The Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area (WST-NRA) has a total of 246,087 acres (99,588 ha) of land, which is divided into the Shasta, Trinity, and Whiskeytown Units.

[3] Each of the units encompasses a large reservoir (man-made lake) and its surrounding natural features, habitats, and terrain.

[4] Of the eighteen National Recreation Areas under Forest Service management in the U.S., the Shasta–Trinity Units are somewhat unusual, being made up of three large reservoir lakes set in scenic and protected foothill locales with diverse recreation opportunities.

Public recreation facilities and amenities within the Shasta Unit include boat ramps, campgrounds, shoreline picnic areas, and hiking/equestrian/mountain biking trails.

When full, the lake has 370 miles (600 km) of shoreline, which exceeds that of San Francisco Bay.