Are you planning a weekend trip to Mount Shasta? It’s the perfect place for nature lovers to explore a bit of Northern California’s natural beauty. Here’s a quick guide for a cozy weekend getaway featuring magical sunrise hikes, cascading waterfalls and the most unique A-frame treehouse in the woods near Shasta-Trinity National Forest!

Where Is Mount Shasta?

Mount Shasta is a single peak with a height of 14,179 ft, located about 5 hours north of San Francisco. Every year for my husband’s birthday, we like to escape the city and discover a new part of California — his request is always the same: someplace we can truly disconnect in nature. So this year, we drove to Shasta-Trinity National Forest to do just that! Mt. Shasta was the perfect getaway to disconnect from the daily hustle, trek up new trails & enjoy scenic fall drives!

Where to Stay?

The moment I discovered this dreamy A-Frame Cabin in the woods, I knew there was no where else we could stay! What better way to disconnect than by posting up in a cozy cabin high above the treetops, waking up to spectacular views overlooking Shasta Lake with zero noise pollution? We stayed here for two nights, but we are already dreaming of a visit back! The cabin had everything we needed for the weekend, including a fully stocked kitchen, a vintage record player & games / books to keep you busy for days!

A-Frame Treehouse, Mount Shasta, California

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Unique A-Frame Cabin Treehouse, Mount Shasta, California

Unique Romantic A-Frame Cabin Treehouse, California - Shem Hooda

What to See + Do in Mount Shasta?

Heart Lake Sunrise Hike: The views at the end of this hike were easily worth the 5am wake up call. Watching the sun rise over Castle Lake was pure magic. This is a moderate 2 mile hike with 682 feet of elevation gain. We got strayed from the trail a couple times since we hiked up in the dark before sunrise, but headlamps and AllTrails will get you there safely!
Burney Falls: One of the most beautiful waterfalls in California, Burney Falls is a 129-foot tall cascading waterfall. With a depth of 22 feet and water temperatures as low as 48 degrees, swimming is not recommended, but viewing the falls from a trail below are reason enough to visit!
McCloud Falls: Made up of three tiers — lower, middle & upper falls — this place is a must visit! Since we visited in October, we were lucky to catch the waterfalls surrounded by stunning fall foliage!
Brunch at Black Bear Diner: This homestyle, comfort food chain can be found all over California, but the Mount Shasta diner is their flagship location! They serve all the usual brunch offerings, but the cinnamon roll french toast here is a must-try (and totally worth all the calories).
Heritage Coffeehouse: I didn’t expect to find any third wave coffee shops in Shasta, so I was pleasantly surprised to have Heritage nearby. Grab some coffee and light bites before you head off to explore the Mt. Shasta region!