Established Camping
Castle Lake Campground
Closed For the Season
This campground is closed for the season from October 2, 2023 through June 14, 2024.
Closed For the Season
This campground is closed for the season from October 2, 2023 through June 14, 2024.
About
National Forest
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Description: This small primitive campground is nestled in a thick mixed conifer forest approximately __ mile below Castle Lake. There are 6 sites with tables, fire rings and vault toilets. Bring your own water. 3-night limit. No fee. No reservations. Not recommended for large vehicle or trailers. Usually opens around the end of May depending on when the snow melts, and usually is closed by snow around the first of November. Features: Visitors may walk or drive the short distance to the lake. Castle Lake is a pristine glacial cirque lake with granite cliffs and clear water, one of the most popular attractions in the Mt. Shasta area. Hiking, swimming, fishing, and flat-water kayaking are favorite activities here. There are a few hiking trails to explore including the short and easy Shoreline Trail on the west side of the lake.Special note about Castle LakePlease be aware that Castle Lake is partially situated on private property.__ The traditional trail to Heart Lake and Little Castle Lake leaves the east end of the parking area and ascends to the divide__above the east side of the lake. It begins on public land in section 24 of T39N R5W but immediately crosses the boundary of section 19 of T39N R4W. This entire section of land (about 640 acres) is privately owned property and posted as such. There is no legal access across this section to these lakes. Please be respectful and avoid trespassing. However, the west shore of the lake is public and__features a short trail with easy access to the water.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TPoor
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Phone Service
- Toilets
- Alcohol
Easy to get to and unbelievable beauty.
Years ago you could camp right on the lake in primitive walk in spots, now that is not allowed. There is a small campground with just a few spots down the road a quarter mile but it's rare to find an empty spot there. The lake has grown in popularity over the years and if you want to secure a day spot on the lake's edge plan on getting there first thing in the morning. People do also disperse camp about another mile down the road in a gravel pull out area. Castle Lake is easy to get to via Castle Lake road which is paved the entire way.
Excellent camping!
The first thing to know about this campground, is that there are only 6 camp sites, and it is all first come first serve, and it's free. I got there on a Thursday to be sure we got a spot, and already 4 of the 6 were taken. Since there is only 6 sites, it was super quiet all the time. I'm not sure which site we had, but it was at the end of the road, and set far back in to the forest. We couldn't see anyone else, and no one could see us. We loved the privacy! Castle Lake was a short drive up the road, and it is a very popular lake. There was tons of people there fishing, hiking, paddling, taking pics.... There are trails to get to Heart Lake, which is a smaller lake, but great views of Mt Shasta from there. It is about a 20 minute drive to get back to town, so if you needed anything it would be easy to just pop down. There was reception at the campground about 80% of the time.
- (4) View All
Great spot!
There’s only 6 sites on the campground and we were lucky and got the last one available. It’s a perfect amount of space between campsites, and it’s free. 3 night maximum. The walk to the lake is easy and the lake itself is wonderful! I would stay here again.
Location
Castle Lake Campground is located in California
Directions
From Mt. Shasta city, head west on Lake Street over the freeway and to the stop sign at Old Stage Road. Turn left (south) and drive 1/4 mile to a fork in the road. Stay to the right at the fork and continue on this road (W.A. Barr Road). In 2 miles you will cross the dam at Lake Siskiyou and then you will see the turnoff for Castle Lake. Turn left and drive the paved road 7 miles to the lake. castle Lake Campground is located 1/4 mile below the lake on the left (east) side of the road.
Coordinates
41.2356673 N
122.3790052 W