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When visitors envision Northern California – even when Californians picture Northern Cali-fornia – their mental images are of cable cars, foggy wharfs, redwoods, grapevines, wild coasts and a tall orange bridge…all beautiful and true. But there is another, wilder Northern California, remote and mountainous, pristine and thinly populated.

Vast expanses of untamed wilderness cover the Northern Mountains region. The terrain courses with rivers and streams. Unspoiled cobalt lakes grace alpine peaks. An enormous variety of species, some found nowhere else in the world, inhabit its isolated reaches. Intimate towns beckon with charm and lore. You’ll encounter all the natural splendor of Yosemite and all the ’49er romance of the Gold Country, but without the crowds. Even at the peak of summer, the region’s biggest draws, Mt Shasta and Lassen Volcanic National Park, remain accessible and calm.

What has safeguarded the beauty and vibrancy of the Northern Mountains thus far is this: of the approximately 24,000 sq miles that comprise the region, roughly 65% is protected national forest. Still, where growth is possible it is flourishing, and recently public land has been exposed to private development. Ex-urbanites are drawn here in the hope of mining this era’s gold – space and tranquillity. For now, however, the Northern Mountains remain California’s most untouched and wild frontier.

Northern Mountains

HIGHLIGHTS

Sweetest mountain village Explore the wilds of nearby mountains from the shelter of bucolic Weaverville ( p325 )

Most dramatic volcanic adventure Camp, hike and boat on the desolate crags of Lassen Volcanic National Park ( p306 )

Easiest blast to the past Re-create history on McCloud’s narrow-gauge Shasta Sunset Dinner Train ( p322 )

Mellowest afternoon outing Grab an inner tube and float down the Feather River in Quincy ( p311 )

Cushiest alpine hideaway Stay in an isolated fire lookout near the slopes of Mt Shasta ( p316 )

Quincy

National ParkLassen Volcanic

Weaverville

McCloud

Mt Shasta

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To Willow Creek

Wilderness (40mi)To Siskiyou

(260mi)Portland(30mi);

To Grants Pass Refuge (65mi)National WildlifeTo Klamath Marsh

(86mi)To Eureka

(68mi)To Sonora

(148mi)To Eureka

(75mi)To San Francisco

(5mi)To Santa Rosa

Eureka (77mi)(50mi); Arcata (67mi);

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Oroville

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Tulelake

Alturas

Canby

Macdoel

Yreka Montague

Fort Jones

Ashland

MedfordKlamath Falls

Etna

Callahan

Dunsmuir

Mt Shasta City

Weed

Weaverville

Lewiston

McCloud

Bieber

Burney

McArthur

Adin

Termo

Susanville

Chester

Greenville

Westwood

Quincy

Portola

Madeline

Four Corners

Hat Creek

Old Station

Mineral

Los Molinos

Redding

AndersonOno

CottonwoodPlatina

Hayfork

Red Bluff

Orland

Corning

Chico

ParadiseBlairsden

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Clearlake

Ukiah

Grass Valley

Willows

Auburn

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Geyserville

Williams

Davis

Covelo

Paskenta

Truckee

Placerville

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State ParkFalls Memorial

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VolcanicNational Park

State ParkLava SpringsAhjumawi

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NORTHERN MOUNTAINS 0 40 km0 20 miles

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