Best Campgrounds near Etna, CA

Camping options in Etna, California range from developed campgrounds to rustic sites within Klamath National Forest. The Etna City Park offers basic tent camping with restrooms and shower facilities, serving as a convenient stopover for Pacific Crest Trail hikers. Mountain Village RV Park (also known as Etna RV Park) provides full hookups with 42 sites for both RVs and tent campers. Several additional campgrounds are located within 30 miles, including Kangaroo Lake Campground which operates seasonally from June to October.

Many campgrounds in the region have seasonal operating schedules that align with mountain weather patterns. Kangaroo Lake Campground and Mulebridge Campground are typically open from May or June through October, while some facilities like Etna RV Park remain accessible year-round. The terrain varies considerably, with some sites situated at higher elevations that provide cooler temperatures even during summer months. Water access is a common feature at several sites, particularly at Kangaroo Lake. According to one visitor who stayed at the Etna City Park, "There's a large shelter with picnic tables and electric plug-ins to charge your phone. The town is small but within walking distance with restaurants and a coffee shop."

The natural setting around Etna attracts campers seeking both convenience and wilderness experiences. The area provides access to the Trinity Alps Wilderness and Klamath National Forest, with hiking trails and water features available near many camping areas. Developed sites typically include picnic tables, fire rings, and basic restroom facilities, though amenities vary significantly between locations. RV campers report positive experiences at Etna RV Park, with one camper noting, "Grassy, partially shaded, quiet sites with a little store, huge clean laundry, and the nice little town of Etna and all of its amenities right here." For tent campers, both established campgrounds and more primitive sites are available, offering flexibility for different camping preferences and needs.

Best Camping Sites Near Etna, California (205)

    1. Etna City Park

    2 Reviews
    Etna, CA
    0 miles
    Website

    "Shower tokens can be purchased at Ray's Market, located a few blocks away. Restrooms are open to the public. There is a charging station and hiker's box that was full of good stuff."

    2. Etna RV Park

    1 Review
    Etna, CA
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 467-5678

    $50 / night

    "And grassy, partially shaded, quiet sites with a little store, huge clean laundry, and the nice little town of Etna and all of its ammenities right here."

    3. Trailer Lane Campground

    20 Reviews
    Weed, CA
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 214-0010

    $30 - $60 / night

    "The tent only section is nicely tucked away from the RV sites. Nice for a campervan, but no hookups. Great views of Shasta and the cheapest option in Weed, it seems."

    "First of all, a quaint little park tucked into a wooded valley in Weed, CA.(just north of Mt. Shasta)."

    4. Kangaroo Lake Campground

    4 Reviews
    Callahan, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 468-5351

    "Most of the campsites have nice views of the mountains that surround the lake.  Some walk-in campsites are located close to the lake. "

    "There is a paved path way from the campground/parking lot to the lake. The path leads to a fishing ramp that has a short wall that is right next to the lake. There is also a small "beach.""

    5. Mulebridge Campground

    1 Review
    Sawyers Bar, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 493-2243

    "Idlewild is next to road, so went up 2 miles of gravel road to Mule Bridge. No clear ‘camping’ area, but 3 fire rings. About 9 cabins, on uphill side that are family-owned."

    6. Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort

    34 Reviews
    Mount Shasta, CA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 926-2618

    "The beach is sectioned off for social distancing. The camp sites are in the tall pine trees just steps away from the lake. I come back every year! Swimming in the lake is great!"

    "I have been to many lakes in northern California but nothing as perfect as this place. I accidentally booked a spot here at Siskiyou but meant to go to lake Shasta and boy was luck on my side!!!"

    7. Indian Scotty Group Site

    1 Review
    Greenview, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 468-5351

    $50 / night

    8. Waiiaka RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Yreka, CA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 842-4500

    $44 - $50 / night

    "My boyfriend & I stayed here when leaving from California, when we were having truck problems. We did like it, staff were super friendly. We didn’t make a reservation. Used good Sam discount."

    "FYI- this location does NOT offer any kind of discount, they are not a part of Good Sam nor do they give any discount for being a Dyrt Pro member, regardless of what the app says!"

    9. Lovers Camp Trailhead

    1 Review
    Greenview, CA
    16 miles

    "We just finished a backpacking trip in marble valley and sky high lakes area, both accessible about 5+ miles from the Lovers Camp Trailhead. It was absolutely beautiful!"

    10. Trail Creek Campground

    1 Review
    Sawyers Bar, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 493-2243

    "Trail Creek runs through the back of the campground and is beautiful!"

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Recent Reviews near Etna, CA

446 Reviews of 205 Etna Campgrounds


  • Connie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Waiiaka RV Park

    Good Enough For An Overnight

    FYI- this location does NOT offer any kind of discount, they are not a part of Good Sam nor do they give any discount for being a Dyrt Pro member, regardless of what the app says! We stayed here overnight while passing through town. We were lucky enough to get the last open spot, and it was small, thank goodness we only had our little pop-up camper! The park is decent, but nothing spectacular. The sites are small and very close together. It appears to be a lot of long term/full timers here. The park is close to the highway, so you hear a lot of road noise. The office is open 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, and they do sell little items you may need. There is a 24/7 laundromat with 2 small washers and dryers, both cost $2.00 a load (30 min wash & 60 min dry) Propane is available, we paid $3.69 a gallon. The bathrooms are fairly well kept, but they say they’re only open from 7:00 AM-10:00 PM, and they do charge for showers at 25 cents for 3 minutes. I had a terrible time with the women’s showers, it was about 7:30 PM, and not even 2 minutes into my shower and completely shampooed up, the water turned freezing cold and only a trickle of water coming out, I thought the time was up, so I added another quarter… I was wrong, that did nothing, so I toweled up and moved all of my stuff to the next shower stall and tried that shower… but, it was the same thing, only freezing water and a trickle. I called my husband and he walked me into the men’s bathroom and stayed with me so I could get rinsed off🤦‍♀️ oh, well, not the worst thing to ever happen… I will say, the woman working in the office the next morning was wonderful! We were able to stay a bit later than the 11:00 checkout… which was great since we had to run into town for some errands, and she even printed out some needed paperwork for us!

  • Connie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Trail Creek Campground

    Quiet Campground In the Klamath National Forest

    This is our second time camping in this campground. It’s out of the way and pretty remote, but quiet and peaceful. There are no hookups, but there is drinking water provided as well as vault toilets (which were pretty darn clean), and a bear proof trash can. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Generator use is allowed from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Last year in July when we visited there were maybe 3 other people here. This time in October (late in the season), we were the only ones here. The fee is $10.00 a night, or $5.00 with the pass/senior discount. There is ZERO cell service with T-Mobile, AT&T or Verizon. We did have Starlink with us and we were able to get signal, but it was spotty due to all the tree coverage. Trail Creek runs through the back of the campground and is beautiful!

  • Bobbi lee H.
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Lakehead Campground & RV Park

    Owner occupied rustic campground lots of good campsites and also some RV sites to plug in there is little cabins cabin tents type of uret and are great people here there's bathrooms in showers places to have picnics and then the back of the campground I'm sure you can bring a horse show and unload your horses and put up your own you know little enclosure pack with panels off of your horse trailer they don't mind dogs they're good people here it's right off I-5 down the road a bit there's more campgrounds in this area and it's just beautiful here I live at this campground there's only a few of us that are allowed to but it's open year round there's a pool a pool hall laundry services here also the owner is wonderful his name is Cecil

    Oh it's fun here I'm a quarter mile from Shasta lake we have a lot of people that come in for festivals up here lots of huge groups of people lots of families lots of boats lots of water sports everything you can imagine there's a few good restaurants up here but most of us love to barbecue and have a good time but the restaurants are awesome too they're all family owned and they're great the Klondike is my favorite

  • Alice P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    red fir campground

    Beautiful spot near Shasta

    Arrived here in my van late at night around 1:30am and easily found a spot a few hundred feet off the road. There were plenty of other cars around and someone pulled in right next to us at some point in the morning, but everyone was quiet and respectful. You can hear traffic from the road. Cell phone service is good.

    I happily woke up the morning to perfect weather and beautiful woods & scenery. I’d definitely stay here again.

  • WThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Rail Line Dispersed Site

    Quiet and convenient

    Easy to locate. Dirt is very soft making it difficult to drive off the beaten path without an all wheel drive. All season tires were a plus with our rear wheel drive sprinter van. It’s at the Western foot of Shasta. Great views.

  • marcus K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Trailer Lane Campground

    Ok Site

    Nice little campground just off the highway. We made reservations late in the day and arrived after dark. Email said to check “porch” for info but when we arrived it was not clear where to check in or find info. Not a big deal but we could not get bathroom codes til next day when another camper shared them.

    Keep in mind that its close to the highway and yes, road noise is quite loud. We turned on our fan and that blocked most of it. Fine stop for the night.

  • marcus K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort

    Nice but crazy smokey from campfires

    Checked in on a saturday night and got an RV campsite. The map showed the aote as being close to the water but uou ate actually quite a ways and cant even really see it.

    Site included a table and fire ring. Relatively spacious. Bathrooms not far and clean.

    On a down side, campground was super smokey. Felt like we were in the middle of a fire. Ugh. Would have tried to move if we were not so tired.

  • Kathleen M.
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Castle Lake Campground

    Quiet and beautiful!

    I loved my 2 nights at Castle Lake Campground.  I was the only one in the 6 campsites until late the first night. When I left, 4 sites had been used. I went in off season so it was quiet. No water, bring your own. But the sites are large and private and the trees are beautiful. All the downed firewood has been picked, but if you go up to the overflow parking area at the lake, there is a lot of downed wood there.

    There is a small creek that runs behind the campground that you can hear quietly running.

    The lake is a short walk up the hill (or drive) and has a couple of short hikes and a longer hike. Very popular. The lake is crystal clear and very serene. 

    The pit toilets are clean and there are bear proof trash cans. Of my 3 campsites on this trip, this one was the best.

  • Marie D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Jubilee Railroad Wilderness Lodge & Campground was Railroad Park Resort

    Nice campground

    Easy access to the highway without the noise. There is a dining railcar restaurant, camp host is great. We came in on a Thursday no reservation and had no problem snagging a roomy spot for our 30' towing a Jeep. Great in the woods feel with full hookups. Highly recommended. Bears are common in this area.


Guide to Etna

Dispersed camping options near Etna, California extend throughout the Klamath National Forest with sites located at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 7,000 feet. The region experiences distinct seasonal changes with summer highs averaging 85°F and winter temperatures often dropping below freezing. Camping season typically runs from late May through October when forest service roads remain accessible to most vehicles.

What to do

Fishing in mountain lakes: Kangaroo Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities in a scenic alpine setting. According to one visitor at Kangaroo Lake Campground, "A friend told me about this nearby mountain lake, and it did not disappoint!!! Had the place to myself & shared the lake with Bald Eagles."

Hiking trails: The Trinity Alps Wilderness provides numerous hiking options accessible from several Etna area campgrounds. A camper noted, "We just finished a backpacking trip in marble valley and sky high lakes area, both accessible about 5+ miles from the Lovers Camp Trailhead. It was absolutely beautiful! So much to do in that area and such great views."

River activities: The Salmon River offers opportunities for swimming, gold panning, and wildlife viewing. One visitor to Mulebridge Campground remarked, "Beautiful North Fork of Salmon, bubbling right next to camp. VERY little traffic & people."

Golfing nearby: For those seeking variety in activities, some camping areas provide easy access to golf courses. A reviewer noted, "With a golf course down the street and amazing views of Mt Shasta, Weed is a hidden gem."

What campers like

Peaceful mountain settings: Many campers praise the quiet natural environment found at the best places to camp near Etna. A visitor to Scott Mountain Campground shared, "It was pretty nice. We wanted to spread a little trail magic on the PCT while we were there and hopefully helped out a few people."

Accessible wilderness: The region offers genuine wilderness experiences without requiring extensive backcountry skills. According to one camper at Mulebridge Campground, "Wanting to re-experience Forks of the Salmon road, I picked either Idlewild or Mule Bridge as a destination. Forks of Salmon is EPIC, but not for the faint of heart."

Wildlife viewing: The area provides opportunities to observe diverse wildlife. One visitor mentioned, "Have seen deer and bears here," while another noted sharing a lake with bald eagles.

Clean facilities: Despite remote locations, many campgrounds maintain clean facilities. A camper at Kangaroo Lake noted, "It looks like everything is maintained at a higher standard than I've seen at most Forest Service campgrounds."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to some of the best camping spots near Etna requires navigating challenging roads. A reviewer at Kangaroo Lake Campground warned, "The 7-mile-long winding access road is narrow with a sharp drop-off on one side. It can be a little nerve-racking to negotiate with 2-way traffic."

Limited services: Most forest campgrounds have minimal amenities. A camper at Indian Scotty Group Site noted their site was "Very clean, nice site. A little bit of road noise. Great river for kids. $10 per night."

Water availability: Water sources vary seasonally. One camper mentioned, "Because the water supply had not yet been activated, the USFS peeps just let me stay in a walk-in site."

Fire restrictions: Fire regulations change throughout the season based on conditions. Always check current fire restrictions before planning to have a campfire as several campgrounds note "NO fires-allowed" during high fire danger periods.

Tips for camping with families

Accessible swim spots: Look for campgrounds with safe water access for children. A reviewer at Indian Scotty Group Site highlighted this benefit: "Great river for kids."

Playground facilities: Some camping areas include play equipment for children. At Etna City Park, a visitor noted, "There's a playground and restrooms."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Kids often enjoy observing local wildlife. One camper shared, "The fun part is the critters they have on site- chickens, turkeys, goats and quail. There is a fun little kid zone with several activities appropriate for the whole family."

ADA accessible options: Some sites specifically accommodate mobility challenges. A visitor to Kangaroo Lake Campground observed, "It appears that a lot of the walkways and facilities are designed to accommodate people in wheelchairs or people with walkers."

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Full-service sites are limited but available at specific locations. A visitor to Etna RV Park shared, "Grassy, partially shaded, quiet sites with a little store, huge clean laundry, and the nice little town of Etna and all of its amenities right here."

Size limitations: Many forest campgrounds cannot accommodate larger RVs. One camper noted, "The RV/tent sites are all well designed with good separation. Most of the campsites have nice views of the mountains that surround the lake."

Level sites: Finding level parking is important for RV camping. A reviewer mentioned, "Our site was level and that is a big plus!!"

Seasonal availability: RV sites with full hookups typically have longer operating seasons. One long-term visitor to Etna RV Park commented, "Came for a week and stayed a month and a half! We're section hiking the PCT so bump along in our 'base camp' RV."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Etna, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Etna, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 205 campgrounds and RV parks near Etna, CA and 19 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Etna, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Etna, CA is Etna City Park with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Etna, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 free dispersed camping spots near Etna, CA.

What parks are near Etna, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Etna, CA that allow camping, notably Klamath National Forest and Six Rivers National Forest.