MOUNT SHASTA

Mount Shasta is both a delightful small city and the magnificent, snow-capped mountain that towers above it.

The American Indians call Mount Shasta sacred - as do thousands of spiritual pilgrims who are attracted to it from all over the world. But Mount Shasta is more than that. It is a heaven for environmentalists and outdoorsmen alike. Surrounded by lakes and pine forests, the giant volcano is visible on a clear day for over a hundred miles as you drive north on Interstate 5.

Then as you pass through Redding it towers above the sub-mountains of the Southern Cascades. As the freeway moves through the forests toward the Mountain, glimpses of the quiet volcano build anticipation, until passing the majestic Castle Crags, it bursts into full view.

From historic Dunsmuir, Interstate 5 takes you up the last 10 miles to the entrance for the mountain through the charming city of Mount Shasta. But it doesn't end there, because you can continue driving up the Everett Memorial Highway almost 8000 feet above sea level. And if you are a climber, and get a permit, you can ascend the full 14,100 feet.