Why You Should Visit McCloud California

Nestled in the pine and fir covered foothills at the base of majestic Mt. Shasta is the little town of McCloud in Northern California. McCloud is enough off the beaten track so that you are really getting away from it all and yet it offers enough amenities for a comfortable and enjoyable visit. McCloud is at the center of many recreational and nature activities and also a wonderful place to just veg out. McCloud is a good place to come both winter and summer.

McCloud is 12 miles off Interstate 5 on highway 89. The road is good and not mountain scary. The McCloud River is famous as a trout-fishing river and it can be reached a few miles east of town. There is also camping on the River. If you don't camp you can walk along the River and enjoy its beauty, especially the imaginatively named Upper, Lower, and Middle Falls. If you are very lucky, you might find an arrowhead because Native Americans used to camp along this area of the McCloud River. If you are feeling especially adventuresome, you can join others at jumping or diving into the glacier fed waters at the base of Lower Falls.

You can also reach the River by driving south of town to Lake McCloud. There is good fishing on the Lake and then good fishing on the River below the Lake. On the same road, a mile or two south of town is a nine-hole golf course. While it may not be one of the world's greatest golf courses, it is one of the prettiest with Mt. Shasta always in the background and the imaginatively named Golf Course Creek bubbling through its center. A few miles west of McCloud is the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, an extensively developed ski area that is enough off the beaten track that you don't have the long lift lines or hoards of skiers on the slopes. Of course, if it is summertime you can't ski. In the summer they sometimes do and sometimes don't run a lift for tourists.

In the summertime, McCloud is a haven for squaredancers who come from all over the country to join in the dance. You might enjoy watching them because they are very good. No trip to McCloud is complete without a ride on the train. You combine fine dining while riding in restored vintage cars and taking in the scenery. You may reach them at 800-783-2141. You should go a little father afield a take a drive up Mt. Shasta. It is reached by driving to the town of Mt. Shasta. You can drive up the Mountain to an elevation over 8,000. The drive itself is beautiful and being on the Mountain above timberline is stunning. If you have the energy, stop at Panther Meadows and hike up to a beautiful mountain meadow, complete with a little string fed stream.

On your way back from the Mountain you might want to check out the Mt. Shasta Fish Hatchery. This is where the trout that populate the rivers and lakes of the area are grown. They have every thing from eggs to some very big trout. Whatever you chose to do, take some time to stroll around the town. It is an old company lumber town but the lumber mill closed in the 1960's. The company owned all the houses and all houses on a particular street would look the same. Now that people own their own homes, the houses are much more diverse. Of special interest is the Catholic Church, built entirely from logs. Sometimes it is open and sometimes it isn't. If you want a real adventure, try sneaking onto a Hurst Estate. William Randolph Hurst built an estate on the McCloud River and it is still owned by the family. Ask for directions to the road to the estate. At some point you will not be able to go any farther and the area is posted. Hike south to the River and follow it until you see the fairy tale estate called Wintoon. Be careful because the estate does have a caretaker and you could get caught. If you get caught, don't mention my name. McCloud has a lovingly restored old hotel and several bed and breakfast houses. There are also a number of houses for vacation rentals. For a list of lodging and dining places write the McCloud Chamber of Commerce at P.O. Box 372, Ca 96057. Or call them at 536 964 3113.