Hours from the nearest metro area, the gems of Northern California see far less traffic than other comparable places throughout the state.

Thanks to the remoteness of these destinations, you’ll be able to venture out without the crowds of visitors. These four places to see in Northern California are all packed into the same area, so you’ll get the most bang for your travel buck!

Plus, this is some of the best hiking in northern California and these trails will leave you breathless.

Places To See In Northern California

Best Hiking In Northern California- Castle Crags State Park

The Castle Dome hike is incredible and a butt-burner. You gain over 2,000 feet of elevation in about 2.5 miles.

Try not to rush it, or you’ll burn yourself out quickly. I thought the upper area looked a tiny bit like the Dolomites. For those looking for a less strenuous hike, you can hike a primarily flat and wheelchair-accessible trail leading to a river. I was blown away and this is the best hiking in northern California.

McCloud Falls – Upper, Middle, Lower

It’s time to chase some waterfalls. Three falls are spread out over a mile outside McCloud. A trail connects the upper and middle while the lower is further away. I’d recommend parking at the middle falls and taking a nice walk to see both! It was a highlight of the trip and one of the unique places to visit in northern California.

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park

Try to visit this trail on a weekday during the summer. It’s less than five hours from the Bay Area and a big tourist spot, resulting in large crowds on the weekends.

Other than that, this is a pretty simple place to visit. There’s an overlook less than 100 yards from the parking lot and only 0.3 of a mile walk to the base. This has become one of my favorite places to see in Northern California!

Lake Siskiyou

To get the best view in the house, you have to enter through the privately owned Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort. They charge $2 to enter, which isn’t bad in terms of an entry fee. Keep in mind they lock the inside gates at 8 p.m., which will interfere with sunset viewing during the summer months. I’d recommend asking them where you can park, enjoy the sunset, and take in a superb northern California photography location.