Visiting Lake Shasta California

Cradled amongst towering pines and in the shadow of Mount Lassen, Lake Shasta is the largest man-made reservoir in California and has several very distinct areas, each different from the others, accommodating numerous on and off the water activities.

With over a mile of shoreline, Lake Shasta has been a recreation destination since 1948, and is the perfect place to water ski, fish, swim, boat or just go hang out in a restaurant at Bridge Bay and watch the lake from above. You can also extend your stay by renting one Shasta Lake's houseboats. Ski boats rentals are also available at few places around the lake.

The area is well developed and lodging, restaurants, shopping and camping are all convenient.

On arrival, a good way to acquaint oneself with the region and all its offerings is by stopping at the U.S. Forest Service visitor center in the small town of Mountain Gate located eight miles north of Redding off Interstate 5. Here you can get information, maps and permits.

Shasta Lake is not your typical just one huge body of water type lake, the geography of the lake is uniquely formed by the four rivers flowing into it that create three "arms," each named for the river that forms it.

The first is the Sacramento River arm of the lake. It is the busiest and most developed section that begins at the north end at Lakeshore resort where hikers can indulge in a quick day trip to Indian Creek Waterfall, and ends at Shasta Dam to the south.

Lake Shasta Houseboat

Standing 602 feet tall and multiple football fields wide, it is the highest spillway dam in the United States and one of the largest concrete structures ever built, containing 6.3 million cubic yards of the stuff. The outlook house near the dam offers films and displays showing highlights of dam construction during the 1940s.

The second arm is the Pit River arm, the lake's longest arm which stretches nearly 30 miles.

Since there are lots of dead trees in this part of the lake, it makes the upper Pit hazardous for boating and waterskiing. However, the lower part of the Pit is a wide basin with grand vistas. High above the water is Pit River Bridge, the highest double-decker bridge in the United States.

To the east is Upper Pit. Known as Shasta Lake's "outback," this area is the most remote and offers no services, but does have three primitive boat access only campgrounds. This area is considered by many anglers to have the best bass fishing on the lake.

Unlike Pit, the McCloud arm of Lake Shasta is home to nine campgrounds, three boat ramps, four privately owned marinas, two watchable wildlife areas, eight scenic trails, and a day use area at Bailey's Cove. It is also the stop off point for Shasta Caverns. The Caverns are open to the public with guided tours every hour on the hour between 9:00AM and 4:00PM and private boats can join the tour on the east shore where the ferry ties up.

Here huge gray rocks formed thousands of years ago from ocean sediments, extend out above the waterway, creating deep fissures , crevices and caves.

A self guided trail leads up to Samwel Cave, also known as the "Cave of the Lost Maiden," from McCloud Bridge Campground. The cave, believed to contain magic pools in which the Wintu Shaman would bathe, has yielded Ice Age fossils found at the bottom of a 70-foot deep pit inside the cave.

All but the first room is closed to the public because of the danger of falling to the bottom , but experienced spelunkers can explore the inner reaches of the cave by obtaining a special permit issued by the Shasta Lake Visitor Center.

Lake Shasta California

Lake Lake Shasta Dam

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