day 2
- Morning Dunsmuir ArtWalk, Fishing
- Lunch Burger Barn
- Afternoon Mossbrae Music Festival, Swimming Holes
- Dinner Cafe Maddalena
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Dunsmuir has always been tied to the railroad lines that still run through the city. Sitting near the top of a steep grade, the Central Pacific RR chose this location for a service facility and engine house for the helper engines that assisted in moving trains up and down the steep grade. A town grew near the facility, eventually becoming the city of Dunsmuir.
Get in
By car
- From Redding, take I-5 N.
- From Yreka, take I-5 S.
- From McCloud, take CA-89 W, then I-5 S to Dunsmuir.
By train
Amtrak's Coast Starlight serves Dunsmuir daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Other stops include Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank. The train is scheduled to stop in Dunsmuir heading southbound at 12:35AM and heading northbound at 5:04AM, but delays are not unusual.
Get around
By car
There is so much scenery to see here, driving is not recommended save for when you really need to.
By foot
Walking is probably the best option for if you are just doing a day stop.
By bicycle
If you plan on spending enough time here, this option will give you enough time to enjoy the trails and scenery, but not put you behind schedule.
By bus
The Siskiyou County Stage bus has several stops in Dunsmuir, and travels to other towns and cities in the county.
See
Do
Do Fishing
The upper Sacaramento River runs past Dunsmuir offering excellent wild trout fishing opportunities.
Do Mossbrae Music Festival
Do Railroad Days
A three-day festival celebrating Dunsmuir's railroad heritage. Model railroads, parade, Lil Mr. & Mrs. Engineer Pageant, kids' fishing derby, diaper derby, softball tournament, food.
Do Swimming Holes
The Sacaramento River in this area is full of slow moving areas that make ideal natural swimming holes. There are two right in town and several within 20 miles of the town.
Buy
Shop Ruddle Cottage Gallery (Jayne Bruck-Fryer)
Recycling Queen of Dunsmuir:Owner/Artist: Jayne Bruck-Fryer, where everything is made by the artist. From donated and recycled materials, certified by the CIWMB for being 98% post consumer. Great Herb Garden and If you like mosaics, her Mosaic studio is beautiful, a fully packed gallery full of really invented copyrighted recycle gifts and art. No cameras and cells phones. If you catch Jayne when she's not too busy, she'll give you the tour and spend some time explaining what she does, her passion, and involve you in the story of her life and art. One of the most enjoyable stops on the Interstate 5 , going to North Mt Shasta, or South to Redding.
Shop Window Box Nursery
Bonsai plants, exotic connifers and rare perennials. Also has an art gallery. Bonsai workshops are scheduled throughout the year. See website for dates.
Eat
Eat Burger Barn
Great burgers, fries and shakes. Home of the famous "Barnbuster!" Veggie burgers, chicken, fish & chips, philly cheesesteak, onion rings, deli sandwiches on freshly baked rolls, soups, corn dogs, chicken buggets and ice cream. Friendly family owned restaurant, clean restrooms.
Eat Cafe Maddalena
Mediterranean cuisine bistro featuring dishes from Spain, France, Italy, and North Africa. Reservations are suggested.
Eat Micki's Better Burger
1950s themed diner featuring tacos, salads, hamburgers, banana splits, frosties, espressos, grilled hot dogs, and at least 12 flavors of milk shakes.
Eat Sengthong's Blue Sky Room
Vietnamese, Laotian & Thai Cuisine. Sengthong's also has an active music schedule ranging from county to blues to hip-hop. Thursdays are a 1980s and 90s dance party starting at 9PM.
Drink
Drink Dunsmuir Brewery Works
Microbrewery.
Sleep
Stay Acorn Inn
Stay Dunsmuir Spring Cottages
Historic cottages in downtown Dunsmuir. No smoking, call for pet policy.
Stay Rustic RV & Trailer Park
Stay Traveler's Hotel
Nearby
Mount Shasta
City / town · 6 listings · 8 mi away
McCloud
City / town · 7 listings · 8 mi away
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Lakehead
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Big Bend
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Callahan
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Montgomery Creek
City / town · 2 listings · 31 mi away
Round Mountain
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My experience
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