Shasta National Forest maintains Hirz Bay Campground along the forested hillside above Shasta Lake, roughly 30 minutes from the highway by road. Sites sit under heavy tree cover, which keeps temperatures manageable during the hot summer months the campground is open, from April through September. Not all sites are level, so RV campers with rigs up to 50 feet should expect to do some positioning. Bears are active here. Multiple recent visitors report encounters in camp, including one large black bear that worked through sites checking bear boxes before dawn, so food storage discipline matters.
The campground is not directly on the water. Reaching the lake requires a steep 10-minute walk down through the woods, and the climb back up is strenuous. Driving to the nearby boat launch is the easier option for anyone planning to fish or swim. Water access at the launch area is workable on one side; other spots along the shoreline can be muddy or difficult to reach. Wild blackberries grow in the area, and the cove accessible from the trail has drawn swimmers during summer heat. Facilities include drinking water, flush toilets with sinks, and trash service, and reviewers consistently note the bathrooms are kept clean.
Reservations are available, and the campground can accommodate large groups. One party of 14 used a single site without issue, noting the generous dimensions. Poison oak and evening mosquitoes are present, so come prepared. Campers who want a group-specific setup nearby can look at Hirz Bay Group 1 — Shasta Trinity National Forest or Dekkas Group Campground, about a mile to the northeast, as alternatives in the campgrounds around Shasta National Forest.
Description
Overview
Hirz Bay Campground is nestled among Manzanita and oak trees on a hilltop overlooking the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake. The scenic location offers a variety of recreational activities, including a nearby boat ramp for water sports and a hiking trail.
Recreation
The nearest boat launch is about 1 mile away at Hirz Bay. Resorts on the lake have watercraft rentals and marinas with fuel. Popular water activities include power and non-motorized boating, fishing and water skiing. Lake Shasta offers excellent fishing for trout, catfish, Chinook salmon, crappie, bluegill, white sturgeon, brown bullhead and bass. Hikers can access the 2-mile Hirz Bay Trail from the campground.
Facilities
Each campsite contains a paved parking spur, a table, a bear-proof food locker and one fire ring. This campground has a pay phone, drinking water, flush toilets and an overflow parking area.
Natural Features
Shasta-Trinity is the largest national forest in California with a diverse landscape encompassing five wilderness areas, hundreds of mountain lakes and 6,278 miles of streams and rivers. Lake Shasta sits at an elevation of 1,067 feet, with 365 miles of shoreline punctuated by steep mountains blanketed in manzanita and evergreens. A snow-capped Mount Shasta, the second-tallest mountain in the Cascade Range, looms in the distance.
Nearby Attractions
Lake Shasta Caverns are also located on the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake in an area know as the Grey Rocks. Tours are given daily at this privately owned facility. The nearby Hirz Mountain Lookout offers panoramic views of Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen and the surrounding area at an elevation of 3,500 feet.
Fee Info
If the reservation was made through recreation.gov please call 1-877-444-6777 to make a refund request. Refunds must be requested no later than 14 days before your scheduled arrival date for a full refund (excluding recreation.gov fees). Reservation Fee: For some facilities, an additional reservation fee is charged. This additional non-refundable fee is $10.00 for the call center and online reservations. Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for cash payments will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. For cash or check refunds please call us at 530-275-8113. Please Note! Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy. Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure the Recreation.gov will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates and sites (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be canceled and all fees paid will be refunded. Refunds for Naturally Occurring Events: Refunds will not be issued for naturally occurring events like rain, snow, wind, smoke, extreme temperature, low lake level, etc. If you are requesting a refund for a walk-up site, please contact the host on-site or call us 530-275-8113. All refunds must be approved and issued through our office or processed though Recreation.gov.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsHirz Bay Campground is located in California near Sugarloaf
Directions
From Redding, CA, remain on I-5 to Gilman Road. (From the north, take Salt Creek exit to Gilman Road). Take Gilman Road east for 11 miles to entrance of Hirz Bay.
Address
Gilman Road Exit off of Interstate 5
Lakehead, CA 96051
Coordinates
40.8666667 N
122.2530556 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage
VerizonLTESome Coverage- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
