Public boat ramps at Shasta Lake (launch ramps)

Shasta Lake, California, USA Tourism and recreation information Boat Safe and Sober

Houseboat Info

Public Boat Ramps at Shasta Lake

IMPORTANT: At certain Shasta Lake water levels some boat ramps may be closed or have reduced lanes. (Please see ramp chart at bottom of the page.) For the latest info on boat ramps please call Shasta Recreation Company or the Shasta Lake Visitor Information Center.

Shasta Recreation Company
(530) 275-8113

Shasta Lake Visitor Information Center
U.S. Forest Service
(530) 275-1589

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Map of Public Boat Ramps (94K- JPEG file)

Locator Map (Google)

Locator Map (ShastaLake.com)

Boat Ramp info at U.S. Forest Service website

Public Boat Ramps with Accessible Loading Platforms

Boat launching facilities info

Boat launch Fee info

Lake Level (Water Level)

Annual Boating Pass sales outlets ($100)
Without the pass you pay the usual $8 launch/parking fee for each launch. The pass can only be used at the public boat ramps (see below), not the privately-owned marina ramps.

Download this document in Adobe Acrobat format (.PDF, 439K)

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(February 25, 2010) - PUBLIC BOAT RAMP CONDITIONS
Please call the phone numbers above for the latest, most accurate and detailed information.

Antlers
Google map
OPEN - (dock in place)
On the upper Sacramento River Arm adjacent to Antlers Campground. Picnicking, restrooms, fee. Exit I-5 at Antlers Road. 1/2 mile.

Bailey Cove
Google map
OPEN - (dock in place)
On the lower McCloud River Arm in Bailey Cove Campground area. Picnicking, restrooms, fee. (Not recommended on summer weekends due to excessive congestion, consider using Packers Bay.) Exit I-5 at O'Brien, take Shasta Caverns Road 1 mile to Bailey Cove Road.

Centimudi
Google map
OPEN - (dock in place)
Near Shasta Dam, northwest of Shasta Lake City. Restrooms, fee, picnicking nearby. (Not recommended on holiday weekends due to excessive congestion, consider using Packers Bay.) Exit I-5 at Lake Boulevard or Shasta Lake City on Shasta Dam Boulevard, take Lake or Shasta Dam Boulevard to Summit City.

Hirz Bay
Google map
OPEN - (dock in place)
On the Upper McCloud River Arm adjacent to Hirz Bay Campground. Restrooms, fee. Exit I-5 at Gilman Road, 10 miles to Hirz Bay.

Jones Valley
Google map
OPEN - (dock in place)
On the Pit River Arm at its confluence with the Squaw Valley Creek Arm near the Jones Valley Campground. Restrooms, fee. Exit at Oasis Road or Mountain Gate then east to Bear Mountain Road, 9 miles. (Not recommended on holidays or summer weekends due to congestion.)

Packers Bay
Google map
OPEN - (dock in place)
On the Lower Pit River Arm adjacent to the Packers Bay Marina. Picnicking, restrooms, fee. Northbound traffic exit at O'Brien and join southbound 1-5 traffic. Exit at Packers Bay Road, 1 mile.

Sugarloaf
Google map
OPEN - (no dock)
On the Upper Sacramento River Arm in the Sugarloaf area of Lakehead. Fee. Services nearby. Exit I-5 at Lakeshore Drive, then south 2 miles on Lakeshore Drive.

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Where to launch . . .

Shasta Lake's many arms and bays and its varied terrain make the lake seem like several lakes rather than one. Launching facilities are located convenient to most areas. Both National Forest and commercial ramps are available.

The Shasta-Trinity National Forests maintain six launching facilities. Each has a paved ramp, a lighted parking area (except Hirz Bay), and restrooms. The ramps are usually open all year, however they may be closed when the parking lots fill up or lake debris causes launching to be hazardous. Centimudi Bay, Jones Valley, and Bailey Cove often fill up on Holiday Weekends. Antlers and Centimudi are most likely to have debris problems, especially in the spring months. Many of the commercially operated marinas also operate launch ramps. Services and fees vary with each marina.

When the lake levels are drawn down more than 50 feet, some ramps close. Others are moved to alternate locations. Check with the Forest Service at the Shasta Lake Information Center, (530) 275-1589, for current lake and boat ramp conditions.

LAUNCHING TIPS . . .
Prepare the boat at the loading area at the top of the ramp, and then with everyone out of the boat, slowly back down the ramp until the stern of the boat is in deep enough water to float free when it is pushed off the trailer. With someone holding the bow line, unlock the tilt latch, safety chain and winch and cast off. Push the boat off the trailer into the water.

Clear the ramp. Remember . . . other boaters may be waiting. Lock your vehicle and don't leave valuables visible inside. Parking is not permitted on the paved portions of the ramps. Vehicles left unattended may be towed away.

Courtesy docks are available at the public ramps during the summer to load passengers and any available cargo. Again, remember that ramps are often a busy place. There is a 15 minute limit on ramp use time. Boats 26 feet and longer are prohibited from tying up.

At the end of the day, when the boat is removed from the lake, be sure to secure the tie-down and check the hitch on the car. If the motor is clamped to a transom, check the clamps before starting out . . . they could have loosened from vibration while on the water.

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How lake levels affect public boat ramps

To use the chart below, you will need to know the "drawdown" of the lake. Since the "full lake" elevation is 1067', you simply subtract the current elevation from 1067' to find the drawdown. Or you can simply click here for the latest lake level and drawdown readings.


Click here for a larger version of this table