River, bridge, dam and your dog – Redding hikes

By: DogTrekker Staff

A vibrant dog park bathed in sunlight features abundant greenery with mature trees, offering ample shade for leisurely outdoor activities. In the distance is a well-equipped playground that presents an additional activity area. An inviting picnic table spreads out nearby, ideal for enjoying meals al fresco or taking relaxing breaks from play. A neatly-placed trash bin aids in maintaining the park's cleanliness for everyone's enjoyment. Dominating the scene is a generously wide dirt path gracefully curving through the expanse of grass, promising exploratory walks and lively fetch games.

Maya at the Sacramento River near Redding. Photo by Dave Kendrick.

Yes, it’s the best known and most popular of Redding trails, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend the Sacramento River National Recreation Trail extending almost 19 miles from the iconic Sundial Bridge to massive Shasta Dam. There are many points of entry. You can hike on the north side of the river (the south portion under repair after fire damage) and maybe take a dip along the way.

The bridge, situated at Turtle Bay Exploration Park, not far off Interstate 5, is the top photo-op spot in Redding. Designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and completed in 2004, the stunning, 700-foot-long pedestrian span straddling the Sacramento River is an object of beauty and grace. Its 217-foot, angled steel pylon functions as a gnomon, making it in essence the world’s largest sundial. At night, with its 14 white suspension cables set off against a black sky, the assembly resembles a giant harp.

Shasta Dam is equally as impressive, but in a different kind of way. At 602 feet long and two-thirds of a mile long, it’s the second-largest concrete dam in the United States (Grand Coulee in Washington is the largest, Hoover in Nevada is third) and contains the largest reservoir in California.

Find updates and read about the dam’s amazing history. And don’t forget a camera: the view of the dam with snow-capped Mount Shasta in the background (and maybe your pup in the foreground) is a sure social-media share.