Extended Weekend Getaways - July 2023 Issue

Western States Featured

Water Sports in Redding

By Wendy Lee

Summer is finally here and the temperatures are rising quickly. So, it’s the ideal time to head to a local lake or river and cool off. Redding just might be the best city in the west for watersports. I recently discovered this small city in Northern California and couldn’t get enough time on the water. After just three days in town, I am eager to return soon.

Kayaking Along

The Sacramento River

I arrived in Redding in the early afternoon and by evening I was kayaking along the Sacramento River which intersects the town. My husband and I live near the Pacific Ocean and kayak regularly, but this was my first time trying it on a river.

Our guides from Headwaters Adventure Company unloaded the kayaks from their truck, passed around the lifejackets, and finally pushed us into the water. We began with a paddle upstream so we could enjoy the view of the sunset over the mountains. The blue sky soon turned pink and purple and the trees surrounding the river were reflected in the water. The only thing breaking the silence was birdsong. After thirty minutes we turned our kayaks around and enjoyed an easy float along the current back to the shore. This was a lovely way to end my first day in Redding.

Learning To Fly Fish

We were up early the next morning to go fly fishing. This was a new sport for me and I was eager to try it. Once again we headed to the Sacramento River where we met up with guides from The Fly Shop. I later learned that this shop opened in 1978 and is highly respected among fly fishers. I felt fortunate to have this level of expertise supporting me in my first experience.

My guide, Andrew, helped me into the drift boat, provided a safety briefing, and then set out to find a fishing spot. It was a warm and sunny day, and even if I wasn’t fishing, it was a lovely way to pass the time. But soon Andrew stopped and explained that this was a spot he frequently found fish. Then he began instruction. He demonstrated the proper way to cast and hold the line. After passing me the pole, I made my first attempt at casting and was successful.

Eventually, I hooked a fish and Andrew talked me through the process of reeling it in, allow the fish to pull on the line, then reel it in a bit and repeat. Unfortunately, the fish got away shortly after surfacing. I didn’t really care; just being on the river and trying something new was a blast. My trip was a half-day guided experience, but many people prefer to book a full day to maximize the opportunity to catch a fish. I might just do that next time. Most fly fishing in this area is catch and release, so don’t expect to take any fish home.

Exploring Shasta Lake

After a quick lunch in downtown Redding, we drove about a half hour north to Shasta Lake. I’ve lived in California for four decades and had always heard of Shasta Lake, but this was my first time seeing it. Formed as a result of Shasta Dam in 1944, this lake has a surface area of 30,000 acres and at its peak can hold 4.5 million acre feet of water. It’s a popular destination for boating, swimming, fishing, and water skiing. We only had time for a short ride on a pontoon boat, but this could easily be a destination for the day or even a weekend. There are numerous campsites available around the lake including those with RV hookups if you’d like to extend your visit.

Biking The Sacramento River Trail

If you enjoy being near the water, but not on it, consider biking along the Sacramento River. I had the opportunity to join a guided e-bike tour with Shasta Living Streets. The tour begins with a safety briefing and instruction on the proper use of an e-bike. Then we rode through town a few blocks before joining the Sacramento River Trail. My visit was in April, so we were fortunate to see blankets of wildflowers along the river. The trail was surprisingly hilly in places, so I was grateful to be on an e-bike. This is an ideal outdoor activity for all ages.

Sailing On Whiskeytown Lake

On my last day in Redding I had the opportunity to visit Whiskeytown Lake, part of the Whiskeytown Nation-

al Recreation Area, located about fifteen minutes west of Redding. While not nearly as well known as Shasta Lake, this is also an excellent destination for watersports. Today we were headed out on the water with the Redding Yacht Club. Our skipper for the afternoon was Mike, a long-time sailor and sailing instructor.

The best known feature of Whiskeytown Lake is its crystal clear waters which I immediately noticed. Gliding over the water surrounded by snow-capped mountains made for a lovely afternoon and an activity I’d definitely recommend when visiting. For more information about Redding’s watersports head to VisitRedding.com.