This two-lane route connects Lake Tahoe with the Cascades, passing through the Sierra Nevada range and four national forests en route. Starting in Tahoe City, the highway stretches north through the 800,000-acre Tahoe National Forest and Plumas National Forest—a blend of streams, canyons, and valleys. After wrapping around Lake Almanor, 89 zigzags upward through Lassen Volcanic National Park, a 106,000-acre no-man's-land home to bubbling mudpots. Here, the road tops out at an 8,400-foot pass before winding down to the foot of 14,162-foot Mount Shasta. PIT STOPS: In Lassen, hike the 7.4-mile Brokeoff Mountain Trail (info at the KohmYah-mah-nee visitor center; 530-595-4444). At drive's end, rest up at the McCloud River Lodge (doubles, $90; mccloudlodge.com): Shasta Mountain Guides leads two- and three-day summit trips all summer ($450–$600; 530-926-3117).
Casaval Photographer: courtesy of Chris Car/Shasta Mountain Guides
Comments