Mount Shasta, CA

Mount Shasta, a small city of 3,200 at the base of California's second-highest peak, draws outdoor enthusiasts and spiritual seekers to its high desert setting. I-5 provides direct access from major cities, while scenic highways like Route 89 and 299 branch toward Lassen and the coast. The town's main street literally ends at a park where you can watch climbers' headlamps trace the 14,179-foot summit on clear evenings.