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Points 5-8
5. DunsmuirOn the way to Dunsmuir, I-5 continues alongside the Sacramento River, which courses through brush-covered canyons beside the Southern Pacific Railroad. The trains that steamed through here were instrumental in the town's growth, and an old railroading center offers visitors a glimpse of those earlier days.
Dunsmuir is also known for its drinking water, which comes from an underground spring and is bottled for nationwide export. Take a sip at one of the public fountains, then decide whether or not the town's nickname, Home of the Best Water on Earth, is truly deserved.
6. Mt. Shasta
Shasta's great peak -- visible from m o re than a hundred miles away -- beckons travelers along much of this drive. Cresting at 14,162 feet, Mt. Shasta is a delight to behold and an inspiring monument to the volcanic past. For a closer look and an eagle's-eye view of the region, follow Everitt Memorial Highway (Rte. A-10), which makes a relatively easy climb nearly halfway to the glacier-clad summit.
Scientists explain that Mt. Shasta's great bulk -- its base spans a distance of 17 miles -- has contained within it at least four separate volcanic cones. The mountain's fairly symmetrical shape was formed over the centuries -- some speculate 100,000 years were required -- as one eruption after another discharged lava, with later flows coming to rest atop earlier ones.
7. Klamath National Forest
After passing a steep-sided volcanic cone called Black Butte, I-5 enters the welcoming town of Weed, once a busy lumbering center notorious for its brawling inhabitants. The drive then heads northeast on Rte. 97, making a gradual climb into the Cascades and the Klamath National Forest. Visit the Living Memorial Sculpture Garden, 13 miles east of Weed, or simply enjoy the route's natural attractions. Vast and diverse, the forest includes juniper, ponderosa pine, incense cedar, and shrubs such as sagebrush and rabbitbrush.
After topping out at Mt. Hebron Summit, the road descends between volcanic mountains. On the way, you'll cross old lava flows, then eventually enter Butte Valley, a sweeping expanse that was once all lake; today it is a huge depression, spotted with marshes and farms and encircled by sage-covered hills and high peaks.
8. Lower Klamath Lake
Just a bit south of Oregon, the drive turns east, following Rte.161 to Lower Klamath Lake, part of Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, among the world's best sites for viewing bald eagles. One of the world's greatest nature-watching locales, the area teems with literally millions of birds -- some 400 species in all. Although each season offers something special, spring and fall get the highest concentrations of birds, with huge flocks of waterfowl filling the sky.
Unpaved roads (bird-watchers can use their cars as blinds) loop through the refuge, offering views of the display, which includes ducks, geese, swans, grebes, pelicans, herons, hawks, and eagles. To the east Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers more of the same, so be sure to bring your camera and binoculars.
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