Attractions

The Redding Arboretum beautiful natural park and gardens, stroll along the river trail and view wildlife. Follow Arboretum trails along the beautiful oak savanna and get a glimpse of the Sacramento Valley as it was 300 years ago! Enjoy Shakespeare on the Arboretum, late June - mid July.

Lake Shasta Caverns offers a 2 hour tour which includes roundtrip boat and bus transportation to the well-lighted caverns. open daily, located 1 1/2 miles east of I-5 at O'Brien/Lake Shasta Caverns Rd. exit. The spectacular limestone and marble formations are surrounded by waterfalls and embedded with sparkling crystals.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is approximately an hours drive to the east on Hwy 44, Offering spectacular volcanic scenery and history. The active, though "sleeping," volcano erupted explosively in 1915. Bubbling mud pots, fumaroles, hissing steam vents, and clear mountain lakes are surrounded by old growth forests. A moderate hike to the summit takes about 2 hours to view breathtaking vistas! Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park Website for more detailed information and photo tour!

Lake Shasta: about 15 miles north in I-5, Resorts, boat and houseboat rentals, marinas, swimming, fishing access, camping. The Jewel of Northern California! Shasta Lake draws visitors from all over the West Coast and beyond. Whether you take advantage of the scenic lake-view campgrounds and cabins, or rent a luxurious houseboat, Shasta Lake offers the ultimate vacation experience!

The Lake's summer water temperatures average 77 degrees which is perfect for swimming and water sports. House boating, water skiing, jet skiing and parasailing draw thousands of families to Shasta each year. And don't forget fishing...Shasta Lake is fed by three major rivers: the Sacramento, Pit, and McCloud, as well as numerous streams that lure both beginning and experienced anglers. Nature lovers will appreciate the diversity of wildlife drawn to Shasta's 370 miles of shoreline offer adventure and serenity of tall pines and clear water. Cutting through the water, jumping the wake, hiking through scenic wonderland, peering into surreal caves and caverns - Shasta Lake offers a wide variety of sights, sounds, and new experiences that will turn your vacation into the memory of a life-time!

Whiskeytown Lake: about 8 miles west on Highway 299, sandy beaches, marinas, camping, boating, hiking trails

Anderson: The Gateway to the Wonderland! Anderson is located 10 miles south of Redding and 150 miles north of Sacramento on Interstate 5. Small town, rural look with a 450 acre park situated on the banks of the Sacramento River. Shasta District Fairgrounds, 45 acres, are in Anderson and features a millhouse, windmill, and old time general storefronts and a barn and crop-growing fields. The mighty Sacramento River flows through the Anderson River Park where a unique balance exists between the pristine natural setting and the development of community park facilities. Concerts, family and community gatherings and field sports are a year around occurrences in the Park. Anderson enjoys easy access and close proximity to the area's natural resources including mountains, rivers, and the National Forests. Also, 1/3 mile asphalt racetrack with grandstand seating of 1500 and satellite horseracing facilities. Population 8,865

Many enchanting resorts can be found around the Shasta Lake Area. Visit the Shasta County Resort Guide. Summer Recreation information can be obtained on Shasta Home. for more information! There are several maintained campgrounds available for public use within the National Forest boundaries. Campground and

Climate

Redding enjoys the four seasons, with mild winters and warm summers. Although the Sacramento River winds its way through the center of town, the city's relative humidity is refreshingly low. The prevailing winds blow north/south and rarely exceed 13 miles per hour. The average rainfall is 38 inches annually, occurring in the late fall and winter. Clear weather predominates over 300 days a year. Air quality is rated one of the best on the west coast.

Elevations range from 500 to 5,000 feet. Redding, the county seat, receives 88% more sunny days than any other metropolitan city in the nation, surpassed only by Yuma, Arizona. Shasta County enjoys  a bounty of fall colors, mild winters and an array of spring beauty, surrounded by three mountain ranges, to the east, west and north.

History

Redding was named for Benjamin B. Redding, the first land agent for the California and Oregon Railroad. In 1872, the site of the city was a chaparral thicket bounded by North, South, East and West Streets. The post office was established in 1872. In 1874, Assemblyman Rudolph Klotz introduced a bill in the legislature changing the name to Reading in honor of Mayor P. B. Reading on whose grant the city was located. For 6 years, is was known as Reading, but the railroad officials refused to make the change. To avoid confusion, the legislature of 1880 repealed the Klotz bill of '74. Incorporated in 1887, Redding has been the county seat of Shasta County since 1888.

General Information

THE LOOK: One of the most scenic and unique counties in all of California. Towering mountain peaks, unspoiled breathtaking vistas, dense lush forests, limestone caves, volcanoes, glaciers, alpine lakes, breathtaking waterfalls, winding rivers, streams, whitewater rapids, jungles, western towns, prairies, mountain meadows, mining towns, rolling hills, farms, ranches, mines and bridges.

Transportation: Redding is serviced by United Express and Horizon Air, AmTrak

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