Mount Shasta Water
Posted on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
When you tell people you live in Mount Shasta, their common response is that they haven’t been to that part of Oregon. Maybe one in five people know that Mount Shasta is really in Northern California. That is probably a good thing. After living in the Bay Area for a few years, I had my fill of California and the billions of people that call it home. I left, but now have found myself back in California. However, I like to tell myself and others that Mount Shasta is different. The city’s population is that of a small apartment complex in San Francisco.
There are mountains, trees, snow in the winter and an abundance of WATER.
Water and California in the same sentence seems like an oxymoron, but it is true there is water up here and it is good. It is not uncommon to find a spring trickling out of a hillside or a wetland in your neighbor’s backyard. The headwaters of the mighty Sacramento River actually comes gushing out of the ground down at the local town park. It is no surprise that the City of Mount Shasta has some of the best tasting water around. The city’s drinking water source, Cold Springs, is situated in the hills above town and produce an average of 2,000 gallons per minute of clean, clear water. The water is so good that it has won first and second place in the California Rural Water Association’s Best Tasting Water competition and third place in national competitions.
Second best to the drinking water are the abundant swimming opportunities. There are swimming areas for all types. Lake Siskiyou basically sits on the edge of town and is great for swimming laps, a quick dip after a run, or general hanging out by the water. If you are looking for a bit cooler, cleaner water, it is necessary to move up to the South Fork of the Sacramento River or the McCloud River.
With amazing views of the Mountain, and first-class sun bathing rocks, the Buddha Hole or the Soccer Mom Hole are your best bet. If you want a hole all to yourself or a bit more secluded, you only need to move further up the river or over to the middle fork. Due to the high gradient of the river, the swimming holes are endless. Conveniently, all these liquid gems are within a short bike ride from town!
I haven’t even mentioned the high alpine glacial lakes that are scattered though out the surrounding mountains. It is possible to drive to a few of the lakes, but if you take the time to hike in to one of the lakes, it is likely you’ll find yourself alone. Endless lakes, shrouded by granite cliffs with water so clear you can see to the bottom of the lake.
It’s mid July and with temps peaking, Mt Shasta is the perfect place to be!!
Mariah McPherson is a Cloudveil Inspired Mountain Athlete.
yummm! Just reading about the water makes me want to come up there again and just drink! We had such a great time when we visited- it would be cool to go in the summer and swim in all those great holes!