Shasta Lake and the surrounding area near Redding, California sits at elevations ranging from 600 to 1,100 feet, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F in July and August. Winter visitors experience milder conditions with daytime temperatures in the 50s and 60s. The region features a mix of oak woodlands, pine forests, and lake views with varying water levels depending on seasonal rainfall and snowmelt.
What to do
Swimming in designated areas: McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park offers a lake for swimming when temperatures rise. "There's an awesome little lake nearby too!" notes one visitor to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park.
Wildlife watching: Crystal Creek Primitive Campground provides opportunities to observe local wildlife. "About 3am something woke me up sniffing around my hammock. I was not able to see it without moving, but it bumped me and was large enough to make the hammock sway," reports a camper at Crystal Creek Primitive Campground.
Boat and kayak rentals: Lake activities are available seasonally. "Headed to pine cove marina where you can rent out boats, and kayaks. They have very reasonable prices!" mentions a visitor to Mary Smith Campground.
Hiking the waterfall trail: Several parks feature waterfall viewing opportunities. "The falls are beautiful too cold to do any quality swimming but a nice hike around the falls and down to the lake," explains a McArthur-Burney Falls visitor.
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: Antlers RV Park offers more secluded camping spaces. "The RV spaces are large and offer more privacy than most campgrounds. It tended to fill up on the weekends (sometimes completely) but was fairly quiet during weekdays with only a handful of people," shares a guest at Antlers RV Park and Campground.
Natural cooling options: Some locations provide relief from summer heat. "It was super hot but if you walk down to the bottom of the falls it's like a natural air conditioner," explains a visitor to McArthur-Burney Falls.
Yurt camping near Redding: Several parks offer yurt accommodations for those seeking glamping experiences. "The glamping units have the best view so I hope to check those out next time," notes a camper at Mary Smith Campground, highlighting the growing popularity of yurt rentals near Redding, California.
Platform tent sites: Some campgrounds feature elevated tent platforms. "We set our tents up on the platforms and had a great view of the lake and trinity alps in the distance," explains a visitor to Mary Smith Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal water levels: Lake access varies throughout the year. "The camp ground was beautiful. Pretty close to the water, however, this year summer 2021 the water is very low," reports a visitor to Jones Inlet Campground.
Wildlife precautions required: Bears are active in many camping areas. "I put my food in the locker, and I'm very glad I did. About 3am something woke me up sniffing around my hammock," advises a Crystal Creek Primitive camper.
Highway noise impacts: Some campgrounds experience road noise. "That night, the trucks on the adjacent highway were ridiculously loud. I think there was a particularly loud period from midnight to 1am, and then they started back up again around 5:30am," warns a McArthur-Burney Falls visitor.
Shower costs: Some facilities charge for showers. "I headed to the shower, and almost forgot to bring quarters in the event that it cost something, which it did. 50 cents for 2 minutes, and a quarter for every minute thereafter," notes a McArthur-Burney Falls camper.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds offer activities specifically for children. "Kid friendly and for the most part very clean. They do enforce quiet time which is great and they have a little store/burger spot which is very convenient next to the pool area," shares a visitor to Lakehead Campground & RV Park.
Swimming options: Multiple locations feature swimming areas for families. "Took tubes out and laid in the water and soaked up the sun, it was so nice. It's especially so calming because there isn't a million boats on the lake partying and such it's just quiet and calm water," explains a Mary Smith Campground guest.
Quiet times enforced: Many campgrounds maintain noise restrictions. "They do enforce quiet time which is great and they have a little store/burger spot which is very convenient next to the pool area," notes a Lakehead visitor, important for families with young children.
Limited cell service: Be prepared for disconnection. "Absolutely no cell service!" warns a visitor to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, requiring families to plan communication alternatives.
Tips from RVers
Site specifications: Mountain Gate offers level sites with grass. "Well maintained and clean park. Actually has grass, not all gravel. Sites level," shares a visitor to Mountain Gate RV Park.
Big rig considerations: Some parks accommodate larger vehicles better than others. "We stayed in 10 in our 40' coach with tow. Flush toilets in 2 different buildings," notes a Lakeshore East visitor about pull-through options.
Utility limitations: Water access can be restrictive. "Lots of water spigots throughout the campground but they don't have threads to allow a hose to hookup," advises an RV camper at Lakeshore East.
Self-check-in procedures: Late arrivals need specific information. "One night stay and arrived late so did self check in...no password for bathrooms were given, so asked a neighbor for a password," reports a Mountain Gate RV Park visitor.
