Hang onto your leash: You’ll need it to steady yourself when you get your first close-up look at Redding’s iconic Sundial Bridge. The stunning pedestrian structure designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava links dog-friendly trails on both sides of the Sacramento River and is a major visitor attraction in this part of the state. Start off with a stroll over the glass-decked span and let Rover splash at the water access points on the far side. Your buddy can sniff as you pick up some plant identification skills while strolling a 1.4-mile paved loop trail through the adjacent McConnell Arboretum.
If your shoes are made for walkin’ and Rover is still woofin’ to go, cross back over the bridge and soak up some scenery along the Sacramento River Trail, the jewel in the crown of Shasta County’s extensive trail system. This 19-mile multiuse path is now paved all the way to 600-foot-high Shasta Dam, a major attraction in its own right and one you won’t want to miss. Rover can’t join you on a tour of the country’s second-largest concrete dam, but you can both view the massive structure from the vista point on scenic Highway 151 (Shasta Dam Boulevard). Walk the .66-mile distance over it and picnic on the shady grounds across from the visitor center. Want to get out on the water? Houseboating is the best way to experience beautiful Shasta Lake.
