mossbrae falls, near dunsmuir, california according u.s. census bureau, county has total area of 6,347 square miles (16,440 km), of 6,278 square miles (16,260 km) land , 69 square miles (180 km) (1.1%) water. fifth-largest county area in california. siskiyou county geographically diverse. towering mount shasta (elev. 14,179 ft/(4,322 m)) near center of county, lakes , dense forests, desert, chaparral, , memorable waterfalls, county home world-famous trout-fishing rivers , streams, such sacramento , mccloud rivers. county dotted lakes , reservoirs, such castle lake , lake siskiyou. mount shasta has winter sports center. pastoral scott valley in western part of county has many wide, tree-lined meadows, supporting large cattle ranches. basins of northeastern siskiyou county, including butte valley, lower klamath , tule lake basins, have of deepest , richest soils in state, producing alfalfa, potatoes, horseradish, , brewing barley. butte valley nurseries leading source of premium strawber