Camping near Shasta, California offers visitors direct access to several shoreline camping options along Whiskeytown Lake and Shasta Lake where water levels fluctuate seasonally. The Shasta region contains over 200 miles of hiking trails with varied terrain from lowland forest to high mountain paths. Winter nights at higher elevation campsites often drop below freezing, while summer midday temperatures can exceed 100°F.
What to do
Boat-in camping access: Beehive Point Shoreline Campground allows campers to arrive by water or land, with many spots directly on the shoreline. "We stayed on a Thursday night until Friday morning and there were only a few other people there, we couldn't see any of them from our spot so we felt totally isolated," notes one visitor to Beehive Point.
Explore burned forest regrowth: Horse Camp Primitive Campground offers unique opportunities to observe post-fire forest regeneration. One camper noted, "The only negative was the Carr fire that burned many trees in the area," providing educational opportunities to observe ecosystem recovery in action at Horse Camp.
Creek and river access: Many campsites feature water access for cooling off during hot summer days. A visitor at Peltier Bridge mentioned, "Nice little spot next to the water, first night was peaceful there's no other people reserving any of the campsites so we got lucky."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campers frequently mention site spacing as a key factor in their experience. At Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground, a camper noted, "Sites are nicely spread apart #8 #9 being the best that were open. Not RV accessible tent sites."
Clean facilities despite primitive status: Even rustic sites maintain good standards. One camper at Peltier Bridge stated, "Pit toilets are very clean!" while another added, "This campsite was very nice and clean. Each spot was decent. #6, 8, and 9 probably your best bets if they are open."
Night sounds: Natural soundscapes enhance the camping experience. At Cline Gulch, a visitor appreciated that "Even as close to Redding as this was there were no highway or 'civilization' sounds at night which was awesome. Plenty of frog noises though!"
What you should know
Fire restrictions vary: Many campgrounds have seasonal fire restrictions. At Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed area, visitors should check current regulations as one camper advised, "Rock fire pits which are hopefully more for marking individual spots rather than actual fires, since fire danger is always high in this area."
Road conditions: Access roads to several sites require careful navigation. A visitor to Beehive Point warned, "The last bit of road gets really winding and narrow," while another noted, "High clearance helps to get to some spots but we did make it all the way through with our minivan after a little trial and error."
Seasonal considerations: Off-season camping offers different experiences. A Beehive Point camper explained, "There was a sign on the boards stating that it is currently off season and there are no fees and no services. Not sure when the season begins and what services are offered, but in early May there were no garbage bins or toilets."
Tips for camping with families
Best family swimming spots: Oak Bottom Tent Campground provides family-friendly water access. "We scored ourselves a really cool spot right along the water," noted a visitor at Oak Bottom, adding that high water levels make for ideal swimming conditions.
Site selection for kids: Choosing the right campsite makes a difference. A family at Oak Bottom recommended, "The best site is SC14 because it has its own beach entry cove to the lake and it is large and shady. The next best sites are C22 and C21 (in that order) as they are large and flat and closest to the public beach for water access."
Educational programs: Several campgrounds offer children's activities. "Sign up for the free kayak tours and paddle board programs. The kids also have free JR. Ranger and JR. Firefighter Programs to earn patches and there are free evening family movie nights too," advised a regular Oak Bottom visitor.
Tips from RVers
Hookup options: For RVers needing amenities, Mountain Gate RV Park provides full service options. "Clean bathrooms, showers, zero trash around. All around a great visit. Perfect spot if you are traveling with a pet," wrote one RVer, noting the well-maintained facilities.
Self-contained camping: Some campgrounds cater specifically to RVs with limited amenities. "Nice huge site with basically your own valued bathroom one other campsite shares. Perfect for dry camping with your RV if you want some extra quiet and privacy you could rent both sites at $20 each," suggested a visitor to Horse Camp Primitive Campground.
Weather preparation: RVers should prepare for extreme temperature swings. "The kids loved playing and swimming in the river. One star off because there is quite a bit of trash at the entrance of this place, lots of broken glass so keep your shoes on, and the mosquitoes were bad when the sun started to go down but wasn't a problem with a fire, thermacel and bug spray," warned a camper at Beehive Point.
