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Major city · United States

McCloud

Give McCloud one night, two if you ski or fish: it is a small mill town 15 min off I-5, best May–Oct and cheap to walk.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

McCloud is a former lumber company town of about 1,100 people on the south slope of Mount Shasta, 15 minutes east of Interstate 5. The draw is not the town itself but what surrounds it: the McCloud River falls and its trout water, the ski park four miles away, and Highway 89 toward Lassen. Almost everything is walkable on Main Street, and one night covers the town; add a second for a river or ski day.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Oct for river and trails; Dec–Mar for skiing
avoid Nov and Apr shoulder closures; midsummer smoke years vary
Airports
MFR · RDD · SMF
Nights
1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for McCloud911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about McCloud, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, one personTip 18–22% on top.$20–35
  • Street or quick mealDeli sandwich or burger$12–18
  • Budget bedFamily room or cabin (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$160
  • Mid-range bedMotel or inn double room, a night, per roomUS$150
  • High-end bedMotel or inn double room, a night, per roomUS$260

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$150 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

McCloud River and its three waterfallsMill-town Main Street and the MercantileMount Shasta Ski ParkTrout fishing on the McCloud
Airports
MFR Rogue Valley International–Medford (About 2 h by car via I-5; the usual commercial gateway) · RDD Redding Regional (About 1 h 30 min south on I-5; small, few flights) · SMF Sacramento International (About 4 h south; use for a full northern-California loop)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    7°C (45°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    9°C (48°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    12°C (54°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    16°C (61°F)

  5. May

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    11°C (52°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    7°C (45°F)

Best: May–Oct, Dec–Mar. Avoid: Apr, Nov. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (31°C (88°F)), coolest Jan (−3°C (27°F) low), wettest Jan (10 rain days), driest Jul (2). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

McCloud: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C (45°F)

−3°C (27°F)

10 rd

Feb

9°C (48°F)

−3°C (27°F)

9 rd

Mar

12°C (54°F)

−1°C (30°F)

10 rd

Apr

16°C (61°F)

2°C (36°F)

8 rd

May

21°C (70°F)

5°C (41°F)

6 rd

Jun

26°C (79°F)

8°C (46°F)

4 rd

Jul

31°C (88°F)

11°C (52°F)

2 rd

Aug

31°C (88°F)

10°C (50°F)

2 rd

Sep

27°C (81°F)

7°C (45°F)

3 rd

Oct

19°C (66°F)

3°C (37°F)

5 rd

Nov

11°C (52°F)

−1°C (30°F)

9 rd

Dec

7°C (45°F)

−3°C (27°F)

10 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is effectively required: the town is compact but the river, falls and ski park are 4–15 miles out with no useful bus. Exit 89 off I-5, then Minnesota Ave to Main Street. In town, park once and walk Main Street in 10 minutes.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Mount Shasta

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Drive I-5 north about 20 min

Bigger town for groceries, gear and more food; pair with a Shasta trailhead.

Dunsmuirgo

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive I-5 south about 25 min

River access and a small historic downtown; good half-day.

Weedcaution

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive I-5 north about 35 min

Fuel and services rather than sights; useful on the way north.

Yreka

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive I-5 north about 50 min

County seat with gold-rush storefronts and the best service town nearby.

Lava Beds National Monument

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h

Drive Highway 89 east then 139 and 97, about 2 h

Caves and lava country; too far for a comfortable return day.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Main Street / downtown

The Mercantile hotel and most food; walk to everything, quiet after dark.

Squaw Valley Road

Golf course, River Grill and the road toward the ski park; you need a car.

Highway 89 corridor and campgrounds

RV parks and forest camps toward the river; cheapest, no walkable food.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$120–190 excl. bed
High
$200+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or inn double room1 × 1 night × US$150US$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$150US$300
Rental car, one day1 × US$70 · checkUS$70
Mount Shasta Ski Park lift ticket, one day2 × US$70 · checkUS$140
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$69
Trip total≈ US$380 per person per day, bed includedUS$759

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Deli sandwich or burger$12–18
Sit-down dinner, one personTip 18–22% on top.$20–35
Gallon of gascheck$4–5
Motel room, summer weekend$120–220
Ski-park lift ticketcheck$60–85

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are mountain weather, smoke, and long empty drives. Tell someone your trail plan, carry water and chains in winter, and expect no phone signal at the river.
  • Cell coverage is patchy on Highway 89 and at the river; download maps before you leave I-5.
  • Winter storms close Highway 89 and the ski-park road without much notice: carry chains.
  • Wildfire smoke can cancel the view for days in Jul–Sep; check air quality before committing.
  • Food options are few and close early; the dinner train no longer runs, so do not plan around it.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Siskiyou County non-emergency sheriff
530-841-2900
Poison Control
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

McCloudMcCloud

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Siskiyou County sheriff, non-emergency530-841-2900
  • Poison Control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No consulates in McCloud; nearest consular services are in San Francisco. For US emergencies call 911.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Medford airport → McCloud by car: about 2 h, 100 mi (check)
  • Redding → McCloud by car: about 1 h 30 min on I-5 (check)
  • McCloud → Mount Shasta Ski Park: about 4 mi, 10 min by car

Say or show

  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Is the road open? — Is the road open?
  • Do you take card? — Do you take card?
  • One night, two people — One night, two people
  • Where is the nearest gas? — Where is the nearest gas?

Small town: book summer weekends and ski weekends ahead; many places close early.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for McCloud. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct for river and trails; Dec–Mar for skiing · avoid Nov and Apr shoulder closures; midsummer smoke years vary · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for MFR and RDD: last sensible departure, winter chain rules, overnight rung.
  2. Walking cluster on Main Street with rescue anchors: Mercantile, cafés, the river road.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (McCloud Falls, Ski Park, Highway 89 viewpoints) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Smoke and storm fixtures so gate decisions can go green in Jul–Sep and Dec–Mar.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources