Lakehead, California travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Lakehead is a city in the Shasta Cascades region of California.

5 places to eat · 6 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 100°F; winter lows dip to about 37°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby Redding)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
RDD Redding Municipal Airport, Redding — 28 mi away. Directions
ACV California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport, Arcata/Eureka — 90 mi away. Directions
SMF Sacramento International Airport, Sacramento — 158 mi away (major hub). Directions

Lakehead is located at the northernmost part of Shasta Lake and is the only town that is actually on Shasta Lake. If you are coming up from the south you will enjoy the drive through Shasta Trinity National Forest which starts at the southern end of Shasta Lake, if you are coming from the north you will pass by Mt. Shasta and Castle Crags, both of which are spectacular sights.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

Get in

By motor vehicle

By houseboat

If you're going to Lakehead by houseboat you will be traveling up the Sacramento river arm of the lake. The Sacramento river arm of the lake is a mecca for water sports. There are two marinas in Lakehead proper, Antlers and Sugarloaf.

Get around

If you go here, go by car or RV. Much of Lakehead is on the mainland (not on the shore).

See

Shasta Caverns

There are really three parts to touring Shasta Caverns: the trip by boat, by bus, and by foot (the latter being in the Caverns themselves).

By boat

You start out in a 65-ft. catamaran across Shasta Lake. This is your time to ignore the annoying tour guide and take in the scenery outdoors when you can. If you're interested in geography, then you probably actually should pay a little attention to the guide.

By bus

If you're an animal lover, you'll enjoy this. There are bald eagles, ospreys, falcons, mountain lions, bobcats, black bears, and black-tailed deer here.

In the Caverns

Inside, there are some nice formations. The path winds along a normally dark path, but it is lighted.

Do

Water sports

No matter what your preference of type of water sport, you will find it at Shasta Lake.These include, but are not limited to: swimming, boating, fishing, rafting, and water skiing.