Shasta Cascade State Parks

Shasta Cascade State Parks Overview

The state park system is responsible for almost a third of California's scenic coastline. State parks include underwater preserves, parks, redwood forests, plant and wildlife reserves, state beaches, recreation areas, wilderness areas, reservoirs, historic parks & homes, Spanish buildings, lighthouses, ghost towns, waterslides, conference centers, and off-highway vehicle parks. Below you'll find a list of the more popular Shasta Cascade state parks and ones we personally recommmend from the jagged views of Castle Crags to the popular shoreline of Lake Oroville.

Shasta Cascade State Parks

Castle Crags is located six miles south of Dunsmuir on interstate 5. Named for the jagged crags that were formed by glaciers, this park features 28 miles of hiking trails and swimming & fishing access to the Sacramento River.

Castle Crags
Lakehead, California 96051
(530) 235-2684 or (530) 225-2065
Map  |   Accommodations  |   Camping  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Plumas-Eureka is located five miles west of Blairsden on County Road A-14 off highway 70. The park features two lakes, a trout filled creek, historic gold era buildings, numerous hiking trails and a nearby ski resort. Activities include camping, fishing, hiking and skiing; both cross-country and downhill.

Plumas-Eureka
310 Johnsville Road
Blairsden, California 96103
(530) 836-2380
Map  |   Accommodations  |   Camping  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

McArthur-Burney Falls is located east of interstate 5 following Highway 299 to Highway 89 near Burney. Burney Falls is the featured attraction of this park. A large waterfall emits from a porous lava wall creating a larger waterfall than the surface creek would normally produce. Camping is near the falls along Burney Creek. Activities include camping, hiking and fishing.

TIPS: This is one of our favorite waterfalls for its unusual source within the wall and pure beauty. Lake Britton is just downstream and offers a swimming beach, hiking trails and boat rentals.

McArthur-Burney Falls
Burney, California 96013
(530) 335-2777
Map  |   Accommodations  |   Camping  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Lake Oroville State Recreation Area is located off highway 70 east of highway 99. Activities at this lake include camping, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, sail and power boating, water-skiing, fishing, swimming, boat-in camping and houseboating. Fishing is great for bass, salmon and steehead.

Lake Oroville
Oroville, California 95966
(530) 538-2200
Map  |   Accommodations  |   Camping  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Bidwell Park is located off highway 99 in the beautiful town of Chico. This is the only City Park we've placed on this page because its beauty and attractions rival any of the state parks. Broken into two segments, the lower park is accessible from Vallombrosa Avenue west of Highway 99. A golf course and large grass picnic areas exist but one of the highlights is Sycamore Pool, a very large portion of Chico Creek that is dammed in the summer and turned into a public pool. Another highlight are the picnic areas that exist in the lush forest of sycamore trees and dense ivy along the creek. The original Robin Hood was filmed here, so this is also known as 'Sherwood Forest'.
The Upper park can be accessed from East Avenue to the east of highway 99. This portion features trails for hiking and mountain biking, a lake for kids to fish in, swimming holes along Chico Creek and wonderful scenery of canyons carved into volcanic bluffs. A popular attraction is 'Bear Hole' swimming hole.
NOTE: See our Cool Towns page for more details about Chico.

WARNING: The swimming holes along Chico Creek can be very dangerous and DO take lives. Be careful to avoid chutes where you can become lodged between rocks. Swim in the calm portions of the pools.

Bidwell Park
Vallombrosa & Mangrove Avenues
Chico, California 95926
Map  |   Accommodations  |   No Website  |   Other Ideas

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