Don’t let the low lake levels trick you into thinking there’s nothing to do at Shasta Lake this fall, now is the time to explore! Shasta Lake is showing some history as the lake level has dropped due to lack of rain. It’s still possible to take a boat out on the water, but you might find yourself more interested in site seeing on the newly exposed land. When the Shasta Dam created the Shasta Lake Reservoir, the water did not simply fill an empty hole; people had done business and traveled through the low lands there, and now it’s possible to see the evidence. Old tunnels, bridges, and train trestles are popping up and saying, “It’s been a while, remember me?” Cement structures with dates from the 1920s tell of a by gone era, one that has been preserved beneath the houseboats and water-skiers all these years. Take advantage of this season, it will last only until the winter rains come. It’s like Northern California’s great city of Atlantis has emerged and given residents the opportunity to reflect on our history and the natural process of growth and change. There are ruins of other small mining settlements including the city of Kennent that have not been exposed even at the lake’s lowest recorded level 16 years ago, but as far as those treasures that are popping up, tourists and locals alike are being offered possibilities for exploration, by water and along the lake’s shore. Some people have even taken a boat through newly exposed tunnels. Some of the best sites for viewing these relics are at the Antlers Resort and Marina, the Salt Creek Crossing, below Lakeshore Drive, and near the Beehive Camping area off Lakeshore Drive.
Photos by Lindsay Hannan

Tweet This Post