Water takes many forms in Shasta: a vast reservoir, a monumental feat of infrastructure, and a waterfall tumbling over a basalt cliff. The area also offers trails through protected landscapes, scenic viewpoints, and places where nature and history meet.
Reservoir, Dam, and Waterfalls
Shasta Reservoir, also known as Shasta Lake, is California’s largest reservoir, with a shoreline measuring 370 miles. Shasta Dam adds an engineering landmark: the 602-foot concrete gravity dam is in Shasta County on the Sacramento River, about 9 miles northwest of Redding. If a tour is available, it includes a walk across the dam, a 400-foot elevator descent, a short walk through the dam with a view of the spillway, and a tour of the Shasta Powerplant. Check before your trip to see whether the tour is being offered.
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park offers a very different waterscape. Burney Creek is home to a 129-foot waterfall, fed by abundant springs emerging from the basalt cliff. The springs at and above Burney Falls release 100 million gallons of water each day. The Pacific Crest Trail also runs through the park, connecting its natural setting with a well-known long-distance hiking trail.
Trails and Viewpoints
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area covers 42,497 acres, including 3,200-acre Whiskeytown Lake and the surrounding mountains. Dozens of miles of trails offer opportunities for hiking, trail running, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Kayaking is possible on the lake year-round; conditions and programs may vary seasonally.
The challenging and scenic James K. Carr Trail follows former logging roads for most of its length to Whiskeytown Falls. The falls form a three-tiered cascade with a total drop of 220 feet. For another way to take in the landscape, Castle Crags State Park offers 28 miles of hiking trails. From the Vista Point parking area, an accessible quarter-mile trail leads to a viewpoint overlooking Castle Crags, Mount Shasta, and nearby Grays Rocks. The granite spires, more than 170 million years old and rising to 6,000 feet, border the park’s northwestern edge.
Gardens, Museum, and History
The McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens near Turtle Bay cover more than 200 acres and feature native and non-native trees and plants. Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a nonprofit, 300-acre site with the Sundial Bridge, a museum, a forestry and wildlife center, an arboretum, and botanical gardens. The Turtle Bay Museum combines permanent exhibits about the region with changing exhibitions from around the world.
History is also part of the nature experience: at the Tower House Historic District in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, visitors can learn more about the park’s history and the Camden family, who lived in the house for more than a century. The contrast between traces of human activity and today’s trails through the protected area gives a visit a different focus from simply taking in a view or enjoying a sporting activity.
Routes and Trip Planning
For a cycling trip, a route of about 19 miles runs from the Sundial Bridge to Shasta Dam. It starts at the Sundial Bridge and can continue via the Stress Ribbon Bridge to the dam. Check route conditions before cycling. Another useful road route is the 30-mile Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway, which runs around the east side of Lassen Peak and connects the park’s northwestern and southwestern entrances. The drive takes about an hour without stops; vehicle access may vary seasonally.
Plan your trip around the discoveries that interest you most, without needing to follow a set itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Redding, Anderson, Shasta Lake, Burney, Fall River Mills, Lakehead-Lakeshore, Santa Clara, Sacramento.
For the broader travel overview: California.
