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Reservoir•California Lakes•Shasta County

Lake Shasta, California: Map, Depth, Size & Information

Comprehensive hydrographic guide to Lake Shasta featuring verified USGS & USACE water statistics, interactive topographic mapping, shoreline facilities, boating ramps, and game fisheries.

Directions
Surface Area
30,000 acres
121.4 km²
Max Depth
517 feet
157.6 m
Elevation
1,067 feet
325 m ASL
Shoreline
365 miles
587 km
Coordinates
40.718°, -122.421°
GPS WGS84
Verification
Official Data
2026-03-10
Live Hydrographic & Conditions Telemetry

Lake Shasta Live Water Level Status & Wind Conditions

Reservoir Hydrography
Water Level Status & Capacity
Current Water Elevation
1,063.35 ft
Normal Full Pool: 1,067.00 ft
Drought Watch
Difference from Full Pool
-3.65 ft(below)
Reservoir Waterline & Storage Capacity88.9% of Conservation Pool
0%
25%
50%
75%
100% Full
Full Pool: 1,067.00 ft
24h Change: +0.02 ft / 24hEst. Volume: 4,160,520 acre-ft
Inflow Rate
3,110 cfs
River tributaries
Dam Outflow
1,957 cfs
Hydro & spillway
Water Temp
65°F
Surface layer
Water Clarity
44.6 ft
Secchi disc depth
Hydrologic balance: Current net flow is +1,153 cfs (Gaining volume). Water level is rising at 0.02 ft per day.
Atmospheric & Surface
Live Wind & Wave Simulator
Good Boating Conditions
Nautical Wind Compass Rose
NESW
ESE 118°
10 mph
Gusts: 23 mph
Blowing from ESE (118°) at 10 mph
Surface Wave Conditions0.8 ft wave height
Light Chop (0.5 - 1.0 ft)
Moderate Surface Ripple
Barometer
30.16 inHg
Steady pressure
Solunar Bite
Active Feeding
High game fish bite
Hourly Forecast Timeline Scrubber:12 PM • 10 mph ESE
Calculate Water Level & Volume ChangesModel acre-feet storage loss, shoreline recession, and drought reserve projections for Lake Shasta.
Open Calculator

Interactive Map of Lake Shasta

40.7183° N, 122.4208° W|Get Directions
Centroid Coordinates: 40.7183° N, -122.4208° WOpen Directions in Maps

Where is Lake Shasta?

Lake Shasta is located in Shasta County in the state of California, at geographical coordinates 40.7183° North latitude and 122.4208° West longitude. The water body lies at a surface elevation of approximately 1,067 feet (325 meters) above mean sea level.

Nearby Cities & Distances

Redding
10 miles away
Shasta Lake City
4 miles away
Sacramento
165 miles away
San Francisco
215 miles away

About Lake Shasta

Houseboats anchored in quiet forested coves with red earth banks on Lake Shasta California
Reservoir • Multipurpose Four-Arm ReservoirVerified 2026-03-10

Lake Shasta (Shasta Lake) is the largest water reservoir in California, formed by Shasta Dam on the Sacramento River in northern California. With four distinct mountain river arms (Sacramento, McCloud, Pit, and Squaw Creek) and 365 miles of red-clay pine-clad shoreline, Lake Shasta is celebrated as the "Houseboating Capital of the World," featuring cavern tours, panoramic views of snow-capped Mount Shasta, and exceptional multi-species trout and bass fishing.

Hydrographic Classification:

Lake Shasta is categorized as a Multipurpose Four-Arm Reservoir. Its designated primary authorized uses include Central Valley Project Water Storage, Flood Protection, Hydroelectric Power, Houseboating Capital.

Activities & Recreation

Sport Fishing

Lake Shasta is known for its resident game fish species. Common targets include:

Rainbow TroutBrown TroutChinook SalmonSpotted BassLargemouth BassSmallmouth BassBlack CrappieChannel Catfish
Boating & Watersports

Popular watercraft activities permitted across regulated channels:

Houseboating & Floating HolidaysLake Shasta Caverns National Natural LandmarkWakeboarding & WaterskiingTrout & Spotted Bass TrollingShasta Dam Tours

Boat Ramps, Marinas & Public Parks

Marinas (5)

  • •Bridge Bay Marina
  • •Shasta Marina at Packers Bay
  • •Silverthorn Resort Marina
  • •Jones Valley Resort
  • •Antlers Marina

Public Boat Launches (4)

  • •Centimudi Boat Ramp
  • •Packers Bay Public Launch
  • •Antlers Boat Ramp
  • •Jones Valley Ramp

Parks & Recreation (3)

  • •Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area
  • •Lake Shasta Caverns
  • •Shasta Dam Visitor Center

Boating Safety, Wake Zones & Aquatic Regulations

• Speed & Wake Buffer Zones:

A mandatory 100-to-200-foot no-wake zone is enforced around all public boat launches, designated swimming areas, private docks, and moored vessels. Vessel operators must maintain idle speed in narrow coves and bridge passes.

• Safety Gear & AIS Protocol:

Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, or III PFDs are required for all vessel occupants. To prevent aquatic invasive species (quagga mussels, hydrilla), boaters must adhere to Clean, Drain, and Dry inspection procedures prior to launching.

Seasonal Fishing Patterns for Lake Shasta

Spring (March – May)Pre-Spawn & Spawn

Game fish move into sheltered secondary coves, shallow flats (4–12 ft depth), and creek mouths as surface temperatures climb into the 50s and 60s. Target submerged timber, riprap, and emerging vegetation with spinnerbaits, suspending jerkbaits, and soft plastics.

Summer (June – August)Thermocline & Main Basin

Predators retreat to deep underwater humps, main river channel ledges, and thermocline layers (20–45 ft). Peak activity shifts to dawn, dusk, and night trolling. Use deep-diving crankbaits, spoons, drop-shots, and downrigger spreads.

Autumn (Sept – November)Fall Turnover & Feeding Blitz

Cooling weather triggers lake turnover and intense schooling feeding. Bass, trout, and walleye push baitfish into primary points and pocket coves. Fast-moving topwater plugs, lipless crankbaits, and swimbaits produce explosive strikes.

Winter (Dec – February)Deep Suspension & Ice

Fish consolidate around deep wintering holes (40–80+ ft) or under safe solid ice on northern waterways. Slow finesse presentations—vertical jigging spoons, blade baits, and live bait rigs—dominate the cold-water season.

Lake Shasta Statistics & Hydrography

MeasurementImperial ValueMetric Equivalent
Surface Area30,000 acres121.4 km²
Maximum Depth517 feet157.6 meters
Average Depth156 feet47.5 meters
Water Surface Elevation1,067 feet above sea level325 meters
Shoreline Length365 miles587 km
Lake ClassificationReservoir (Multipurpose Four-Arm Reservoir)
GPS Coordinates40.7183° N, 122.4208° W

Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Shasta

7 verified answers
What is the largest reservoir in California?+
Shasta Lake is California's largest water reservoir, holding 4.55 million acre-feet of water across 30,000 surface acres with a maximum depth of 517 feet.
How deep is Lake Shasta in California?+
Lake Shasta reaches a verified maximum depth of 517 feet (158 meters), with an estimated mean operating depth of approximately 156 feet (48 meters). The lake bathymetry features typical reservoir bottom topography with distinct drop-offs, deep submerged channels, and shallow littoral zones that support aquatic vegetation and forage species.
What is the surface area, shoreline length, and elevation of Lake Shasta?+
At normal conservation pool, Lake Shasta covers approximately 30,000 surface acres (about 46.9 square miles or 121.4 km²) at an elevation of 1,067 feet above sea level. The shoreline extends for 365 miles (587 km) throughout Shasta County, featuring numerous sheltered coves and bays.
What game fish can you catch in Lake Shasta?+
Anglers on Lake Shasta target Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon, Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Channel Catfish. Peak fishing occurs during spring spawning runs in shallow bays and submerged timber, followed by summer deep-water trolling near thermocline depths and structural humps. Autumn brings aggressive feeding activity along windward points.
Can you boat on Lake Shasta and where are the public ramps?+
Yes, recreational boating is permitted on Lake Shasta. Public boat launch facilities include Centimudi Boat Ramp, Packers Bay Public Launch, Antlers Boat Ramp. Full-service marinas including Bridge Bay Marina and Shasta Marina at Packers Bay offer slip rentals, marine fuel, and boat repair services. Boaters must adhere to state navigation laws, maintain required life jackets and safety gear, and respect posted no-wake zones near docks, coves, and designated swimming beaches.
Who manages Lake Shasta and are there campgrounds or parks nearby?+
Lake Shasta is managed and monitored in coordination with U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Central Valley Project) & U.S. Forest Service. Lakeside recreation areas and campgrounds include Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, Lake Shasta Caverns, Shasta Dam Visitor Center. Visitors can take advantage of developed campgrounds with tent and RV hookups, scenic hiking trails, day-use picnic areas, and boat launch access.
Where does the data for Lake Shasta come from and how is it verified?+
All hydrographic statistics, water surface elevation gauges, surface acreage measurements, and bathymetric soundings for Lake Shasta are cross-referenced from authoritative federal and state geospatial databases, primarily U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Central Valley Project) & U.S. Forest Service and the USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). Records undergo programmatic sanity verification and were last verified on 2026-03-10. Detailed ingestion pipelines, calibration procedures, and agency citations are published on our Data Methodology page (/methodology/).
Review Full Data Methodology & Verification Guidelines
Authoritative Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Central Valley Project) & U.S. Forest Service
Last verified: 2026-03-10 • Record ID: lake-shasta-ca
View Official Source

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