Siskiyou County

Cities

• Callahan
• Cecilville
• Dorris
• Dunsmuir
• Etna
• Gazelle — a small town off I-5 along Old Highway 99
• Hornbrook
• Klamath River
• Macdoel
• McCloud
• Mount Shasta
• Weed
• Yreka

Other destinations

• Lava Beds National Monument - Lava Beds National Monument is a volcanic landscape created by the Medicine Lake volcano, which has erupted intermittently for approximately half a million years and was last active 900 years ago. While the above-ground landscape is impressive, it is underground where the park truly shines, as past eruptions have formed over 800 lava tube caves, many of which can be explored, and some of which extend for more than a mile.
• Tule Lake National Monument — one of the sites where Japanese-Americans were interned during World War II

Get around

Siskiyou County is served by STAGE bus service.

Go next

• - Siskiyou County's eastern neighbor is in California's northeast corner and is home to only about 10,000 people, or slightly more than two people per square mile. Modoc County's northern and western portions have been shaped by volcanism, as evidenced by the many lava flows, cinder cones, hot springs, and volcanic mountains that visitors will encounter, while the Warner Mountain range and its many alpine lakes are found in the county's eastern side. The county is home to several wildlife refuges where bald eagles, peregrine falcons, goshawks, golden eagles, mule deer, elk, wild horses, wild burros and pronghorn antelope can be seen.
• - Siskiyou County's southeastern neighbor is a land of mountains, lakes and rivers. Massive Shasta Lake, California's largest reservoir, is the "houseboat capital of the world", with rentals available for those who want to vacation on the water. Several spectacular waterfalls can be found in the county, including the 129 ft Burney Falls, which Theodore Roosevelt described as "the Eighth Wonder of the World", and McCloud River Falls, which is actually three scenic waterfalls. In the county's southeastern corner, Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to a geologic hotspot highlighted by 10,457 ft Lassen Volcano. The mountain can be summited via a steep trail, but plan to do so in the summer - the park's 600 - of annual snowfall make it the snowiest place in California.
• - One of only three California counties with no incorporated cities, rugged Trinity County lies among the Salmon and Klamath Mountains along the Trinity River. The county seat of Weaverville is home to some of California's oldest buildings, with the state's second oldest courthouse (built in 1856), a drugstore that has filled prescriptions since 1852, and California's oldest Taoist Temple (operating since 1873). Those looking for outdoor adventure will find numerous opportunities for camping, backpacking, rock climbing, boating, rafting/kayaking, hunting, and fishing, with Trinity Lake in particular a favorite spot for houseboat rentals.
• - Located to the southwest of Siskiyou County, rural Humboldt County is a land of giant trees, seaside mountains, and quirky towns. Redwood National Park lies in the county's northern region and is home to the world's tallest trees; a walk among the redwoods is an experience that won't soon be forgotten. Backpackers will delight in hiking the remote 25 mile Lost Coast Trail in the county's southwestern corner, a three-day trek through the Kings Range along a roadless and undeveloped section of rugged coastline. For those looking for more urban activities, the towns of Arcata and Eureka feature an impressive number of Victorian homes that date back to the late 1800s.
• - Located west of Siskiyou County, California's northernmost county is known for its rivers, rocky coast, and redwood forests. It is where the famous footage of Bigfoot was captured on film in 1967, and became the home of the Ewoks when portions of Return of the Jedi were filmed in the county in 1982. Visitors today won't want to miss Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, where an easy stroll among thousand year-old redwoods in Stout Grove is sure to refresh the soul. There are two historic lighthouses that were built in the mid-1800s near Crescent City, one of which is accessible at low tide via a short hike. Wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy the many protected areas in the county, where herds of Roosevelt elk, sea lions, seals, whales, and 431 species of birds can all be seen.