Wildlife, clean air and bright sunshine describe the typical day in Mount Shasta Country's Valleys and Volcanoes region. The gateway city of Weed leads visitors off I-5 to the broad plains of Butte and Shasta valleys and the towns of Dorris, Montague and Tulelake. Overseeing it all is shimmering Mount Shasta.

Visiting birders will head for the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, the nation's first waterfowl refuge, so appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt. It's a major avian intersection of the Pacific Flyway and an excursion virtually guaranteed to expand your life list. Bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and the arresting white-faced ibis are some of the locals here in the Klamath River basin.

Serene Shasta Valley has a fast-rising reputation among balloonists and soaring fans for its powerful thermals. The Butte Valley Wildlife Area is home to more than 200 bird species and 50 mammal species, and the Shasta Valley Wildlife Area is a combination of lake, wetland and grassland habitats. Holding down the northeast corner of Siskiyou County is the town of Tulelake. Fun fact: Tulelake is known as the horseradish capital of the world, as one third of the world's supply of the fiery root grows here.

From Tulelake, it's a short sojourn to the otherworldly Lava Beds National Monument. The epicenter of an incredibly rugged landscape, the Monument sits on the north face of the Medicine Lake Volcano, the largest volcanic mountain in the Cascade range. At the last count, there are more than 435 known lava tube caves within the boundaries of Lava Beds National Monument. The caves vary widely in size and length, some so small that a would-be explorer must crawl the entire length, others more than 60 feet in diameter. Two dozen of the caves have been developed for public use, with cleared paths and ladders or steps for access. Most of the "public" caves are located along the Cave Loop Road near the Visitor Center, where you can learn more about the Monument's cinder cones, shield volcanoes, chimneys and lava tubes. Medicine Lake, set in this austere landscape at 6,700-feet elevation, has no known outlets, yet the water remains crisp and clear.

From mountains to meadows, history to hot water springs, Siskiyou County waits to welcome you. The Siskiyou County Visitors' Bureau has a comprehensive Website that can help you plan your visit.

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