Website:https://www.lakeshastacaverns.com/ (Website)https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/1998/01/08/shasta-dam-californias-gold-912/ (Shasta Dam)
Description:Overview Lake Shasta Caverns, located at 20359 Shasta Caverns Rd, Lakehead, CA 96051, 17 miles north of Redding, California, off Interstate 5 (exit 695), is a National Natural Landmark in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. This unique site, accessible only by a catamaran ride across Shasta Lake and a bus ascent to the cavern entrance, offers a blend of stunning natural landscapes and dramatic underground settings, ideal for cinematic productions. Key Visual Features Shasta Lake Access: A 10-minute catamaran cruise across Shasta Lake, California’s largest reservoir with 365 miles of shoreline, provides panoramic views of sparkling waters, wooded coves, and distant Mount Shasta. Low summer water levels expose rocky terrain, enhancing rugged aesthetics. Mountain Ascent: A 10-minute bus ride up a steep, narrow mountain road climbs 800 feet, offering dynamic shots of winding paths and elevated lake vistas. Cavern Interiors: Eight limestone chambers, formed over 250 million years, feature stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, soda straws, and helictites. The Discovery Room and Crystal Palace are standout spaces with surreal, glistening formations, ideal for adventure, fantasy, or thriller genres. The caverns maintain a constant 58°F. Additional Assets: A WWII-era LCM-6 landing craft, visitor center with picnic areas, docks on both lake sides, and seasonal dinner cruises offer diverse shooting opportunities, from rustic to elegant sunset scenes. Logistical Considerations Accessibility: The site requires a boat and bus transfer, with 600+ steep, narrow stairs inside the caverns, posing challenges for equipment transport and accessibility. A wheelchair ramp is available to the boat dock. Climate: Summer temperatures often exceed 100°F; winter tours may face weather-related cancellations. The caverns are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Permits and Support: Film Shasta offers permit assistance, location libraries, and incentives like hotel rebates. Contact Lake Shasta Caverns at 800-795-2283 for docking or filming permissions. Wildlife: Bald eagles, black bears, and bats inhabit the area, offering potential for naturalistic footage but requiring caution. Virtual Scan: Explore the caves virtually at https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=Ttwy1c3vyTM. Production Notes Genres Suited: Adventure, fantasy, thriller, or nature documentaries, leveraging the caverns’ otherworldly interiors and the lake’s scenic beauty. Challenges: Narrow roads, stair-heavy cave access, and high summer heat require careful planning for crew and equipment. Unique Opportunities: The boat-bus-cave journey creates a narrative arc of exploration, while the lake’s dinner cruises offer elegant, sunset-lit scenes. Citations TripAdvisor Reviews Wikipedia Film Shasta Shasta County Destination Film Guide TripAdvisor Additional Reviews
Site Condition:The face of the dam is as big as six football fields and the spillway is the largest manmade waterfall in the world – three times the height of Niagara Falls. There are 18 outlets on the face of the dam, each big enough to drive a pickup through. Shasta Dam has the second largest mass of any dam in the United States.
General Notes:updated 5.8.24 bd/ updated by: [Doyle, Matthew] 8/1/2025 2:19:45 PM
Jurisdictions::Shasta County, SHASTA COUNTY FILM COMMISSION - FLICS / FILM SHASTA
Within 30-Mile Zone: N
State Property: No
Closed/Vacant: No
GPS Source:Google Maps (interactive), x coordinate: 40.5865396, y coordinate: -122.3916754
Contacts: Doyle, Matthew *530-238-2341 x-111 Phone 1[email protected]
Jurisich, Sabrina *Regional Film Commissioner, Film ShastaPO Box 1468, Anderson, CA 96007 USA530.710.7784 Phone 1[email protected]https://filmshasta.com/permits/
* Key Contact
