Search Continues for 22-Year-Old Missing Kayaker on Lake Shasta

LAKEHEAD, Calif. — Authorities and volunteers are continuing an active search for 22-year-old Maxziel Castro, who was reported missing after failing to return from a solo kayaking trip on Lake Shasta.

It was reported that on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, around 6 p.m., Castro left the 19000 block of Lower Salt Creek Road in Lakehead to go kayaking. He did not return home, prompting family members to report him missing the following day.

On Wednesday, June 3, deputies located Castro’s vehicle at the Lower Salt Creek Boat Launch. Later that morning, members of the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Boating Safety Unit found an unoccupied kayak partially submerged in the Salt Creek Inlet. A paddle and other personal items were discovered nearby along the shore.

Deputies immediately issued an At-Risk Missing Person BOLO. The California Highway Patrol Air Operations provided aerial support, while the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team assisted with searches from above. Despite these coordinated efforts, Castro was not located.

On Thursday, June 4, the Boating Safety Unit deployed side-scan sonar, and members of the Sheriff’s Office Dive Team searched the waters where the kayak was recovered. No sign of Castro was found.

Search operations remain ongoing. The Sheriff’s Office is using sonar technology and additional equipment to investigate potential targets, conducting shoreline checks, and coordinating with air operations as resources allow. At the family's request, volunteer groups have also conducted land and water searches, with deputies providing safety patrols to protect searchers from boating traffic in the area.

The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office continues to work closely with Castro’s family and says efforts will persist with further sonar scanning and systematic checks.

Anyone with information about Maxziel Castro’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office at 530-245-6025.

As the summer recreation season ramps up on Lake Shasta and other waterways, authorities are reminding the public to prioritize safety. Boaters and paddlers should always carry proper safety equipment and — most importantly — wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) at all times while on the water.

This case serves as a sobering reminder of the potential dangers of open-water activities, even on familiar lakes during favorable conditions.