Free & Cheap Things to Do in Redding

Science & Discovery

A 300-acre riverfront park blending a natural-science and history museum, a walk-through aviary, Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp with live animals, and an arboretum — all linked by the iconic Sundial Bridge. The hands-on exhibits on the Sacramento River watershed and Wintu culture make it the anchor attraction of Redding for families.

Address: 844 Sundial Bridge Dr, Redding, CA 96001

Tip: The museum and Forest Camp are the paid portion; the Sundial Bridge and the botanical gardens across the river are free to visit on their own. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Parking is free.

Iconic Landmarks

Redding's signature landmark and one of the most striking pedestrian bridges in America: a 700-foot, cable-stayed span designed by Santiago Calatrava, with a translucent glass-and-granite deck and a soaring 217-foot pylon that casts a working sundial shadow. Free to cross day or night, when it glows with color-changing LEDs over the Sacramento River.

Address: 844 Sundial Bridge Dr, Redding, CA 96001

Tip: Open and free 24/7 — you don't need a Turtle Bay ticket to walk it. It connects the museum side to the free McConnell Arboretum gardens and the Sacramento River Trail. Come at dusk to see the deck and pylon light up.

Gardens

Across the Sundial Bridge from the museum, these 20-plus acres of gardens showcase Mediterranean-climate plants from around the world — a medicinal garden, a children's garden, sweeping ornamental beds, and oak woodland trails along the river. A peaceful, low-cost stroll that pairs naturally with a walk over the bridge.

Address: 1100 Arboretum Dr, Redding, CA 96003

Tip: Admission is by a $5 suggested donation (free for Turtle Bay members) — separate from museum admission. Spring and fall are the best times for blooms and color. Reach it on foot across the free Sundial Bridge.

Trails & Biking

Redding's crown-jewel path follows the Sacramento River on a paved, mostly flat loop through oak woodland and over the graceful Ribbon Bridge, with the Sundial Bridge as its centerpiece. The wider system runs more than 17 miles all the way to Shasta Dam, free and open to walkers, runners, and cyclists year-round.

Address: Trailhead at Sundial Bridge, Redding, CA 96001

Tip: The paved riverside loop is wheelchair- and stroller-friendly and links directly to the Sundial Bridge. Go early on hot summer days. Bring water — shade is patchy on the longer stretches toward Keswick and Shasta Dam.

Hiking & Nature

A 42,000-acre national recreation area eight miles west of Redding, built around a brilliant blue mountain reservoir. Four waterfall hikes — including 220-foot Whiskeytown Falls — Gold Rush history, swimming beaches, and 70 miles of trails make it the region's premier outdoor playground. Ranger-led summer kayak tours are essentially free.

Address: 14412 Kennedy Memorial Dr, Whiskeytown, CA 96095

Tip: The $25 vehicle pass is good for seven days (the park is cashless — card only). Summer ranger-guided kayak tours cost just a $1 reservation fee. Pick up the falls-hike map at the visitor center off Highway 299.

History & Views

The second-tallest dam in the United States, this 602-foot concrete colossus holds back Shasta Lake and was a Depression-era engineering marvel. Free guided tours walk across the crest, ride an elevator 400 feet down into the structure, and end at a dramatic view of the spillway and powerplant — a genuine bucket-list freebie.

Address: 16349 Shasta Dam Blvd, Shasta Lake, CA 96019

Tip: Free guided tours run on a first-come basis — tickets are handed out an hour ahead at the visitor center (open Friday-Tuesday). Bring photo ID. Even without a tour, the overlook and the drive across the dam crest are free and worth the trip.

Historic Sites

Six miles west of Redding, the half-ruined brick storefronts of old Shasta — once the bustling 'Queen City' of the northern Gold Rush — line a stretch of Highway 299. Explore the preserved ruins for free and tour the restored 1861 Courthouse Museum, with its restored courtroom, gallows, and California art collection.

Address: 15312 CA-299, Shasta, CA 96087

Tip: Wandering the Gold Rush ruins and main street is free; the Courthouse Museum charges a small admission. Through 2026, California's free Historian Passport can cover the museum entry. Combine it with a Whiskeytown visit just up the road.

Architecture

A glittering 1935 Art Deco movie palace on Market Street, lovingly restored as Redding's premier performing-arts venue. Its neon marquee and richly painted Mayan-Deco interior are downtown landmarks; catching a concert, film, or community show is an inexpensive way to step inside one of the North State's architectural treasures.

Address: 1731 Market St, Redding, CA 96001

Tip: The marquee and facade are free to admire any time on a downtown stroll. Tickets to films and community events are often well under the cost of big-city shows. Check the calendar for affordable matinees and local performances.