Glamping near Shasta Lake, California encompasses a variety of elevated camping experiences across several parks and resorts within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Located in Northern California at elevations ranging from 1,000-2,000 feet, the area experiences hot, dry summers with daytime temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F between June and September. Winter camping often faces nighttime temperatures near freezing, with occasional snow at higher elevations around the lake's 365 miles of shoreline.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: The McCloud arm of Shasta Lake offers excellent access for anglers. "Very nice clean water. Camped right next to the water. The site is very busy get there early," notes a visitor to Shasta National Forest Moore Creek Campground.
Kayaking and paddle boarding: Lewiston Lake near Shasta provides calmer waters ideal for non-motorized watercraft. "We took tubes out and laid in the water and soaked up the sun, it was so nice. It's especially so calming because there isn't a million boats on the lake partying and such it's just quiet and calm water," writes a guest at Mary Smith Campground.
Winter activities: Mount Shasta skiing options are accessible from several campgrounds. Mountain Gate RV Park provides convenient access with one camper noting, "We stayed over night and will do so again. The park is beautiful! Close to the mountain for skiing. Close to the lake for skiing."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Many luxury camping options feature secluded spots. "The RV spaces are large and offer more privacy than most campgrounds. It tended to fill up on the weekends (sometimes completely) but was fairly quiet during weekdays with only a handful of people," writes a guest at Antlers RV Park and Campground.
Cool amenities: Beyond standard glamping accommodations, some parks offer surprising features. "Nice campground. Unexpectedly, there was a little place to play a game of pool. It was very quiet, and nice and dark for sleeping," shares a visitor to Lakehead Campground & RV Park.
Clean facilities: The upkeep of bathrooms and showers matters to luxury campers. "We loved our stay. We felt safe and it's probably one of the most cleanest campground and facilities I've ever been to. Clean bathrooms, showers, zero trash around."
What you should know
Wildlife awareness: Bears frequent many Shasta Lake camping areas. "About 3am something woke me up sniffing around my hammock. I was not able to see it without moving, but it bumped me and was large enough to make the hammock sway," reports a camper at Crystal Creek Primitive Campground.
Lake level fluctuations: Water levels change dramatically by season. "The water is low right now (may 2021) but, normally it would be walking distance to the water even a few 100 feet."
Seasonal availability: Several upscale camping options operate limited schedules. "We had the campground to ourselves as they hadn't put up the glamping tents yet. We set our tents up on the platforms and had a great view of the lake and trinity alps in the distance."
Tips for camping with families
Play structures: When searching for family-friendly luxury camping near Shasta Lake, look beyond standard amenities. "Great campsite. Nicely laid out, lovely landscaping, great amenities (including a small gym with free weights), super clean and functional bathrooms."
Water activities: For kids who enjoy swimming, temperature varies significantly by location. "The water down this part of Lewiston lake was definitely a lot colder, like icy cold. But since it was super warm when we went out (96 degrees) the water was very enticing, on a tube!"
Noise considerations: Weekends tend to be busier and noisier at most sites. "I wanted to love this place. Simple, pretty, quiet (at least at check in) but 1 am, a group of partiers ruined the experience with loud kids, loud adults and loud dogs as if it was 1 pm and not 1 am."
Tips from RVers
Seasonal access: Boulder Creek RV Redding offers year-round availability for luxury RV camping. "Excellent Verizon signal. Very clean. The only negative was it appeared to be many long term residents. Also the water park next to the campground was closed."
Site spacing: Premium sites often come with tradeoffs regarding proximity to neighbors. "This place has the tightest spots ever! Feel like a sardine. It's pretty but would never spend $80 to smash in with other campers!"
Reservation timing: Many upscale RV sites fill quickly during peak seasons. "I can't rate on even being able to stay but simply based on a phone call. We had filled out their form on their website to try and book and they never responded back."
