Mount Shasta Off The Beaten Path

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For those who might be into it, there's a chance to do some minor caving. You'll need some flashlights and it would be best to have more than one in case one goes out. Once you're in the caves it is pitch black in there a would be somewhat dangerous to walk around in without any portable light source.

Pluto caves is dank in some parts, cold, and eerie. It is almost as if you can feel spirits there or an essence of death. That's how we felt while in there. Sadly the caves have been somewhat ruined with graffiti made over the years. Most of that graffiti lies near the entrances to the caves.

After visiting there we did find that Pluto caves has a horrible past. It is more than likely the resting place of a number of Indians who were killed by miners some one hundred years ago or so. The miners just felt like killing Indians and followed them to these caves and dynamited them. Horrible. There evil goes a long way toward explaining why the flooring is covered everywhere with pointed rocks and huge boulders.

The last of the caves apparently goes all the way underground past the Oregon border.

To get there:

Pluto Caves is three miles west of Hwy 97 on Road A-12 (12 miles north of the town of Weed). Keep an eye out for a sign PLUTO CAVE posted on a telephone pole marking the turnoff. Drive about what would be 2 blocks to the parking area with a picnic table or two, then follow the signs on foot to the caves.

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Dunsmuir has some beautiful parks. Starting with Dunsmuir City Park, one can hike along the Sacramento River all the way to gorgeous Mossbrae Falls. Take care when hiking along the railroad tracks to Mossbrae Falls; unfortunately, it's the only way to get up there.

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This spectacular waterfall is fed by both a stream and an underground spring. That's what makes it unique. It's a good distance from any town (McCloud is the nearest one). So it's quite a trip, but worth it.

The park offers several hiking trails, all of them pretty easy. No really tough climbing here. One leads to nearby Lake Britton. This lake offers boating, fishing, camping, picnic grounds, and other activities.

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With miles of hiking trails, strange rock formations, and stunning views, this park offers a great deal for anyone who loves the outdoors. The Indians believed it to be the home of evil spirits. Today, the rocks are a formidable challenge to rock climbers. The view of Mt Shasta is gorgeous. Be prepared for some tough, serious hiking, with big changes in elevation.

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So you want to really get away from it all? Here, east of Mt. Shasta, is a beautiful and remote wilderness far from almost anywhere. There are miles of hiking trails, where you may not see anyone at all.

Shown here is an alpine lake high up in the mountains. It's near a meadow called Deadfield Meadow. Here's the address for the USDA Service Center,
Shasta-Trinity National Forest:

3644 Avtech Parkway
Redding, CA 96002

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The ideal starting point for a tour of Mt Shasta, Castle Crags, and surrounding territory. Dunsmuir is famous for its water, which flows down from Mt Shasta and is naturally filtered. It has some lovely parks and waterfalls. Check out the City Park, Botanical Gardens, and Mossbrae Falls (north of town, along a hiking trail, in Dunsmuir Canyon). The views of Mt Shasta, from several points around town, are magnificent. And it's easy to get here; the town is on I-5 47 miles north of Redding.