Sacramento River
Photo by Avery Bliss
Welcome to Redding!
Located in the heart of UpState California, the picturesque city of Redding is an outdoor sports recreation haven. As the sunniest city in California, with 300 days of sunshine per year, Redding offers a versatile sports destination for any event in any season.
Shasta Lake is pristine and inviting for swimming, boating or any kind of paddling, which is why TIME Magazine labeled Redding as the “unofficial capital of kayaking.” The Sacramento River runs right through the city and the famous trout-filled waters put Redding on Forbes’ list of “Top 10 Fishing Towns in North America.” The 11 national and state park designations nearby offer cycling and running events to take center stage with a scenic backdrop.
Stepping aside from the natural attractions, the California Soccer Park and the Redding Sports Park complexes offer nine combined lighted and all-weather synthetic turf fields for year-round activity. The stateof-the-art Redding Aquatic Center features an Olympic-size, 50-meter by 25-yard competition class swimming pool. The area also is home to several golf courses, which offer a variety of challenging play along with stunning views.
For athletes, families and visitors, when not competing, there are a ton of things to do—whether it’s taking advantage of the recreation and amazing natural beauty of the area, exploring the vibrant downtown scene, shopping, dining or just relaxing.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Swimming, Fishing & Water Sports
With a river running through town, lakes right next door, and over 300 days of sunny weather, Redding is an ideal destination for watersports!
Boaters love Shasta Lake for it’s calm waters, making it a popular destination for watersports of all kinds. It’s also popular with fishermen – the lake’s excellent bass fishing has attracted more than one fishing tournament. Shasta Lake has over 360 miles of shoreline when full, so there’s plenty of room for events.
The serene beauty surrounding Whiskeytown Lake is hard to beat. The lake is especially popular with paddlers - there’s a reason TIME Magazine called Redding the “unofficial capital of kayaking!” Whiskeytown is also home to a passionate community of sailors – the Whiskeytown Sailing Club has been holding their annual sailboat regatta on the lake since 1964.
The Sacramento River is an undeniable part of local life. Floats and regattas regularly take place on it, eagerly attended by a community happy to celebrate the town’s centerpiece. The river is also a popular fishing spot – the fly fishing is fantastic, and anglers flock to the river for its supply of trout.
Facility Highlight: Redding Aquatic Center
The Redding Aquatic Center complex features an Olympic size, 50-meter by 25-yard competition class swimming pool, and plenty of space to stretch out between races.
Soccer & Field Sports
The California Soccer Park is a one-of-a kind, “state-of-the-sport” 22-acre facility that was designed to offer an exceptional soccer experience, with unique features and amenities. This includes four all-weather synthetic turf NCAA regulation-sized lighted fields, which provide yearround play. Each soccer field has permanent benches in the team area along with misting stations for players, with drinking water provided.
Paved walkways weave throughout the park, and the seating around the fields is elevated. There’s also a full-service restaurant with more than 2,000 square feet of covered seating, equipped with ceiling fans and misting stations. From the covered seating area, spectators can view the action on all four fields. Playgrounds and other equipment are available for younger attendees.
Baseball & Softball
Conveniently located off Highway 44, just five miles east of I-5, Redding Sports Park’s 30-acre complex features scaled down replicas of Boston’s Fenway Park, New York’s Yankee Stadium, and Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field. The five all-weather turf fields contain electronic scoreboards, lights, and stadium seating to accommodate baseball and softball. The park also includes batting cages, outdoor sand volleyball courts, and a 20,000-square foot field house available for indoor soccer, hockey, or basketball leagues and tournaments.
Running & Races
With over 225+ miles of trails, Redding is a hub for runners of all sorts! Dirt trails through scenic wilderness offer the perfect terrain for trail runs (Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is a local favorite), while paved trails like the Sacramento River National Recreation Trail are great for marathons and fun runs alike.
The locals have a passion for trails around here - Redding is rightfully proud of its trail system! The city government and local advocacy groups work together to ensure that Redding’s trails are in perfect condition for both locals and visitors to enjoy. When you choose Redding, you’re sure to find beautifully maintained trails ready for your event, and a community excited to share its trails with you!
Event Highlight: Redding Marathon
The annual Redding Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier. The route follows the Sacramento River National Recreation Trail, beginning at Shasta Dam and finishing at the Sundial Bridge.
Chappie-Shasta OHV Area
Off-Highway Vehicles
Redding already boasts 225+ miles of well-maintained trails to hike, bike, walk, run or ride, which has led to the San Francisco Chronicle calling it the “gem of the U.S. trail system.” But the more daring enthusiasts have another 250+ miles of trails waiting to be conquered in the Chappie-Shasta Off-Highway Vehicle Area!
Load up your toys and navigate through BLM land and the ShastaTrinity National Forest to shred the off-road trails in your 4x4 vehicle, or find the smaller tracks for ATVs and dirt bikes. The terrain takes you through dozens of creek crossings and steep hill climbs, and includes a large staging area on the river with new facilities. To top it off, stunning scenic views of the Three Shastas (Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake and Mt. Shasta), the Sacramento River, and the Trinity Alps accompany your entire ride. There’s a reason it’s a favorite for local events - the Redding Dirt Riders put on the Shasta Dam Grand Prix every April for two days of racing with youth, women, and pro riders.
Location Highlight: Chappie-Shasta OHV Area
Chappie-Shasta OHV Area has more than 250 miles of roads and trails for motorcyclists, all-terrain vehicle drivers and four-wheelers. The area is near Shasta Dam and Shasta Lake, and is open year-round.
Other Sports
GOLF
Redding is home to several golf courses, which offer challenging play along with stunning views. Among the top courses are Gold Hills Golf Club, Grape Ranch Golf Club, Riverview Golf & Country Club, and Tierra Oaks Golf Club, along with a few nine hole courses.
PICKLEBALL
Redding’s Pickleball offerings continue to grow with courts in multiple locations and an active Pickleball community!
TENNIS
Redding is home to multiple tennis courts. The Sun Oaks gym features six outdoor and three indoor courts, and more courts can be found at the parks and sports facilities around the city.
RACING
Start your engines! Redding is home to two racing facilities, the Shasta Speedway racecourse, and the Redding Motorsports Park dragstrip. Shasta Speedway is the only paved racetrack in Shasta County, and can fit 3,000 people in its grandstands. Redding Motorsports Park can host up to 300 cars for drag racing, drifting, car shows, and more.
Other Venues
REDDING CIVIC AUDITORIUM
The Redding Civic Auditorium is an excellent venue for a wide variety of events. The indoor facilities can host over 2,000 people, and the front lawn can host groups of 5,000 or more. Located in the heart of Redding, with easy access to the Sacramento River and trails, it’s the perfect place for your event.
SHASTA DISTRICT FAIR AND EVENT CENTER
The Shasta District Fair & Events Center sits on 65 acres and has a number of different areas available for rent. All together it is over 50,000 square feet of space in a park like setting.
HISTORIC HAWES FARMS
Historic Hawes Farms is happy to rent out their spacious fields to events of all kinds - they’ve hosted everything from festivals to mud runs! With 5.7 acres of parking and over 5 acres of activity space they can host groups up to 5,000 in size.
REDDING RODEO GROUNDS
The Redding Rodeo Grounds is home to an outdoor arena that can seat more than 5,000, and up to 6,100 with added bleacher seating. This venue can hold all types of activities. The lighted venue joined a select group of rodeo sites in 2016 when it became an inductee into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Historic Hawes Farms