Shasta – Waterfalls, Reservoir and Trails

Shasta offers a wide range of destinations to explore: waterfalls and springs, a large reservoir, striking granite spires, gardens and museums each have their own appeal. When planning your trip, you can choose between excursions to the water, trails through protected areas and cultural sites.

Reservoir, Dam and Waterfalls

The Shasta Reservoir, also known as Shasta Lake, is California’s largest reservoir, with 370 miles of shoreline. The Shasta Dam stands on the Sacramento River: a 602-foot-high concrete gravity dam in Shasta County, about 9 miles northwest of Redding. The Antlers Ramp at Shasta Lake is a public boat launch in Shasta County.

In McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, Burney Creek has a 129-foot-high waterfall. Abundant springs emerge from the basalt cliff; the springs at and above Burney Falls release 100 million gallons of water daily. The waterfall and the springs flowing from the basalt cliff define the park’s natural character.

The Castle Crags offer a different landscape: their granite spires, more than 170 million years old, reach 6,000 feet in height and border the northwestern edge of Castle Crags State Park. The park has 28 miles of hiking trails. Views of the rock formations and the park’s trails offer two distinct reasons to visit.

Hiking, Cycling and Kayaking

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area covers 42,497 acres. It includes 3,200-acre Whiskeytown Lake and the surrounding mountains. The area has dozens of miles of trails for hiking, trail running, mountain biking and horseback riding. Kayaking is possible on Whiskeytown Lake year-round; seasonal conditions and programs may change.

The challenging and scenic James K. Carr Trail follows mostly former logging roads to Whiskeytown Falls. The three-tiered cascade is 220 feet high. The James K. Carr Trail is a challenging hiking route to Whiskeytown Falls; the trail network in the recreation area also offers opportunities for trail running, mountain biking and horseback riding.

The Pacific Crest Trail also passes through McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. This brings different types of trails into your trip planning: a long-distance trail, a challenging trail to a waterfall and a larger network that also accommodates mountain biking, trail running and horseback riding.

Gardens, Museum and History

The McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens are located at Turtle Bay. The grounds cover more than 200 acres and feature native and non-native trees and plants. Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a 300-acre nonprofit site featuring the Sundial Bridge, a museum, a forestry and wildlife center, an arboretum and botanical gardens.

The Turtle Bay Museum features permanent exhibits about the region and traveling exhibitions from around the world. The Tower House Historic District is also located in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. There, visitors can learn more about the park’s history and the Camden family, who lived in the house for more than a century. The museum and historic district offer a different focus from the gardens and trails.

Views and Planning Tips

From the Vista Point parking area, an accessible quarter-mile path leads to a viewpoint with impressive views of Castle Crags, Mount Shasta and nearby Grays Rocks.

An approximately 19-mile bike ride from the Sundial Bridge to Shasta Dam begins at the Sundial Bridge and can continue over the Stress Ribbon Bridge to the dam. Check route conditions before setting out. This helps you decide first which experiences you want to shape your trip.

Discover more destinations: Redding, Anderson, Shasta Lake, Burney, Fall River Mills, Lakehead-Lakeshore, Tuolumne, Napa.

For the broader travel overview: California.