Exploring the Lake Shasta Caverns – A Must See!

I visit Redding a few times a year with my family to see my grandad, and we love to check out different attractions each time. This time, we booked the Lake Shasta Caverns tour.

Even though I was born in Redding and have been there more times than I can count, I’ve never visited the caverns. Surprisingly, my parents and Grandad had never been either, despite living there for several years.

I booked the tour last minute on a Friday during Presidents Day Weekend. Since it was cold and rain was forecasted all weekend, I was a little hesitant, but we decided to go anyway! To my surprise, it was warmer inside the caverns than outside.

It was such an awesome experience. In addition to the caverns, you see amazing lake and mountain views. We also lucked out because the lake was at its highest level in a long time, and the mountains were capped with snow.

If you’re thinking about it, just do it. You won’t regret it! You can also make a whole trip out of it, with all of the other magnificent attractions in and around Redding. Here’s all you need to know about the tour.

Lake Shasta Caverns Quick Summary

What to know before booking

There’s a lot of walking and stairs. At the start of the tour, you’ll walk down a long path of stairs and walkways to reach the boat. After the boat ride, It’s a short walk uphill to the bus and then a quick walk to the cavern entrance.

Inside the caverns, you’ll walk along paved pathways with over 600 stairs to climb up and down. Towards the middle of the tour, there’s a section with approximately 80 consecutive steps to climb. Then, what goes up must come down, so after exiting the cave, you’ll walk down more paved paths with stairs to return to the bus.

It wasn’t difficult, but if you have bad knees or struggle to walk a mile or two, it’s something to think about.

Getting there

It’s a fairly easy drive along Interstate 5. Once exit and turn onto Shasta Caverns Drive, it’s a short but very windy 1.5-mile road. If you get carsick easily, I recommend taking some Dramamine to be safe. My mom and I felt a little queasy on the ride back.

Before the tour

When you arrive, there’s a big parking lot with plenty of open spaces.

If you have kids with you, try to arrive a little early or plan on staying after to check out the playhouse, the “Rock Box” rock climbing walls, and the “Lost Cabin Mine” mining sluice. There are also some great places to take pictures.

Where to check-in

From the parking lot, walk under the large “Welcome to Shasta Caverns” sign and continue to the gift shop. Then, check-in at the cashier counter.

What to expect on the tour

After checking in, they’ll let you know when it’s time to head down to the boat. You’ll go out the back of the gift shop and walk down the pathway to the dock.

Boat ride

The caverns are situated on a remote peninsula, so the tour begins with a ten-minute scenic boat ride across the lake. If you visit in cooler months, this is the coldest part of the tour, so I was glad I had a jacket and warm boots.

Rachel and Joe were our guides, and they were fantastic. From the start of the boat ride, they provide a lot of interesting information about the land, lake, caverns and more.

There are plenty of seats for a comfortable ride, and you’re free to walk around and take pictures.

Bus ride

The ride up the mountain is in a school-like bus. It’s a steep climb with a few sharp drop-offs, and the bus driver jokingly warns those who are afraid of heights not to look out the window. I wished I had sat on the window side (the right side going up) to see all of the incredible views of the lake.

After the bus, there are some great spots to photograph the lake and bridges in the distance.

Then you can explore their small museum.

Touring the caverns

After leaving the bus and exploring the small museum, it’s a very short walk to the cavern entrance. From there, you’ll make your way into the earth to explore the underground wonderland.

Your tour guide will lead you through a maze of spectacular limestone formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, and other strange and beautiful rock formations that have grown over millions of years.

It takes 100 years for formations like stalactites to grow a quarter-inch to an inch! Knowing that made it even more fascinating to see the size of the formations.

Our guide, Rachel, was great with the kids on the tour. My son wanted to follow right behind her the whole time (so he could be first in each cavern room), and she was happy to let him be her sidekick. As we walked around, she told him lots of cool facts and engaging stories. In the end, she also gave each little one a small piece of limestone for them to keep.

Overall, touring Lake Shasta Caverns is an adventure you won’t want to miss! The mesmerizing natural formations and captivating geological history will leave you in awe. It’s truly an unforgettable experience.

Tour Timeline

We booked the 2 P.M. tour online on a Friday and arrived 30 minutes early. The booking confirmation states that you should arrive 15 minutes early, which is when we started walking down to the boat.

I can’t say this is the exact timeline for all of their tours, but this was our experience.

What to bring

The temperature inside the caverns is a cool 58 degrees, but has a 90% to 95% humidity level which can raise the temperature to 68-72 degrees. Be sure to bring a jacket or sweater (even in the summer months). If it’s cold outside, the boat ride will be chillier than inside the caverns, as it was for us.

You’ll also want comfortable walking shoes or boots. I wore cold-weather snow boots, but I would have been fine in running or walking shoes.

If it has been raining, they informed us the cavern really starts dripping a few days later, so you might want to bring a rain poncho if you don’t have a hooded jacket. When we visited, a storm was coming in, so it wasn’t too wet. I did pull my hood over my head a few times.

• jacket
• comfortable shoes for walking
• camera
• rain poncho if it’s been raining and you don’t have a hooded jacket

Other caverns to visit in the United States

I did not realize how many caverns can be toured in the United States. Here’s a list of 90 other caverns to explore, two of which are located outside the U.S. in Barbados and Bermuda.

Many of these close temporarily during cold seasons, so be sure to check the websites linked below before planning a visit.

Related posts to help you plan a trip to Redding

• Fun Things to Do in and Around Redding
• Redding Recommendations Quick Guide
• Burney Falls, the Definition of a Hidden Gem