California Adventure District is always open…
And there’s always something to do. Here are a few things to do, up and down the I-5 corridor this fall.
1: Montague Balloon Fest
MONTAGUE, California, Sept. 23-25, 2022 – the Montague Balloon Fest is back! Join the community this Sept. 23 to Sept. 25 as hot air balloons fill the skies of Montague each morning.
This three-day event will feature helicopter rides, a slow pitch/mushball tournament, a community parade, a car show, a chili cookoff, pie contest, cornhole tournament, a tri-tip fundraiser meal for Montague Elementary’s 8th-grade class, a concert, and a lot more. Coffee, champagne, donuts, and hot chocolate will be available at the launch site from 6 to 7:30 a.m. each day.
2: Visit Lava Beds National Monument
One of the more overlooked national monuments in the country, the Lava Beds National Monument is a regional treasure and well worth spending at least one day exploring. With more than 800 caves spanning 46,000 acres in Siskiyou and Modoc counties, there is something to do for everyone.
3: Explore Shasta Caverns
Sticking with the inner-earth theme, the Shasta Caverns is having a banner year, and for good reason, it’s a great experience from the moment you buy your tickets. It takes a short boat ride across a section of Lake Shasta to get to the caves, after which you will enjoy a 45 to 60-minute guided tour through what can only be described as a wonderful labyrinth of magical caves.
4: Hike Mt. Shasta
Small, medium, and large.
At just over 14,000 ft, Mt Shasta is pretty tall but it doesn’t mean you have to hike all the way to the top to experience it. There are numerous hiking trails on and around the mountain, each with its own unique qualities and difficulty level. Here are some great ones to consider.
Small: Panther Meadows Trail. An easy 1.1-mile out-and-back trail with a 230 ft elevation gain starting at about 7500 ft. At the end of the Panther Meadows trail, there is a wonderful mountain spring, streaming freshwater directly out of the mountain – bring a bottle to enjoy it.
Medium: Gray Butte Trail. Known for its incredible views, this challenging out-and-back trail has an elevation gain of 646ft over 3.3 miles. Put this one on your bucket list.
Large: Helen Lake Trail. Starting out at Bunny Flat, you’ll enjoy a 3,464ft elevation gain hike over six and a half miles, up to Helen Lake, which is at 10,400 ft.
Mt Shasta is always a great idea!
5: Eat at Yaks
After your Mt. Shasta adventure, it is almost mandatory to reward yourself with one of the best Artisan hamburger meals in America, at “Yaks on the 5” in Dunsmuir. People drive from all over to enjoy their incredible, and big, creations. You can’t go wrong with the “Blonde Bombshell” or the “More Than Just A Peanut Butter” burger. Expect a wait during peak hours and on the weekends, no cash is accepted.