What to Do in Northern California This Summer

The essential guide to Siskiyou County — hikes, lakes, farms, festivals, and the most underrated food scene in the state.

Most people looking for something to do in Northern California this summer are searching in the wrong direction. South toward Napa, west toward the coast, east toward Tahoe. All worthy. None of them Siskiyou County — a place where a 14,000-foot volcano anchors the landscape, the rivers run cold all summer long, the farmers markets are genuinely farm-to-table, and a summer calendar packed with festivals, concerts, and community events gives visitors more to do than they ever expected. This is the guide.

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Where California's real north begins

Siskiyou County covers nearly 6,300 square miles in the far north of California — bigger than Connecticut, less discovered than almost anywhere else in the state. Its terrain spans volcanic peaks, alpine meadows, ancient lava beds, cold-water rivers, mountain lakes, and wide agricultural valleys ringed by forested ridgelines. It is, in the language of the Discover Siskiyou tourism board, 'where California's real north lives — where getaways have no boundaries and awe-inspiring moments stay with you forever.'

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The anchor is Mount Shasta — 14,179 feet of stratovolcano rising so abruptly from its plateau that it dominates the skyline from 100 miles away. Everything else in the county radiates outward from it: the rivers that start as snowmelt on its flanks, the towns that grew up in its shadow, the trails that climb toward its meadows. For a first-time visitor to Northern California, it is the beginning of everything.

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"Siskiyou is where you go when you want the California that hasn't been discovered yet. It's magnificent."

Outdoor activities in Siskiyou County The outdoor activity menu here is genuinely extraordinary — and covers every level from a flat lakeside stroll to a mountaineering summit attempt.

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• Hiking. Siskiyou offers trails for every ability level — from the flat, accessible Lake Siskiyou Trail loop (6 miles, nearly zero elevation gain, open to hikers and bikes) to the Spring Hill Trail in Mount Shasta City (2.9 miles, 650 feet of gain, panoramic views of the mountain and Strawberry Valley) to the high-alpine Panther Meadows on the flanks of Mount Shasta itself. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through the county for miles of backcountry access.
• Mountain biking. Siskiyou County has emerged as one of the premier cycling destinations in Northern California. The Gateway Trail System above Mount Shasta City offers roughly 20 miles of multi-use single-track through forest and open brush with views of Black Butte, the Eddys, and the mountain. The Lake Siskiyou loop is ideal for casual riders and e-bikes. More than a dozen other routes span the county from McCloud to Weed.
• Water sports. Lake Siskiyou is the crown jewel — crystal clear, swimmable all summer, with kayak and paddleboard rentals available at the lake resort. Castle Lake at 5,300 feet is smaller, quieter, and ringed by granite. The Upper Sacramento River through Dunsmuir is world-class fly fishing territory — one of the most celebrated stretches of trout water in the western United States.
• Agritourism. Scott Valley and the Shasta Valley are working agricultural landscapes — ranches, orchards, small farms — that welcome visitors through farmers markets, u-pick operations, and agritourism experiences that connect travelers directly to where their food comes from. This is farm-to-table before the restaurant gets involved.
• Hunting and fishing. Siskiyou County has long been a destination for serious outdoor sportspeople. The county's rivers, lakes, and forests support exceptional trout fishing,steelhead runs, and deer and upland bird hunting seasons that draw visitors from across the western United States.
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Siskiyou County summer events 2026

The summer calendar in Siskiyou County runs from June through August with an impressive range of events — community festivals, live music, farmers markets, art shows, and classic county fair traditions. Here are the highlights:

Farmers Markets — All Summer Weekly throughout the county

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Four distinct markets run concurrently through the summer: Mount Shasta Farmers' Market (Mondays, 3:30–6 p.m., May–October), Etna Farmers Market (Mondays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.–noon, May–October), Yreka Farmers Market (Fridays, 4–6:30 p.m.), and Etna Evening Farmers Market (Thursdays, 6–8 p.m.). Locally grown produce, artisan goods, and the unhurried pace of a mountain valley town.

Siskiyou Golden Fair June 24–28

The county fair — one of the great American small-town traditions. Five days of livestock shows, local food, live entertainment, and the kind of community celebration that has anchored Northern California summers for generations.

Shasta Mountain Art, Wine & Brew Festival June 27

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Local artists, regional wines, and craft beers gathered in one afternoon event — a showcase for the creative and culinary depth that Siskiyou County quietly produces year-round.

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Mt. Shasta 4th of July Celebration July 3–5

Three days of Independence Day festivities in Mount Shasta City, with Lake Siskiyou as the backdrop. The fireworks reflected in the still water of the lake, with the mountain rising behind — one of those experiences that requires no caption in any language.

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Weed Carnevale July 9–12

A beloved multi-day community festival in the town of Weed, set against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Shasta rising directly behind downtown. Street food, live music, local vendors, and a summer-town atmosphere unique to Northern California.

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Mt. Shasta Summer Concert Series

Sundays, July 12 – August 16 · Shastice Park · Free

Six Sundays of free outdoor live music at Shastice Park (800 Rockfellow Drive, Mount Shasta City), starting at 6:30 p.m. The 2026 lineup: Bella Rayne (July 12), The Brothers Reed (July 19), Forest Sun (July 26), Secret Society Handshake (Aug. 2), MarchFourth (Aug. 9), Sundown Poachers (Aug. 16). Produced by Mt. Shasta Community Concerts, a nonprofit supporting music education across the county. mtshastaconcerts.org

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Yreka Summer Concerts in the Park Fridays through summer · Yreka

A parallel free concert series in the county seat, running Friday evenings through the summer. Two communities, two different musical moods, both free.

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Dunsmuir Railroad Days June 12–14

Dunsmuir celebrates its railroad heritage with a beloved annual festival — live music, local vendors, and a genuine small-town pride in a town that sits on one of the most beautiful stretches of river in Northern California.

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Lumerian Ascent Trail Run June 27

A trail run on the slopes of Mount Shasta that draws runners from across the region

— and a nod to the mountain's layered mythology that makes even a race feel like a pilgrimage.

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Where to eat and drink in Siskiyou County

The food scene in Siskiyou County punches well above its weight — and unlike more heavily touristed Northern California destinations, the restaurants here are still genuinely local. No reservation required six weeks out. No valet. Just good food, made well, in places where the view of the mountain is part of the experience.

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In Mount Shasta City

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Theory Coffee (228 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd) opens daily at 7 a.m. and is the essential first stop — serious coffee, welcoming space, the best place in town to get oriented over a cup before heading to a trail or a lake. Lily's is the classic for breakfast and brunch, recently returned to its original ownership, with creative eggs Benedict, fresh seafood, and the warm hospitality of a genuine community institution. Pipeline Craft Taps & Kitchen is the go-to for lunch and dinner — chef-driven pub food, an excellent local craft beer list, duck fat fries that have their own following, and a patio with the mountain as a backdrop. Bistro 107 delivers thoughtfully prepared food and consistently top reviews — the fried calamari, carrot ginger soup, and soft shell crab BLT are standouts. Andaman Thai rounds out the options with healthy, flavorful Thai cooking done with care.

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Beyond the mountain town

Dunsmuir is the sleeper hit of the county's food scene — a small railroad town on the Sacramento River with restaurants that would hold their own in any Northern California city. The McCloud River Bed & Breakfast is known for exceptional farm-to-table brunches worth the short drive. Across the county, the farmers markets are the best single window into the region's agricultural depth — Scott Valley's ranching heritage, Shasta Valley's orchards, and the volcanic soil that makes Northern California produce taste unlike anything grown further south.

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How to get to Siskiyou County from San Francisco and Sacramento

Mount Shasta City is approximately 270 miles north of San Francisco and 230 miles north of Sacramento — a scenic drive up I-5 that transforms dramatically once you pass Redding and climb into the Cascade Range. For visitors who prefer not to drive, Mount Shasta Escapes runs premium multi-day guided tours on a luxury coach from both cities, with accommodations and itineraries fully handled.

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The road north is calling.

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Browse our summer 2026 guided escapes from San Francisco and Sacramento into the heart of Siskiyou County. No car required.

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mountshastaescapes.com · discoversiskiyou.com

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