Contact Information
P.O. Box 2430
Shasta, CA 96087
530-225-2065
This unique park northeast of Redding is accessible only by boat. An island made of old lava flows sits in the midst of Big Lake. The park offers excellent hiking, fishing (trout and bass) and a breathtaking view of Mount Shasta. The park is surrounded by a network of rivers and lakes and contains an abundance of cold, clear springs. The spring water originates form Tule Lake, 50 miles north.Boaters, canoeists and hikers can explore the 6,000-acre parks waterways, pools and lava flows. The park is also an excellent site for wildlife watching. Boats to the park are launched at Rat Farm, three miles north of the town of McArthur on a dirt road from the end of Main Street.
Climate in the Shasta-Cascade Region varies greatly with elevation. Higher elevations tend to have much cooler temperatures and higher precipitation. Summer weather is usually hot and dry with lower elevation temperatures ranging from 850 - 1000+F and lows from 600 - 700. Fall days are usually mild and warm, with cool nights. Winter is when most of the precipitation falls, averaging over 55 inches per year, much of it in the form of snow in the high elevations. Highs range from 400 - 600 and lows from 300 - 400 in the lower elevations. Spring weather is variable with many pleasant days.
