Take your adventure outside
McCloud is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream! Whether you want to play golf, fish, ski, board, hike, boat, etc, there’s an adventure awaiting. You’ll not be disappointed! Check out this short list of fun things to do below. We’ve gathered up our favorites, including secret destinations, for you to enjoy while you’re not loving our stream and meadow. We’ve been coming here since 1970 and are still discovering treasures to store in our memories. See if you can find your own!
Explore these seasonal ideas below:
Spring & Summer
By far we spend most of our time at the McCloud Cabin in spring and summer when the fish are biting and the swimming is wonderful. The meadows are filled with wild flowers and cattle while the nights invite you out onto the deck for good conversation and a BBQ. Take a gander at the this list of ideas:
Golf
While there are more courses within an hour’s drive, these are our favorites!
McCloud Golf Club (9 hole, par 36, 2,983 yards; 3 mins away)
Great and affordable course with long holes, plenty of pines and water, and incredible views of the mountain. They also have a tasty snack bar serving burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. Enjoy lunch on the wraparound deck.
Mount Shasta Resort (18 holes, par 70, 6,035 yards; 15 mins away)
A spectacular course in the shadow of Mt. Shasta, this is definitely one of our favorite places to play. Its meandering holes are reminiscent of ski runs … and the view into Box Canyon is incredible. Keep an eye out for bear scat!
Lake Shastina Golf Resort (18-27 holes, par 72, up to 6,969 yards; 25 mins away)
Located northeast of Weed, this course is a true delight! Affordable and challenging for all levels with a view of Shasta’s north side that you won’t soon forget.
Fishing
There is so much fishing nearby that it’s almost impossible to name all of the spots. Here are a few of our staples.
Located a mere 10 minutes from the Cabin, this easily accessible fishery is the perfect fishing spot for the whole family! Squaw Creek Trail provides easy access to all of the holes on the river. It’s stocked annually providing plenty of trout for all skill levels. If you’re feeling adventurous you can hike a mile or two downriver and fish below the “falls”, virtually ensuring a big catch. User your fly, worm, power bait, salmon eggs, and spinners.
McCloud River (Ash Camp; map)
Just a short 20 minute drive to below the McCloud Reservoir is some of the best fly fishing in all of California! This section of the McCloud is catch & release only and no bait allowed. You’ll appreciate the harsh regulations once you hook into on of the trophy trout lurking just below the waters. All of the best holes are easily accessible from the riverside trail. We like to hike downstream about a half mile to the “secret spot” … but don’t tell anyone.
Upper Sacramento (Cantara Loop & Box Canyon; map)
Some of the most renowned fly fishing in the country is just a short 18 minute drive away. The Cantara Loop and Box Canyon areas of the Upper Sac are easily accessible with railroad tracks and trails running its length all the way down to Dunsmuir. Parking is easy and the hatches are plentiful. Check the map for access points.
If fishing on a lake is your cup of tea then the McCloud Reservoir is a perfect match! Just a short 10 minute drive from the cabin, it’s a bit of a challenge to fish from the shore around the lake except at obvious spots. A boat makes life so much easier and the fishing more plentiful. If you bring your boat, be sure to go up stream to where the lake meets the McCloud River. The Hearst’s hunting lodge is up around the bend and is an amazing thing to see!
Fall & Winter
McCloud is 10 minutes away from some of the best, most affordable skiing anywhere in the West. It’s also home to miles of cross country and snowmobile trails just waiting for you to explore. There’s also an incredible sledding hill, snow shoe hikes, and much more. See what there is to enjoy below.
Ski & Snowboard
Though most folks enjoy all that the warmer weather has to offer, there is plenty to see and do in the cooler months
Mount Shasta Ski Park (trail map)
With day and night skiing, this is truly a fabulous way to spend a winter day. And it’s only a short 20 minute drive up the mountain! The place is not huge … but then again neither is the lift ticket price. We’re fairly sure they’re the cheapest around. That doesn’t mean the runs match the price. The slopes range from gentle to extreme with runs that will get your hear pumping. Don’t miss it!
Mount Ashland Ski Area (trail map)
Sure it’s about 1.5 hours away, this great little ski area is a true gem! We’ve skied here a number of times before the new Mt Shasta Ski Park was put in … but recall good things. You may want to add it to your winter list.
Sledding & Snowmobiling
Sure … there are plenty of open spaces to sled in the area. We just happen to love one of them.
Opposite the turn off to Mt Shasta Ski Park is one of the best sledding/tobaggoning slopes we’ve ever found. It’s easy to find, there’s plenty of parking, and it’s only about 10 minutes from a warm fire and hot toddies. There are extra sleds under the house so leave yours home.
Snowmobiling (map)
Though we are certainly not an avid snowmobiling family by any measure, we do know that there are miles and miles of trails just awaiting you. Check out the attached map and check in with the Mt. Shasta Sno-Mobilers Club before you come on up. Oh … and make sure there’s snow!
Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
Mt. Shasta Nordic Ski Organization (map)
These guys are the local authority on all of the many area cross country ski and snowshoe trails. And, their website can’t be beat when it comes to an overload of information. Check them out … and bring your skins just in case you want to go up. Way up!