Montgomery Creek, CA

Tucked into the forested hills along Highway 299 in northeastern Shasta County, Montgomery Creek is a tiny mountain community of fewer than 200 people. Named after early settler Zachariah Montgomery and the nearby stream, the area offers a quiet, deeply rural lifestyle surrounded by towering pines and open country. For anyone looking to escape crowded suburbs, it provides plenty of open space, fresh mountain air, and easy access to outdoor recreation between Redding and the Intermountain region.

The community shares a strong sense of resilience, having rebuilt after the devastating Fountain Fire swept through the area in 1992. Firefighters managed to save the small commercial core along the highway, which still serves as a daily gathering spot for locals grabbing mail or picking up essentials. Today, residents enjoy a tranquil pace of life where fishing spots, hiking trails, and the scenic beauty of the Cascade foothills are right outside the front door.