three Shastas: Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake and Mt. Shasta. Completed in 1945 as the chief feature of Central Valley Project to provide irrigation to farmers and flood control in the valley, the dam is 602 feet high and 3,460 feet long. Its 6.5 million cubic yards of concrete is enough to build a sidewalk around the equator, 3 feet wide and 5 inches thick. Free tours lasting about one hour are offered several times a day from the visitor center. Don’t miss this chance to walk out onto the second largest working dam in America. If you’re not up for walking, a video of the tour is also available in the visitor center. Shasta Dam is a great jumping-off point for exploring the 365 miles of coastline on Shasta Lake.
WHERE: Take I-5 5 miles north from Redding to exit 685, and west onto Shasta Dam Blvd. Continue 6 miles to the Shasta Dam. (google map)
MORE INFO: 530-275-4463 | USBR.gov