Food, Wine, Travel Off the Beaten Path

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Etna, Calif nia By Julie Diebolt-Price

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lip into Scott Valley on a spring morning, and a profusion of purple and yellow flowers carpeting the valley floor greet you. The riot of color is breathtaking on your way to Etna—the perfect off-thebeaten-path destination for foodies, spirits devotees, beer lovers, history buffs, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Where is Etna? Etna, located about an hour west of Mt. Shasta, is 30 minutes from the Interstate 5 Freeway in Siskiyou County. Close to the Oregon border, exit at Yreka to reach this small town in Northern California. The population of Etna is about 700. Over the years, the youngsters have moved away to big cities seeking their fame and fortune. However, some have returned to their roots and bring sophistication and innovative skills to their small historic town. Preserving the history and blending the best of big cities and small towns have put them on the map.

Outdoor Activities Siskiyou County boasts four-season outdoor adventures. Make Etna your home base to enjoy these activities: road and mountain biking, whitewater kayaking and rafting, hiking and packing trails, front and backcountry camping, fishing, and hunting, panning for gold, plus snow sports during the winter. The wilderness areas easily accessed from Etna are the Marble Mountains, Scott and Klamath River watersheds, Russian Wilderness, Trinity Alps, and the Pacific Crest Trail. Most of the visitors come to Siskiyou County between May and October. However, if you are there during the summer, you won’t want to miss the annual rodeo, held the last Saturday in July.

History The Museum of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, located on Main Street, resembles Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The historic building was the first town hall that housed the library, jail, and fire department.

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