Falling for Redding

Redding Adventures in the Autumn

School's back in, the summer crowds are gone … who's ready for a fall getaway?! With 225+ miles of hiking trails and premier national parks, Redding is your year-round go-to for adventures. Here are a few fantastic ways to get you going.

Volcanic Hot Springs: What is this—California's Yellowstone? Yes! Less than an hour from Redding, Lassen Volcanic National Park is filled with sputtering mud pots, sulfur vents, and boiling pools. The best way to see this incredible thermal activity is by hiking Bumpass Hell. Scary name aside, this 3-mile (round-trip) hike is easy and spectacular, featuring the geothermal features of steam vents, mud pots, and hot springs. Tip: Combine this outing with a 5-mile round-trip hike on the newly restored Lassen Peak Trail. Vistas up top offer the best perspective of the area's volcanic activity.

Waterfall Wanders: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, just 15 minutes from Redding, is a cascade haven for hikers. A bonus? Hiking here in autumn means plenty of fall colors, thanks to the bigleaf maple, Pacific dogwood, and California black oaks studding the park. The tallest waterfall, Whiskeytown Falls (220 ft.) is reached on its namesake trail with gorgeous views of Crystal Lake. And don't miss the beautiful Brandy Creek Falls, where afterwards you can enjoy a picnic on the beach or under the towering pines and cedars. Keep an eye out for America's national bird: Whiskeytown is home to four nesting pairs of bald eagles.

Stay, Play, Eat: Located in the heart of hiking and biking trails, stunning mountain scenery, and with a river running right through it, Redding offers fabulous dining and a variety of lodging for visitors.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Purely Purisima

    Take a relaxing hike on the lower section of Purisiima Creek Trail in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve.

    View
  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View
  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Ballona Beach Hopper

    This easygoing bike escape is proof that you don't have to drive for hours to feel the vast benefits of nature. The Ballona Creek Bike Path is part of the “Park to Playa Regional Trail,” a 13-mile network connecting parks and open spaces from Baldwin Hills to the Pacific Ocean.

    View
  2. Lookout Ahead!

    A 3.7-mile loop hike to Boucher Hill Fire Lookout in Palomar Mountain State Park reminds us just how stunningly beautiful are the mountains of this remote, lightly visited portion of northern San Diego County.

    View
  3. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  4. Strawberry Peak Lookout Hike

    Strawberry Sunday

    The 2.5-mile (round-trip) lollipop loop climb to the Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout near the town of Lake Arrowhead dishes up some delicious views.

    View