Best Dispersed Camping near McCloud, CA
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Best Dispersed Sites Near McCloud, CA (14)
1. Mt. Shasta Area
Castella, California2 Reviews•2 Photos•142 SavesRecreation on the unit centers on the two designated wilderness areas of Mount Shastaand Castle Crags. Dominating the landscape for several hundred miles in all directions, Mount Shasta looms 14,162 feet, a beautiful snow-cloaked massif, second only to Mount Rainier in height among the famous Cascade Range volcanoes. No trails lead up Mount Shasta, but trails provide access to the Wilderness and the foot of the mountain. The Wilderness shares its southern border with Castle Crags State Park. You'll find 27.8 miles of maintained trails starting from nine trailheads. The Pacific Crest Trail rambles for 19 miles through the area. Most of the National Forest lands on the Mt. Shasta district are open for dispersed camping. Remember, most dispersed sites will be affected by campfire restrictions starting sometime in July. When restrictions are in effect, you may still operate a gas stove and/or a gas-only barbeque with a valid campfire permit. Wood fires and charcoal barbeques are strictly prohibited. Please use proper sanitation methods for human waste, pack out all of your garbage, and leave no trace of your stay. Current list of Road Closures, Campground & Trail information.
- Pets
- Electric Hookups
- Reservable
- ADA Access
- RVs
- Dispersed
2. Castle Lake Campground
Dunsmuir, California2 Reviews•6 Photos•95 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
3. Dispersed Campsite near Castle Lake and Shasta
Mount Shasta, California1 Review•1 Photo•5 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
5. North Trinity Lake
Trinity Center, California4 Reviews•10 Photos•324 Saves- Pets
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Dispersed
- Picnic Table
- Alcohol
6. Rail Line Dispersed Site
Macdoel, California1 Review•8 Photos•24 SavesPlease check for fire restrictions before you go: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/stnf/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5392380. Campfire permits are required to have a campfire or stove at a dispersed site. Campfire permits are available online at www.readyforwildfire.org/permits/campfire-permit/
Camping is not limited to developed camping. Almost all of the forest is open to those who prefer the quiet solitude of a completely undeveloped setting.
Generally, dispersed camping is allowed outside of developed sites within the forest unless otherwise posted. One exception to this is Lewiston Lake. Camping is prohibited within 1/4 mile of the high water mark with no exceptions. Other exceptions are the Mt. Shasta plantations area and McCloud River Loop.
Please call ahead to offices for current fire restriction and road information. Potable water, toilets, and other amenities are not available. Be sure to bring adequate water or be prepared to purify natural water sources before drinking. Camp at least 200 feet from springs, water, meadows, trails and roads. Camp at least a quarter-mile from designated campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads, private property and state highways. If you brought it in with you, then remember to take it out when you leave (Pack It In/Pack It Out).
More details here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd771279.pdf
- Pets
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
8. Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
French Gulch, California6 Reviews•18 Photos•159 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Dispersed
10. Mount Shasta Dispersed
Be the first to review!Mount Shasta, California•2 SavesMost of the National Forest lands on the Mt. Shasta district are open for dispersed camping. Remember, most dispersed sites will be affected by campfire restrictions starting sometime in summer. When restrictions are in effect, you may still operate a gas stove and/or a gas-only barbeque with a valid campfire permit. Wood fires and charcoal barbeques are strictly prohibited. Please use proper sanitation methods for human waste, pack out all of your garbage, and leave no trace of your stay.
- Tents
- Dispersed
Showing results 1-10 of 14 campgrounds
Recent Dispersed Reviews in McCloud
19 Reviews of 14 McCloud Campgrounds
- S
Sabrina V.
Guide
Dispersed Campsite near Castle Lake and Shasta
Easy find near Castle Lake
You’ll have to enter a dirt road to get down to this spot. There will be several sites, but small ones all along that dirt road. This site specifically is good for when camping with a Van or small trailer.
- Kelly V.
Traveler
Castle Lake Campground
Grand view
Road dips down but rutted and I'm low clearance so can't tell what's down there. I'm in amthe o ly pullout off the side of the road before it Dios. Awesome view. Cannot hear water the other person mentioned but also haven't walked down the road yet. 3 or 4 rigs down close by. I am in a level spot but nowhere to walk except road from here. Again, great view.
Casey B.Guide
Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
A little sketchy and not much shade
The first spot you come across is super cute with little stone sculptures in the creek and a little shelter with carpet...and then you realize it's most likely a locals party zone and homeless camp. There was a trash pile, bags of potato chips...and potatoes.
The next spot was cleaner and near the water, but the circular "driveway" was tight and had very little space. This is where we stayed.
The rest of the spots weren't near water and were just open fields directly in the sun.
- Julie M.Guide
Rail Line Dispersed Site
Open Sky and Privacy
The road was rough at first but smoothed out enough that we weren't worried in our van. There are only a few pullouts here, and no one else was around.
- PPaul T.Traveler
Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
Could not find
Because of poor reception unable to find. Definitely way out there
Kevinae B.
ScoutCline Gulch BLM Dispersed
Secret Hideaway
My husband and I loved this place. It was a little bumpy ride but well worth it. It was super secluded and quiet. No one else drove by at all during the two days we stayed. There was an awesome creek right next to us. FYI there was no phone service at all until you get by the school.
Mckenna S.Traveler
North Trinity Lake
Beautiful spot!
This was a perfect spot for a quick one night stay as we were passing through. The coordinates were off though and it took us up to a private residence road so I would not follow that. There’s multiple side dirt roads leading down to the lake from the main road so I would just look for those. Beautiful views at night and in the morning! It was wide open with no other campers in site.
Karin P.GuideCastle Lake Campground
Nice area
As of May 31st there isn’t access to some areas as there is snow blocking the way, some areas are wet from the snow that has already melted. The toilets up at Castle Lake are still covered in snow and inaccessible. Pack in pack out. Other than that nice peaceful area, you can hear the river running, and has a nice view of Mount Shasta.
Laura M.
Legend
Tickner Rd
Quiet except for passing trucks
After checking out South Lava Beds and West Tionesta (so named on The Dyrt app) this was the winner for us. There was greenery and living trees all around and it made for such a nicer environment. On Sunday, the area was completely silent, except for birds chirping. One logging truck drove by, as well as one park ranger truck, otherwise we didn’t see anybody. However. On Monday morning all the trucks started rolling through. We left about 9 or 10am and maybe 10 trucks had gone by. And they're noisy. And the dirt they kick up is fine and silty, so it just floats around long after they've passed. Definitely a buzz kill! We were debating staying two nights, but the trucks convinced us to leave.
Good enough (not great) cell service for both Verizon and ATT. We actually didn’t need to use our levels for this spot, which is always a treat. Easy access for our 26ft class c and I believe bigger rigs would be ok here as well. No amenities here, obviously, so please pack out your trash.
- Laura M.Legend
West Tionesta
Desolate
Another one of these Dyrt campsites with zero info other than the location- thank you to whoever is adding these. This spot is a little further down the road from South Lava Beds, and would be fine, but we decided to keep going and find something a little less surrounded by blackened and burned trees and debris. There are piles of them everywhere, so I don’t know if workers come through here periodically- we didn’t see anybody when we were here on a Sunday. The area is still recovering from a 2020 fire
(Caldwell Fire, I believe).
Good cell reception, to our surprise. Our 26ft Class C had no problems reaching this spot, just take it slow once you leave the paved road. The dirt road is ok but there were a few dips and ruts that we had to go around. This would make a fine spot to stop over at, but it was a little too barren for us to want to stay here.
- Laura M.Legend
South Lava Beds
Area Still Recovering From Fire
I don’t know who’s adding these dispersed camping spots on The Dyrt (as there are no reviews or any additional info other than the location) but it’s much appreciated. We stopped to check this place out and would have stayed here for the night but decided to keep going and check out one more place first.
The location is easily accessed from the main road, no problems for our 26ft Class C. Cell service was surprisingly good for both Verizon and ATT. There’s a messy little fire pit here, but no other markers. The spot is off the road and has some sad blackened or dead trees surrounding it.
This area is still recovering from a big fire in 2020 and there are piles of burned logs and debris all over the area, giving it a desolate feel. The area is nice and quiet though, and very little traffic. Would make a great stop for a few days.
Jack W.
RangerCline Gulch BLM Dispersed
Out of the way but perfect for a night
This site is nothing special but it’s the only BLM I could find in the area. We stopped on the way up to Shasta. You don’t need ground clearance or 4wd to get there. Lots of space, there will certainly be a place for you when you pull in. Only one or two other campers were there when we stayed. Nice place
- EEric G.Legend
Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
Quiet
This is a good gravel road not far from main road. Lots of spaces along road. Not busy at all. No amenities of any kind.
- Ryan Z.Scout
North Trinity Lake
Not accessible
The coordinates and GPS lead to a random part of the highway surrounded by hills. Not real or inaccessible in vehicle, lake may be dried up.
Karen T.TravelerNorth Trinity Lake
a lovely area
- dispersed camping
- no amenities
- a beautiful open field with the woods in the back and Trinity lake in the front
- you could camp in the open field or in the woods
- Laura M.Legend
Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
At Least It’s Free
We thought this might be a nice place to stay the night or even longer, but next time if we need a place to sleep we’ll just find one of the turnouts off of Hwy 299. I could see this being a good place for people who live locally to come and hang out in nature by the creek for a few days, but this isn’t a place I’d recommend as a destination. There is so much dead brush and cut trees all over the place here, possibly from cleanup after a fire? Would recommend larger rigs avoid this area due to the number of low hanging tree branches.
Also, this is a popular shooting area because we saw a ton of ammunition casings as well as broken glass and clay pigeons and other items used for target practice. Oh, and we heard a bunch of gunshots in the middle of the night.
Once you enter the BLM land area, you will cross a narrow one lane bridge. From there you can go left, through a narrow and brush and low-hanging-tree-limbed gravel road (larger rigs beware) to a small clearing at the end which is large enough for a group, but too small for more than one party to feel comfortable there.
If you turn right from the bridge you have a long road for a few miles along the creek. This road is at times narrow and bumpy with low hanging limbs, and at times wide and smooth and easy to drive. Along this road are several unmarked, undeveloped, and completely unmaintained clearings where you can camp. There are no fire pits or any other indication that it’s a camp site (which is a good thing because per the info board fires aren't allowed). We did pass one trailer that appears to be residing here permanently.
The public road eventually dead ends about 2 miles in and turns into private property, at which point there’s a large-ish space where you can turn around.
Zero cell service, though the WeBoost gave the Verizon phone a couple of weak bars. The T-Mobile hotspot and the ATT cell phone were not improved by the WeBoost.
- RRick F.Traveler
North Trinity Lake
Gorgeous Lakeside Camping
This is disbursed lakeside camping with no facilities.
- CCury H.Guide
Mt. Shasta Area
Beautiful
Shasta is breathtaking pictures can’t do it justice A place to experience lakes streams hiking camping boating snow sports water sports the great outdoors !!
- George B.Guide
Mt. Shasta Area
A mountain that soars above
Mt. Shasta is a place that’s beautiful from every angle. If you’re on the road or on the mountain all it does is takes your breath away.
Stay where it’s more comfortable for you but at least go and stay and see this beauty!
Winter time really is its best time but beware and plan ahead, a lot of the camp sites are closed in that time of year!
Guide to McCloud
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near McCloud, California, where nature's tranquility meets breathtaking landscapes. This area offers a variety of spots for campers looking to immerse themselves in the great outdoors.
Dispersed campers should check out Mt. Shasta Area
- The Mt. Shasta Area is known for its convenient location and spacious spots, making it an ideal choice for those seeking comfort while enjoying nature.
- With features like drinking water, electric hookups, and pet-friendly policies, this area caters to a wide range of camping needs.
- Visitors rave about the stunning views of Mt. Shasta, which provide a picturesque backdrop for hiking, boating, and other outdoor activities.
Top activities while free camping near McCloud
- Hiking enthusiasts will appreciate the trails around Castle Lake Campground, where you can explore the scenic beauty of the area and enjoy the sound of the nearby river.
- For those who love a more rugged experience, the dispersed site near Castle Lake offers a variety of small spots along a dirt road, perfect for van or small trailer camping.
- The peaceful atmosphere at Sand Flat Wild Camping allows for a relaxing getaway, although access may be challenging during certain seasons due to snow.
Scenic attractions for dispersed campers
- The breathtaking views from Dispersed Campsite near Castle Lake and Shasta make it a must-visit for anyone wanting to soak in the natural beauty of the region.
- Campers can enjoy the serenity of the area while being close to various outdoor activities, including fishing and kayaking in nearby lakes.
- The Rail Line Dispersed Site offers a unique experience with open skies and privacy, perfect for stargazing after a day of adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near McCloud, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near McCloud, CA is Mt. Shasta Area with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near McCloud, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 dispersed camping locations near McCloud, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.