We just got back from an epic four-day weekend based in Redding, California—and honestly, we’re already talking about going back. Between chasing waterfalls, hiking in volcanic terrain, sipping local beer downtown, and spending a peaceful day fishing on the lake, this trip had a little bit of everything.
Here’s a look at how we spent the long weekend:
Day 1: Mt. Shasta, McCloud Falls & Burney Falls
We hit the road early Friday morning, heading south toward Mt. Shasta City. That first glimpse of the snow-covered peak never gets old—it’s like something out of a postcard. We grabbed coffee and breakfast at Theory Coffee Roasters and spent some time walking around the little downtown, popping into shops and enjoying the mountain air.
From there, we drove over to McCloud Falls, which ended up being one of our favorite hikes of the trip. It’s an easy trail that connects three waterfalls—Lower, Middle, and Upper—and each one is totally different. We hung out at Middle Falls the longest; the sound of the water was so loud and calming, and we were able to find a little spot off the trail to eat lunch and just take it all in.
After that, we made the drive to Burney Falls, which completely blew us away. It’s so much bigger in person than we expected. The way the water pours out of the rock face in dozens of little streams—it looks unreal. Even though it’s a short walk from the parking lot, we did the loop trail to get different perspectives. 100% worth it.
We rolled into Redding just before sunset and checked into our hotel. After a long day of driving and hiking, pizza and beer at Pipeline hit the spot.
Day 2: Exploring Redding + Beer & Food Festival
Saturday was all about soaking in the local scene. We slept in a little, grabbed coffee at Theory Coffee Roasters, and then wandered around downtown Redding. The vibe is super laid-back—local shops, murals, and lots of little spots to pop into. We walked across the Sundial Bridge.
In the afternoon, we headed to the Redding Beer & Food Festival, which just happened to be going on that weekend. Total jackpot. Dozens of craft beers, food trucks, live music—we even stopped to get a terrible portrait.
We ended the night sitting outside at Jack's, talking about how surprised we were by how much Redding has going on.
Day 3: Lassen Volcanic National Park Day Trip
Sunday was our big adventure day. After an early breakfast, we packed up snacks and drove out to Lassen Volcanic National Park. The drive alone was beautiful, but once we got into the park, it felt like we were on another planet.
We started with the hike to Bumpass Hell, which was about 3 miles round trip. Steam vents, bubbling pools, sulfur smells—it’s wild and totally different from anything we’d seen before. We also stopped by Lake Helen, where the water was so blue it looked fake, and took a mellow walk around Manzanita Lake to unwind.
We were pretty wiped by the time we got back to Redding, so we treated ourselves to a sunset dinner at Mosaic Restaurant, which sits right on the Sacramento River. Great food, good drinks, and that golden-hour glow—perfect way to end the day.
Day 4: Fishing on Lake Shasta
For our last day, we wanted something relaxing, so we planned a morning of fishing on Lake Shasta. We rented a small fishing boat and spent a few peaceful hours out on the water, just cruising around the inlets, casting lines, and enjoying the quiet. We actually caught something this time around and ended up catching ten Sockeye Salmon, one Bass and one Rainbow trout!
Final Thoughts
This trip was the perfect mix of adventure and downtime. We saw so much in just four days: mountain towns, epic waterfalls, volcanic trails, a fun local festival, and peaceful time on the lake. Redding turned out to be the perfect base for all of it—close enough to nature, but with plenty of places to eat, drink, and hang out.
If you’re thinking about a long weekend in Northern California, we seriously can’t recommend this area enough.
Already dreaming about the next trip.