Headwaters at Mount Shasta City Park
The Sacramento River starts here — a spring bubbling up at the base of the mountain, ice cold and impossibly clear. One of the most quietly remarkable spots in town.
The Freshest Water on Earth
Just north of downtown, tucked into Mount Shasta City Park, is one of the most quietly remarkable spots in town: the headwaters of the Sacramento River. Here, water that fell as snow on Mount Shasta and spent decades filtering through the mountain's porous volcanic rock emerges from the base of a hillside, cold and crystal-clear, into a mossy pool before beginning its long journey south. It's the same legendary Mount Shasta spring water that flows from the tap in your room.
A short paved path and a couple of footbridges lead to viewing benches and picnic spots, and you'll almost always find locals and travelers pausing to fill their bottles, a small ritual that's become part of the character of our town. Peaceful, free, and just minutes from the Inn, the headwaters make for a lovely slow morning or an easy stop while exploring the park's wider trails and meadows.
(Image Credit: Mount Shasta Trail Association)
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Free admission, covering local history from the Wintu people through the railroad era. Next door, the Mt. Shasta Fish Hatchery raises four kinds of trout and is open dawn to dusk for self-guided tours.
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From summit logistics to a quiet picnic spot we don't put on the map — the front desk has been doing this for years. Send us a note before you arrive, or stop by when you check in.