Mountain Gate RV Park Redding, CA

Sunday, May 27 - We left Arcata at 8:30 am and arrived at Mountain Gate RV Park in Redding, CA around 1:00 pm – Four and one-half hours to travel 129 miles over two mountain ranges (Shasta-Trinity) in the RV. The forests were so thick and green. The road Hwy. 299 is full of twists and turns, even some switchbacks. Motorcycles were buzzing the highway and it was certainly the road made for them. Each side of the road has wild flowers and there were very few barriers up to prevent someone from driving over the steep cliffs. Mountain Gate RV Park in Redding is beautiful and we have a site on the corner so we only have neighbors on one side.
Redding, California, is located at the north end of the central valley, just a short two hour drive north of Sacramento and three hours east of Eureka. Once in Redding, a one hour drive in any direction will land you in some of the most spectacular recreational playgrounds in California! We loved Redding and hope to return someday.
Memorial Day, Monday, May 28 - We enjoyed our trip to see Lassen Volcanic National Park 50 miles east of Red Bluff and Redding. Although a long drive, the scenery was spectacular. The road was passable in all areas and signs of recent snow removal were at the higher elevations. The Lassen Peak stands 10,457 ft. and can be seen from the road’s high point of 8,512 ft. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the forests, meadows, lakes and streams, the snow-capped peaks and the amazing wilderness. Active volcanism at the park includes hot springs, steaming fumaroles, mud pots, and sulfurous vents. Thin wisps of steam were visible today. At the end of the road there is a gift shop area and a huge parking lot at the foot of the snow-covered mountain. At 53 degrees it was quite comfortable with the sun shining. We saw several skiers and snowboarders actually climbing the steep incline so they could navigate back down the slopes on skis. No lift is available in this area. Usual snow falls and the driving wind leaves twenty-foot snow packs.

"Hot Rocks" Following the May 1915 Lassen Peak eruptions, they discovered several massive "Hot Rocks" resting in the valley. The rocks careened down the mountainside and the hot lava rocks touched off a snow avalanche and it carried this 300-ton rock five miles where it settled, sizzled, and cooled.

Lassen Peak erupted intermittently from 1914 to 1921 and, before the 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens in Washington, was the most recent volcanic outburst in the contiguous 48 states. Beneath Lassen Volcanic's peaceful forests and gem-like lakes lies evidence of a turbulent and fiery past. 600,000 years ago, the collision and warping of continental plates led to violent eruptions and the formation of lofty Mt. Tehama (also called Brokeoff Volcano.) After 200,000 years of volcanic activity, vents and smaller volcanoes on Tehama's flanks-including Lassen Peak-drew magma away from the main cone. Hydrothermal areas ate away at the great mountain's bulk. Beneath the onslaught of Ice Age glaciers, Mt. Tehama crumbled and finally ceased to exist. But the volcanic landscape lived on: in 1914, Lassen Peak awoke. The Peak had its most significant activity in 1915 and minor activity through 1921. All four types of volcanoes in the world are found in the park.
Tuesday, May 30 - We drove a 200-mile scenic round trip to see Mount Shasta and Shasta Lake and it took us five hours. The roadwork was the reason for the length of time. We also were told the Rt. 89 was scenic and that we should go that route instead of taking the interstate back to Redding. Big mistake. In our opinion, the scenic part was nothing compared to what we have seen elsewhere. Also the delays for roadwork were tiresome. Mount Shasta was beautiful, but you can only view it at 6,900 feet (Picture of Ray & Mitzy) and it stands beautifully at 14,000 feet.

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