Pic: Brianna R. Boyd

If you’re seeking a peaceful and long-distance spot for paddling, head to Shasta Lake. You can easily spend weeks exploring its vast expanse, as the lake’s four distinct arms - the Sacramento, McCloud, Squaw Creek, and Pit - each offer unique landscapes to discover.

The Sacramento Arm is the most developed and busiest, with easy access via Interstate 5 and the towering Shasta Dam at its base. Its one of the largest concrete structures ever built. The Squaw Creek Arm is rugged and remote, with gravel beaches and narrow fingers reaching into the channel, making it a popular destination for houseboaters.

The Pit Arm is the longest, stretching nearly 30 miles from its confluence with the Sacramento to its upper reaches, where the channel narrows and the canyon walls become extremely steep. The Lower Pit Arm is a wide, scenic basin. Feeding into Shasta Lake are the Pit River, with its many waterfalls, and the McCloud River from the south..

Camping is allowed outside of established campgrounds, unless signage indicates otherwise. Lake Shasta offers four remote, boat-in campgrounds that provide a secluded camping experience.

For those seeking a peaceful, scenic paddle, an early morning trip on Lake Shasta is the perfect way to experience this paddlers' paradise. However, the lake can become quite windy as the day progresses.

Map of Shasta Lake