Best Campgrounds near Gazelle, CA

Camping areas around Gazelle, California range from established campgrounds to dispersed sites across the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Kangaroo Lake Campground, located directly in Gazelle, provides tent and RV sites in a forested setting with lake access. The broader region includes Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort offering cabins and glamping options, while Mount Shasta City KOA Holiday provides year-round accommodations with full hookups. Dispersed camping opportunities exist near Castle Lake, where primitive sites accommodate both tent and vehicle camping with views of Mount Shasta. Several campgrounds feature picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, though amenities vary significantly between developed and primitive sites.

Seasonal considerations heavily impact camping in the Gazelle area, with most campgrounds operating from late spring through fall. Kangaroo Lake Campground typically opens June through October, while some lower-elevation sites remain accessible year-round. Road conditions vary considerably, with dispersed areas often requiring higher clearance vehicles. Many forest service roads become impassable during winter months or after heavy rainfall. Cell service is limited in remote areas, particularly in canyon terrain and higher elevations. Permits are generally not required for established campgrounds, though reservations are recommended during peak summer months. As one camper noted about Castle Lake dispersed camping, "Great for tents/cars not so much for trailers. I made it down with my Tacoma and a 12ft travel trailer but it was a stretch. Super easy to get in, but took a long time to turn around and get back out."

The camping experience near Gazelle features notable mountain views and lake access. Mount Shasta dominates the landscape, visible from many campsites throughout the region. Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort receives consistently high ratings for its beach area and water recreation opportunities. A visitor mentioned, "The beach is equipped with all the water toys you could ask for. Kayaks, paddle boards, and pontoon boats are available to rent." Tent sites at Trailer Lane Campground are described as "nicely tucked away from the RV sites" with "great views of Shasta." Campers frequently mention the peaceful setting of mixed-use campgrounds despite their proximity to highways. Wildlife viewing opportunities are abundant, with many sites situated near streams or lakes that attract local fauna. Night skies in the more remote camping areas offer excellent stargazing due to minimal light pollution.

Best Camping Sites Near Gazelle, California (227)

    1. Trailer Lane Campground

    20 Reviews
    Weed, CA
    8 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)."

    2. Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort

    34 Reviews
    Mount Shasta, CA
    19 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!!!"

    3. Friendly RV Park

    9 Reviews
    Weed, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 938-2805

    "We had requested a pull-through and at first I was a little disappointed to find that our spot was right next to the entry road. "

    "Great location and spacious. Gorgeous Views Of Mount Shasta. Within Walking Distance To Restaurants And Convenience Store. Clean And Remodeled Restrooms/Showers. New Pet Areas"

    4. Mount Shasta City KOA Holiday

    17 Reviews
    Mount Shasta, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 926-4029

    $66 - $149 / night

    "For once a KOA not next to a freeway. Off the beaten path for a change. Nice grounds. I'm in a basic cabin. It's basic. No ac just a ceiling fan. Nice small queen bed with linens."

    "Nothing fancy schmancy, but roomy and woodsy, and convenient for our drive down California. :) highly recommend!"

    5. Waiiaka RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Yreka, CA
    14 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!"

    6. Topaz Lake RV Park

    1 Review
    Topaz, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 495-2357

    "You didn't have time to experience the lake or any other recreation, but it is a wonderful Park with great staff and other campers. I do hope to return someday."

    7. Kangaroo Lake Campground

    4 Reviews
    Callahan, CA
    14 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.""

    8. Dispersed Campsite near Castle Lake and Shasta

    9 Reviews
    Mount Shasta, CA
    20 miles

    "We stayed here exiting and entering CA. Exactly what we were looking for our one nighters. Lake Siskiyou is super close and was warm enough for a quick dip before hitting the road."

    "We did not hear any other campers even though there were at least 2 nearby. Google will try to get you to the coordinates but doesn’t know about the existence of the final dirt road to get you there."

    9. Mcbride Springs Campground

    5 Reviews
    Mount Shasta, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 926-4511

    $10 / night

    "The surrounding area is beautiful, and the town is nearby."

    "Very close to town about 10 minutes or so. You can also drive down the road farther and just get free dispersed camping."

    10. Castle Lake Campground

    9 Reviews
    Dunsmuir, CA
    21 miles
    Website

    "This is a great little campground located right near a beautiful lake and some great hiking."

    "Years ago you could camp right on the lake in primitive walk in spots, now that is not allowed. "

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Recent Reviews near Gazelle, CA

529 Reviews of 227 Gazelle 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!

  • William J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 11, 2025

    Point RV Park at Emigrant Lake

    Quiet camping in Ashland.

    Paved level pads and quiet. Clean bathrooms and showers. In mid-October, the lake is a little more than a big puddle but still fishable if you desire. Short hop to Ashland and many wineries in the area.

  • 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.


Guide to Gazelle

Camping spots near Gazelle, California range from small forest campgrounds to lakeside settings within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Located at elevations between 2,500 and 5,500 feet, the area experiences distinct seasonal changes with summer temperatures reaching the 90s and winter lows below freezing. The network of forest service roads provides access to both established campgrounds and remote camping areas, though some require high-clearance vehicles.

What to do

Hiking at Castle Lake: Castle Lake Campground provides access to trails leading to Heart Lake and Castle Peak. The hike is approximately 2 miles round-trip to Heart Lake with moderate elevation gain. A camper noted, "The main hiking trail takes you up to Heart Lake and then offers great views of Castle Lake and across to Mt. Shasta. It's only about a mile each way to Heart Lake and then another quarter mile or so to a nice lookout point."

Fishing access: Kangaroo Lake Campground offers convenient fishing opportunities directly from camp. The campground features a paved pathway to a fishing ramp with a short wall next 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," explains one visitor.

Paddle sports: Water recreation options include kayaking at Castle Lake and boat rentals at Lake Siskiyou. The lakes typically warm enough for swimming by late June. According to one camper at Lake Siskiyou, "We rented kayaks One day and the next we rented a pontoon boat and our friends joined us. We found a rope swing hanging on a tree and tied up and did some rope swing fun into the lake."

What campers like

Mountain views: Multiple campgrounds offer direct views of Mount Shasta. At the dispersed camping area near Castle Lake, one camper reports, "literally the best view of Mt Shasta ever. The roads to the campsites can get a bit narrow, so bringing in a trailer is a challenge, but we managed it."

Quiet forest settings: McBride Springs Campground provides secluded sites with sufficient spacing for privacy. A visitor mentioned, "It's one of the less expensive campgrounds in the state, has a group camp, and the sites are far enough apart to offer some privacy. It's very basic. No showers. But there are vault toilets."

Family-friendly water activities: Lake access at several locations provides swimming opportunities from late spring through fall. "The lake has a nice sandy beach. We rented kayaks One day and the next we rented a pontoon boat and our friends joined us," shares a Lake Siskiyou visitor.

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to higher elevation campgrounds can be challenging. The 7-mile road to Kangaroo Lake Campground requires careful driving. "Drive up isnt for the faint of heart though. But well worth the trek up," warns one camper. Another adds, "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."

Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds operate from late spring to fall, with specific opening dates varying by elevation. McBride Springs typically opens around Memorial Day and closes in October. Castle Lake Campground has only 6 sites and fills quickly during peak season.

Limited amenities: Many forest service campgrounds have vault toilets but no showers or drinking water. At Castle Lake Campground, "There are pit toilets, but no potable water," according to one visitor. Plan accordingly by bringing sufficient water supplies for your stay.

Tips for camping with families

Accessible features: Several campgrounds offer ADA-accessible facilities. A visitor to Kangaroo Lake noted, "It appears that a lot of the walkways and facilities are designed to accommodate people in wheelchairs or people with walkers. It looks like everything is maintained at a higher standard than I've seen at most Forest Service campgrounds."

Beach activities: Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort provides a sandy beach area with water toys available for rent. "We took 2 small children in a rented camper and went to this lake in a recommendation from friends in Mt. Shasta... short walk with our water toys to the nice sandy beach and lake," shares one camper.

Wildlife viewing: Morning and evening hours offer opportunities to spot local wildlife. At McBride Springs, "Deer wander through the campground and sometimes visit the tents," according to one review.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Trailer Lane Campground offers both RV and tent-only sections with different amenities. "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," reports one camper.

Level sites: Finding level parking is crucial for larger rigs. One RVer at Trailer Lane Campground noted, "Yes, the sites are mostly dirt and rock but our site was level and that is a big plus!! We could hear some traffic noise but not a problem for us."

Dispersed options: For those seeking more remote RV camping, dispersed sites near Castle Lake accommodate smaller rigs. "Great for tents/cars not so much for trailers," advises one camper about the dispersed camping area near Castle Lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Gazelle, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Gazelle, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 227 campgrounds and RV parks near Gazelle, CA and 19 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Gazelle, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Gazelle, CA is Trailer Lane Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 20 reviews.

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

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