Mt. Shasta is the last and most southerly of the Cascade Range of volcanoes and the only one
outside British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. Mt. Shasta is in a section of the Pacific Ring of
Fire ring called the Cascade Range, which begins where the Sierra Nevadas end and extends about 700
miles from northern California through Oregon and Washington into southern British Columbia. Mount
Shasta is in Siskiyou County at the top of Upstate California; Siskiyou County is an area of outstanding
natural beauty and a recreational paradise, topped with the crowning glory that is the Mt. Shasta.
A volcanic mountain with eight glaciers, Mount Shasta is a towering peak of legend and lore. It stands
alone, always snowcapped, not in the shadow of other mountains it is visible from 125 miles away.
Although it's been dormant since 1786, eruptions cannot be ruled out, and indeed, hot sulfur springs
bubble at the summit. It is an odd feeling to come out of your hotel on a glorious 80 degree California
summer morning and see the glistening snowcap on the massive, white giant standing 14,162 feet (4,317 m)
above sea level.
The Mount Shasta region offers pristine mountain lakes and rivers, majestic forests, and miles of
backcountry to explore for outdoor enthusiasts. With exceptional skiing, snowboarding, fishing,
golfing, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, and mountaineering experiences make this area a must
for all adventure holidaymakers.
In Spanish, sierra means "jagged range" and nevada means "snowed upon." The beautiful wilderness
of the High Sierra is an outdoor enthusiast's delight. Home to the famous Yosemite National Park and
the resorts of Lake Tahoe and the Mammoth Lakes, the region offers a wide range of recreational
activities as well as some spectacular landscapes. The 400-mile-long and 60-mile-wide Sierra Nevada
is a young mountain range, and it is still rising. The origins of the Sierra, the longest continuous
mountain range in the United States, can be traced to the Pacific Ocean before California existed.
For many people, the Sierra Nevada, California's Range of Light, is the most conspicuous, if not
revered geographic feature in the Golden State. Stretching roughly from Lassen Volcanic National
Park in the north to the Inyo and Sequoia national forests in the south and from the oak woodlands
of its western foothills to its eastern juncture with the Great Basin, the Sierra Nevada is one of
the largest mountain ranges in the world.
Ever since the Spanish Franciscan missionary Pedro Font looked east from San Francisco and saw a
great white range, the Sierra Nevada has been looked to for inspiration. For some, the range is best
known for places like the incomparable Yosemite Valley, Mount Whitney, and the cobalt blue Lake Tahoe.
For others, the Sierra Nevada evokes thoughts of a storied history, marked by events such as the Gold
Rush and people like members of the Donner Party and Ishi-the last California Indian living in the
wild.
Much of the Sierra Nevada-almost 13 million acres-is public land owned by the American people and
is found within 10 national forests and Yosemite, Sequoia-Kings Canyon, and Lassen Volcanic national
parks.
The Sierra Nevada range is also home to a rapidly growing population. As a result, the economy of
the Sierra is rapidly becoming robust, diverse, and far more resilient than in the past. Friendly
communities, high quality of life, open space, and outdoor recreation are drawing new residents,
new businesses, and new wealth to the Sierra.
