California
Redding is the gateway to far Northern California, a hot, friendly river city built around the glass-decked Sundial Bridge and ringed by some of the state's finest outdoor scenery.
Within an hour you can ride a catamaran to Lake Shasta Caverns, tour the great concrete wall of Shasta Dam, swim at Whiskeytown, watch Burney Falls pour from the rock, or drive into Lassen Volcanic National Park for steaming vents and a summit hike. This guide books the region properly, with cave and boat tickets, self-guided audio drives, guided tours of Mount Shasta, rafting on the Trinity River and the gold rush towns of Shasta and Weaverville, plus hotels for every budget and guides to seasons, day trips and family travel.
Lake Shasta Caverns
The cave you cruise to — a catamaran across Lake Shasta's blue, a bus up the mountainside, then chambers of twenty-foot flowstone and crystal draperies high above the water. Northern California's three-vehicle adventure, scenery included twice.
Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay
Santiago Calatrava's glass-decked footbridge over the Sacramento River, a white pylon that doubles as a sundial and glows like a lantern after dark. Free to walk and the picture everyone takes in Redding.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park
A museum, botanical garden and river-edge campus at the foot of the Sundial Bridge, with hands-on exhibits for kids, a native-plant arboretum and Sacramento River views. The best family half day in town.
Lake Shasta Houseboats and Boating
California's largest reservoir has hundreds of miles of shoreline and a houseboat culture to match. Rent a floating cabin for a few days or just spend a day on the water in summer.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
The cave you cruise to — a catamaran across Lake Shasta's blue, a bus up the mountainside, then chambers of twenty-foot flowstone and crystal draperies high above the water. Northern California's three-vehicle adventure, scenery included twice.
Santiago Calatrava's glass-decked footbridge over the Sacramento River, a white pylon that doubles as a sundial and glows like a lantern after dark. Free to walk and the picture everyone takes in Redding.
A museum, botanical garden and river-edge campus at the foot of the Sundial Bridge, with hands-on exhibits for kids, a native-plant arboretum and Sacramento River views. The best family half day in town.
One of the great Depression-era dams, a 600-foot concrete wall holding back California's largest reservoir, with free guided tours that go inside the structure. About fifteen minutes from Redding.
California's largest reservoir has hundreds of miles of shoreline and a houseboat culture to match. Rent a floating cabin for a few days or just spend a day on the water in summer.
A paved riverside path that runs for miles along the Sacramento River, crossing two bridges including the Sundial Bridge. Free, flat, and good for walkers, cyclists and sunset strollers.
All four types of volcano in one national park, driven at your own pace with a GPS-triggered audio guide. Steaming vents, painted lakes and the road that climbs beside Lassen Peak.
The largest hydrothermal area in Lassen Volcanic National Park: boiling mud pots, roaring fumaroles and turquoise pools, reached by a boardwalk trail of about three miles round trip.
A five-mile round-trip climb to the 10,457-foot summit of one of the world's largest plug dome volcanoes, with views to Mount Shasta on a clear day. A real mountain day with a real payoff.
A 129-foot spring-fed waterfall that pours from the rock face as well as over it, set in a forested state park an hour east of Redding. One of California's most beautiful short walks.
A clear mountain lake, forested hills and gold rush history west of Redding, with swimming beaches, kayaking and waterfall hikes. The easy outdoor escape for a hot summer day.
A tiered 220-foot waterfall in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, reached by a steep 3.4-mile round-trip trail. The best waterfall hike near Redding, at its strongest in spring.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$Turtle Bay, Redding
Redding's best-placed riverside base — a modern hotel on the grounds of Turtle Bay Exploration Park beside the glass-decked Sundial Bridge, about half an hour from the Lake Shasta Caverns boat.
Check rates →Redding
A dependable full-service chain hotel in Redding, with a pool, on-site dining and easy access to Interstate 5, Lake Shasta and the Sundial Bridge. A comfortable base for a family road trip.
Check rates →Hilltop, Redding
A mid-range Redding hotel on Hilltop Drive, close to Interstate 5, with a pool, a restaurant and spacious grounds. A practical, good-value base for Lake Shasta and Lassen trips.
Check rates →Churn Creek, Redding
A hotel with a spa and an on-site restaurant in the Churn Creek area of Redding, built for travellers who want a bit of pampering between hikes and boat days.
Check rates →Hilltop, Redding
An all-suite hotel in Redding with spacious rooms, a pool and a cooked-breakfast tradition that makes it a favourite with families and groups.
Check rates →Hilltop, Redding
A well-known Best Western Plus on Hilltop Drive, with a pool, a restaurant and easy access to the interstate. A comfortable, familiar and good-value choice in the heart of Redding's hotel strip.
Check rates →Redding Rancheria, Redding
A tribal casino resort on the Sacramento River in Redding, with a hotel, slots, dining and live entertainment. The evening-out option for travellers who want something more than a standard motel.
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A reliable Hampton by Hilton in Redding with a free breakfast, a pool and clean, modern rooms. A stress-free choice for families and road trippers.
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A Marriott-brand hotel in Redding with free breakfast, a pool and clean, modern rooms. A budget-friendly choice with a trusted name and straightforward access to the interstate.
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A boutique-style hotel in Redding with a retro-modern feel, a change of pace from the usual chain properties. For travellers who want some character in their lodging.
Check rates →How to think about Redding, the Sacramento River, Lake Shasta and the volcano country around them, with the sights that matter most, the seasons that work and how to organise your days.
A balanced three-day itinerary that links the Sundial Bridge, Shasta Dam, Lake Shasta Caverns, Whiskeytown and a full day in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Season by season, what Redding and the surrounding region offer: summer lake days, spring waterfalls, autumn colour and winter snow in the mountains.
The best day trips from Redding, from Lassen and Burney Falls to Mount Shasta, Weaverville and Lava Beds, with drive times and ideas for each.
A family guide to Redding and Lake Shasta, with child-friendly sights, ideas for beating the heat and tips for keeping young travellers happy.
How to see Redding and its surroundings without spending much, with free sights, low-cost tickets and ways to save on lodging and food.
