Shasta Lake

Shasta Lake is a large reservoir in Shasta County in northern California, formed by Shasta Dam on the Sacramento River. The dam was completed in 1945 and the reservoir is the largest storage reservoir in California by capacity.

The lake is a major recreational hub with extensive opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming and houseboating; hundreds of miles of irregular shoreline create sheltered coves and channels for water recreation. Multiple marinas and public launch ramps support powerboats and houseboats, and there are numerous campgrounds and picnic areas around the reservoir.

Shasta Dam was built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation during the late 1930s and early 1940s and the reservoir filled after the dam’s completion in 1945. Construction of the dam and reservoir altered local river flow and inundated several small communities and historic sites in the valley.

The reservoir sits in the northern California foothills of the Cascade-Sierra region; it is accessed from Interstate 5 and local state routes and is served by the city of Redding to the north as the nearest regional center.

• Recreation season: Most popular for houseboating and powerboating in summer, with numerous private rental operators offering multi-day houseboat trips.
• Water levels and management: Managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and subject to reservoir-level fluctuations that affect marina access and shoreline recreation.

What to See #

• Marinas and campgrounds: Multiple marinas and public boat ramps around the reservoir provide fuel, slip rentals, and houseboat services; several state and private campgrounds sit on the shoreline.
• Recreation areas: Extensive shoreline offers coves and channels used for boating, swimming, and waterskiing; some areas are managed as state recreation sites.