Yreka Travel Guide

Welcome to Yreka!

Nestled in the majestic Shasta Cascade region of Northern California, Yreka has a spirited and colorful history, primarily due to the influx of zealous prospectors who once flocked to the area looking for gold. The Siskiyou County Museum offers a variety of interactive exhibits depicting this intriguing segment of California history, while the well-preserved historic district reveals Yreka's unique past as visitors stroll the quaint streets. The proximity of a bounty of natural bodies of water beckons outdoor enthusiasts from near and far. Nearby Lake Siskiyou attracts vacationers to its pristine waters, and the expansive Greenhorn Park is home to a small lake popular for boating and swimming.

The town rose to notoriety when Mark Twain wrote about it in his autobiography, famously telling the tale of how Yreka earned its unusual name from an unassuming bakery shop missing the b on its sign. According to Twain, miners camping at the spot in the 1850s read the sign backwards, deciding Yreka was an apt name, and it has stuck ever since.