Lake Shasta FAQ

Lake Shasta - FAQ

Where is Lake Shasta Located?

Shasta Lake City, Lake Shasta, Shasta Mountain and Shasta Dam are all them located in Shasta County in northern California, and north of Redding city.

How far is it from other closer cities?

Major cities nearby are as close as the following chart:

Medford, Oregon, 145 miles

Eureka, California, 158 miles

Sacramento, California, 163 miles

Grants Pass, Oregon, 177 miles

Reno, Nevada, 201 miles

San Francisco, California, 218 miles

Eugene, Oregon, 316 miles

Portland, Oregon, 423 miles

Los Angeles, California, 545 miles

Seattle, Washington, 595 miles

How do I get to Lake Shasta?

Shasta Cascade region in Shasta County can be accessed from anywhere, since Interstate 5 bisects Northern California, and there are many transportation facilities.

Can you name some those transportation facilities?

Accessing Lake Shasta is possible by road, air or rail in different ways

By road you can get there by means of the world-famous Greyhound bus lines. By rail, just take the Amtrak rail. Private cars can reach Shasta lake from different routes, including Interstate 5 and the Highways 3, 20, 32, 36, 44, 70, 89, 97, 299, and 395.

How do I get to Lake Shasta by air?

There are several national and international flights from a large number of airline carriers arriving to San Francisco and Sacramento, which airports are only a few hours drive from Lake Shasta, the same as domestic airports in Redding and Chico with rental car agencies to serve you.

I need further directions to get there, where can I find it?

Call any of the following transportation service numbers:

Amtrak Rail, Tel. 800-872-7245

Greyhound Buses, Tel. 800-321-2222

Chico Metro Airport, Tel. (530) 898-2359

Redding Municipal Airport, Tel. (530) 224-4399

San Francisco Airport, Tel. (415) 761-0800

Sacramento Airport, Tel. (916) 929-5411

Which other cities are near Shasta Lake City?

If you plan to visit the surroundings, Anderson City in a middle point on Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak, near the Sacramento River. Other cities closer to Shasta are Cottonwood, Fall River Mills, Burney, and Redding.

Where do I get maps and further information on Lake Shasta?

Shasta Lake Visitor Information Center provides brochures, maps, directions and any other information that visitors request.

This center is operated by the U.S. Forest Service and located off Interstate Highway 5 (i-5) in Mountain Gate, Shasta County, approximately 8 miles north of Redding, California. Tel. (530) 275-1589

Is there not a way to get such information online?

Yes, the Shasta Lake Visitor Information Center has created several guides providing information on different recreational aspects of Lake Shasta, downloadable at this address: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/maps/rog-index.shtml

Where do I get other specific information on Lake Shasta?

For emergency call 911, for other numbers it depends on what you need to know, however there are some numbers often required by visitors to the region that might serve you:

Shasta County Sheriff, Crime Reporting, Tel. (530) 245-6540

Shasta County Sheriff General Information, Tel. (530) 245-6000

Sheriff's Lakehead substation, Tel. (530) 238-8648

Shasta County Sheriff's Boating Safety Office, Tel. (530) 245-6075

City of Shasta Lake Local Government, Tel. (530) 275-7400

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Tel. (530) 226-2500

National Recreation Reservation Service, Tel. 877-444-6777

Shasta Lake Chamber of Commerce, Tel. (530) 275-7497

Redding Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tel. (530) 225-4100, 800-874-7562

Shasta Recreation Company, Tel. (530) 275-8113

Where do I get information about foreign visitors?

This information is available through the Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association, 1699 Highway 273, Anderson, CA 96007. Tel. (530) 365-7500, Fax - (530) 365-1258, Toll-Free 1-800-474-2782, or via email at scwa@shastacascade.com.

Someone told me that Shasta Dam is a sewage, not a recreational area, isn't it?

The Shasta Dam is operated by the U.S. Water and Power Resources Service and is not a sewer, but provides a variety of services including , power, irrigation and flood control.

When was Shasta Dam was constructed?

Shasta Dam was constructed between 1935 and 1945, impounding 3 north state rivers, the Sacramento, Pit, and McCloud, later referred as arms. The lake was filled in 1948 and the Shasta Dam is today the second tallest and largest concrete dam in the United States.

Hence, can I have some fun at the dam?

Of course, there are fishing and camping facilities there. In addition, every arm has its own history, characteristics and environment, providing great recreational opportunities.

Can I camp on the lake's shoreline?

Shasta Lake is one of the few lakes in all California where it is allowed to camp along the shore.

Are campfires permitted at Lake Shasta,?

Yes, but you need to get a permit from the Forest Service Office. Permits are free.

Is there any recommended reading to learn more about Lake Shasta?

In fact there are two, The After Five Magazine and Redding Record Searchlight, for further information getting them call 1-800-637-3540 and (530) 243-2424 respectively.