Go ahead take the adventure of Shasta Caverns, your family will love exploring the Shasta caves!

There are two options laid out for you and your family if you like caves. Shasta Caverns is located across Shasta Lake and must be accessed by a boat ride with a guide. Shasta Caverns provides a 2 hour guided tour of the brilliant crystals and white stone deposits in miniature waterfalls. The highlight of this tour is when the guide turns off the lights

If you or your children are into geology, Shasta caverns will provide a great bit of entertainment and education for you. The caverns were first known as Chalk Cave, then as Baird Cave (after the first U.S. Fish Commissioner Spencer F. Baird). In 1955 an attorney from Washington decided the phenomenom of the caves should be preserved; so she bought the place. She then formed Lake Shasta Properties, Inc. with several other men, obtained a land lease from the U.S. Government, and opened up the caves to the public in May of 1964.

While you are at the visitor center and gift shop, you can even take your kids gold panning in their gemstone sluice.

The directions to Shasta Caverns are clearly marked along Interstate 5. It is about 15 miles north of Redding, CA and you will take the Shasta Caverns Rd. exit #695. If you have rented a boat and want to get there by boat, you will take the McCloud Arm, northeast from Holiday Harbor Marina. After visiting Shasta Caverns you may be in the mood for a little more adventure. Samwel Cave offers a chance to not only see magnificent stalagmites and stalactites, but also an opportunity to go spelunking in a cave system that is rich in legend and history. According to an old Native American Wintu legend: three girls went to an old woman asking where they could find good, strong men. The old lady told them to go to Samwel cave and bathe in the pool. At that pool they would find brave men. The 3 girls went to the cave, but while there, one of the girls fell in the darkness to her death. In the early 1900's, a team of anthropologists did actually find a skeleton of a Native American girl, at the bottom of the pit.

Before going to the cave you need to firest get a key to the locked entrance. You can get this key at the Shasta Lake Visitor Information Center or call (530)275-1589. This key and permit are free to obtain, but you need to know that the U.S. government is not liable or responsible for any injuries or damage to your property. If you become injured and rescue services are requested, you may be held accountable for costs incurred. At the station you can get a map of the cave and directions to the place, as it is a little tough to find. The long and short of it is that you will drive north on I-5 to the Salt Creek/Gilman Road exit (after you cross the bridge over Shasta Lake-20 miles north of Redding, CA). Once on Gilman road (heading east-or right), you will drive for about 30-40 minutes until you cross the McCloud bridge. Here you will head up a gravel road (to the right after the bridge) for about 1.5 miles. You will see a little marked parking lot that you can park in. To the right of the parking sign, you will see a little path. Go down this path, staying to the left at the forks, until you arrive at the entrance. Remember to lock the entrance gate behind you as you enter the cave. This is a safety precaution because you don't want someone coming into the cave behind you without a key and you locking them in.

Once you get to Samwel, you should be prepared with proper lighting (preferably a headlamp) and good sneakers or good boots. It is also advisable to wear some kind of head gear, since bumping your head on the low overhangs is a common occurance. You would also be well advised to where clothing that you don't mind getting dirty. Afterall spelunking is a dirty business, you are on your hands and knees most of the time, squeezing through holes you never thought possible!