Explore Shasta Lake, California, in an RVshare RV Rental
The town of Shasta Lake began as five small communities created in 1938 named Pine Grove, Summit City, Project City, Central Valley, and Toyon. Each of the initial cities began as home communities for employees and managers working on the Shasta Dam, which created the largest reservoir in California. The Bureau of Reclamation was instrumental in making these small towns, developing sewage plants, water filtration plants, and power connections with the generators from Shasta Dam. Paved streets and concrete sidewalks were installed early, providing easy transportation through the towns and the worksite. The Bureau even developed recreational facilities like tennis courts and basketball courts for the residents.
The five small towns merged to become Shasta Lake in 1993. The incorporation allowed businesses to grow exponentially, and the community of Shasta Lake quickly grew to become a recreational township with burgeoning growth in shops, restaurants, and recreational businesses servicing the reservoir — Shasta Lake (often called Lake Shasta). Today, the lake hosts several houseboats and marinas that draw visitors to the town of Lake Shasta to enjoy the amenities the city offers. With over 15 restaurants, the city provides various cuisines, including barbecue, American, Chinese, Mexican, Pizza, and traditional fast food. Several big-name grocery stores are found in Shasta Lake alongside small gift shops with unique and unusual products.
Shasta Lake provides several family-friendly parks where picnicking is encouraged, exciting playgrounds, and magnificent views. Clair Engle Park is an example of what lies in the city center for families and individuals. It offers a community center, a skateboard park, an outdoor performance stage where events take place every week of the summer, restrooms, drinking fountains, barbecue grills, and a large playground area. While in Shasta Lake, make sure to stop at the Behrens-Eaton House Museum for a quick dip into the past. The museum focuses on life in the Shasta Lake area during the Victorian Era. You can see the apparel, furniture, place settings, and other slices of Victorian life in the lower sections of the house. To see military uniforms worn by local volunteers and the gear they carried while at war, climb to the second floor.
Discover Nearby Towns and Cities
Redding,California, is a large community of nearly 100,000 people. The city offers several amenities, including:
Weed, California, is a small community located 10 miles north of Mount Shasta with an incredible view of the mountain. Amenities found near Weed include:
Red Bluff,California, is a town of around 15,000 people. Those stopping in this historic community find plenty of activities and amenities, including:
Best National Parks Near Shasta Lake, California
Lassen Volcanic National Park lies about 50 miles east of Shasta Lake. Open for year-round activities, this park provides dozens of trails, incredible angling experiences in its crystal-clear lakes and streams, and rock-climbing opportunities.
Redwood National Park protects a complex mix of prairie, coastline, oak forest, rivers, and redwoods — the tallest trees on Earth.
On top of Mount Mazama in Oregon, 135 miles north of Shasta Lake, Crater Lake National Park provides one of the most magnificent views worldwide. The lake is remarkably blue and surrounded by snow most of the year.
Popular State Parks Near Shasta Lake, California
Located just outside Lassen Volcanic National Park, Castle Crags State Park provides a great location to park your rig and visit Lassen for several days. The park offers large RV campsites, modern restrooms, showers, and a camp store. A robust Wi-Fi system allows simultaneous streaming on two mobile devices. The swift-running upper Sacramento River runs through the park. Soaring granite spires hover above the river, and hiking trails duck through the forest, travel along the river, and find their way to the top of the spires.
When you are traveling west to see Redwoods National Park, take your rig to Humboldt Redwoods State Park and register to stay for a few days. The park offers several campgrounds with multiple RV campsites. The park provides picnic tables, grills, fire rings, restrooms, hot showers, hiking trails, and much more. Camping amid the tallest trees in the world is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Must-See Monuments and Landmarks Near Shasta Lake, California
While visiting Shasta Lake, travel about 16 miles west to see one of the most iconic ghost towns in the state. Shasta State Historic Park is Shasta City's remains — a lusty and uproarious gold mining community with a row of ruins. Old, half-ruined brick buildings are reminders of the bustling community that once welcomed people from anywhere and everywhere.
Go underground at the Lake Shasta Caverns National Natural Landmark. Located within eight miles of Shasta Lake, California, these caverns provide a fun and educational trip for any visitors. Join the fun by touring through lighted caves thick with stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone.
Events Near Shasta Lake, California
Shasta Lake hosts the upcoming annual Shasta Lake Trout Derby. Only boat fishing is allowed with a limit of four fish per day.
The upcoming Shasta Lake Kokanee Fishing Derby occurs every year, with anglers visiting the area to compete for a prize.
The Holiday Inn in Redding, California, is hosting the upcoming annual Car Show and Shine event. The cars are of vintage make, reconstructed, or refurbished to a fine finish and are donated for the show by car enthusiasts worldwide.
Popular POI Activities Near Shasta Lake, California
The most popular activity near Shasta Lake is boating. Whether it is houseboating, powerboating, or a leisurely drift along the banks of the lake, people come to enjoy the lake with all types of watercraft.
If you ever wondered what the inside of a dam looked like, touring Shasta Dam is a great way to find out. The tours are free and show you the intricate inner mechanisms that hold a dam together.
Over 50 miles of hiking and biking trails are available for people staying in Shasta Lake. Some trails lead into the hills outside the community while most lead to the lake and work their way along the shore.
RVshare’s Top Picks for Nearby RV Parks and Campgrounds
Top choices for RV parks and campgrounds begin with the Redding Premier RV Resort. Located near Redding, this RV park provides 54 large campsites for temporary visitors. It is a modern luxury RV park that includes hot showers, restrooms, a swimming pool, laundry facilities, and an exercise room.
Another fantastic RV park is the JGW RV Park located along the Sacramento River in Redding. The park provides a grassy natural setting that is perfect for walks along the river, fishing from the bank, or bird-watching. It provides 50 RV campsites for temporary guests, a swimming pool, a game room, and a boat ramp.
Best RV Dump Stations Near Shasta Lake, California
Dump stations are an essential element on any RV trip. At dump stations, you can clean your waste tanks and add clean potable water to your system. Near Shasta Lake there are several dump stations, most of which are located near Redding. Nearly every RV campground near Redding provides a dump station that is available 24 hours per day for guests. Five dump stations within easy driving distance are open to the public for a low fee.
Popular RV Storage Facilities Near Shasta Lake, California
Owners of RVs often find themselves needing a storage unit for their RV. These units are a handy and affordable way to keep an RV safely off the street and away from potential hazards. The nearest RV storage units to Shasta Lake are in Redding, about eight miles away. These are high-quality covered units, most of which are 12 feet wide and 40 feet long. An example of these facilities is Advantage RV and Mini Storage, where the monthly rate is $165.
