Triple Bagged

What kind of peak-bagging adventure do you want to have this summer? A short ascent along a dormant volcano? A day hike to a gorgeous panorama of Northern California wilderness? Or a multi-day journey to one of the tallest summits in the lower 48? When Redding is your base camp for adventure, you'll have your choice of all three!

New in Lassen: Thanks to the Reach the Peak restoration project, the popular 2.5-mile (one-way) Lassen Peak Trail will be open for the 2015 hiking season. Switchbacks and some steep rocky sections require good shoes, but the footwork is worth it: vistas up top offer the best perspective of the area's volcanic activity, and the lingering sulfur scent is a reminder that you're standing amidst an active (but dormant) volcano.

Ballyhoo! Shasta Bally is the tallest mountain in the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, and its namesake peak-bagging trail begins at the Whiskeytown Unit—just 10 minutes outside of Redding. The moderately difficult 6-mile round-tripper is suitable for most hikers. You'll top out at 6,209 feet to a panorama that includes Lassen Peak and the town of Redding, along with Mount Shasta, Castle Crags, and the Trinity Alps!

Northern California's Matterhorn: Mount Shasta stands at a commanding 14,162 feet and is one of the most popular non-technical summits in the country. It's a 6-mile (one-way), 7, 200-foot climb that includes a section called Misery Hill and parts that require crampons and an ice ax. Guided services like Shasta Mountain Guides are best bets for this adventure.