Lake Shasta

[HS]

I have read a little about Lake Shasta and would like to know more about places to stay and where I'd have a slip for my Nautique. Just saw Silerthorne on the web. Which properties are considered to be among the nicest that you'd recommend? Is houseboating the way to go?

[jonfo]

RE: Lake Shasta

http://www.shastalake.com/resorts
http://www.houseboats.com

[DanielC]

RE: Lake Shasta

There are three main arms on Laks Shasta. There are some campgrounds on the lake, but a lot of people houseboat. You can also get houseboats at Digger Bay, Bridge Bay, and Holiday Harbor.
I believe Silverthorn is more high end, and Digger Bay is more on the budget end.
Houseboats are probably already booked for this year, but there might be some openings after Labor day.
Lake Shasta irrigates a lot of California, and during the summer, the level can drop a foot or more each day.
Some of Lake Shasta's shores are a red clay, that will stain your clothes, and if you get the red mud in your boat's carpet, it will be there forever.
The water is warm, but open parts of the lake can get choppy, especially in the wind. There are usually parts of the lake you can find that are smooth throughout the day, there are several narrow arms you can get into, for smoother water.
Slips for your boat might be difficult to find. It is common if you have a houseboat rented, to tie up the ski boat to the houseboat.
Another option is to get an Anchor Buddy, a good anchor and use the Anchor Buddy to pull the ski boat away from the houseboat.
Lake Shasta can get deep in most places, so take a long anchor line.
There are some shallow spots in Lake Shasta too. It you are driving your boat and the water starts to change color from greenish blue to, a more reddish color, watch your depth finder. If you are there for a week or more, a place that was safe early in the week may be too shallow by the end of the week.
The Lake Patrol is very strict. Because of the popularity of the lake they have to be. My advise is when you arrive at the lake, introduce your self to them and ask about the lake and any local regulations you need to know. I do know they do enforce the flag rule for down skiers, and boarders. the flag must go up immediately, and stay up until there is definite white (propwash) water behind the boat.
It can get very hot there, 110 degrees plus. If you are traveling there during the summer, I would suggest you spend the night in Ashland, Oregon, Drive early in the morning theough the hills and mountians between Ashland, and Lake Shasta
I have done the drive from Portland, Or. to Lake Shasta in a day.

[RLS]

RE: Lake Shasta

I just got back from Trinity and it is very smokey in that area still. We had days we could see about 750 yards. We still had a great time. Trinity is about 60 miles from Shasta

[wake_fun]

RE: Lake Shasta

Shasta water level is WAY WAY down............you could probably find a houseboat to rent with people canceling because of the fires up there. I was at Trinity July 13-19 and never saw the sun because of the smoke/haze.......
You defintely need to go to Shasta sometime!

[BKinSoCal]

RE: Lake Shasta

I was in Shasta at the end of Aug for a weeklong houseboat trip. The weather was phenominal and all of the fires were out...no smoke in the air.

In my opinion, the best way to go is via houseboat. This was my second time houseboaing in Shasta and I loved it. Check out www.houseboats.com It gives a few other marinas you can get houseboats out of. This time of year the costs are coming down due to kids going back to school.

The water level is WAY down, but if you stay in the middle, there are no problems. There are still great places to ride/ski with glassy water all day long.