234 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Lakehead, California provides a range of camping experiences along the shores of Shasta Lake and throughout the surrounding Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Established campgrounds like Beehive Point Shoreline, Hirz Bay, and Ellery Creek offer access to the lake with varying levels of amenities. The area supports multiple accommodation types including tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin rentals at locations such as Lakehead Campground & RV Park and Shasta Lake RV Resort. Most campgrounds in this region are situated within wooded settings that provide shade and natural surroundings while maintaining proximity to water recreation.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping availability near Lakehead, with many campgrounds operating only from April through September. Hirz Bay Campground typically opens April 1st and closes September 30th, while Ellery Creek operates from mid-May to early September. Winter conditions and reduced visitation lead to closures at many sites during the off-season. Facilities vary considerably across the area, with some locations offering full hookups, showers, and dump stations, while others provide only basic amenities like vault toilets and picnic tables. Cell service can be limited in more remote areas around the lake. A review noted, "This campground is situated near the Trinity Alps surrounded by beautiful mountains next to the Trinity River. It's a pretty amazing location."
Water access represents a primary draw for campers visiting the Lakehead area, with multiple campgrounds offering direct lake or river frontage. Beehive Point Shoreline Campground provides boat-in access options, allowing visitors to reach campsites directly from the water. Several campgrounds feature swimming areas, boat ramps, and fishing opportunities. The surrounding forest lands also support hiking and exploration beyond the immediate shoreline. Campers frequently mention the scenic mountain views and clear water as highlights of their stay. During periods of drought or low water levels, lake access points may require longer walks from some campgrounds. As one visitor observed, "The campground itself is wooded and very pretty," highlighting the natural setting that complements the water recreation opportunities in the area.
"Beehive point offers camping right on the waters of Shasta Lake and has absolutely amazing views. We have been up there a few times and it has rarely been busy."
"We stayed here a few years ago and the water was so low that we literally could not reach it, even after a long walk down, it just became too rocky."
"From our campsite we were able to walk to the trailhead and do the crags trail all the way to the top of the rocks. Would highly recommend this campground!"
"Oldest camping area is right next to I-5 (which was not there when the campground was built!). But there are newer camping sites farther away from I-5."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Found it to be nice, quiet, close to the highway buy not noisy. Office staff is very friendly and quick to answer phone/email inquiries."
"We're happy to welcome that property that is close to Lake Shasta & Mt Shasta. Set-up camp, go out and explore, then come back here for some rest. Check them out and leave them a review!"
from $30 - $500 / night
Check Availability"The campground is about 30 mins from the highway, in beautiful forest and has easy access to the water. Campground was quiet, clean and empty when we were there."
"It took us 11 hours to drive there and even the little kids thought it was worth the drive. We had so much fun walking down to the lake fishing, swimming and playing with the dogs."
from $30 - $60 / night
Check Availability"The owner was very nice and got us situated right away. I will definitely be coming back!"
"I went traipsing around and found my way to Shasta Lake. If you do the same, watch out for poison oak!"
"At night, it was a little tough to fall asleep with trains running next to the campground and the highway noise, but other than heat and noise, we enjoyed it."
"It has all the amenities you need, along with a store, swimming pool, laundry facility, WiFi, bathrooms/showers, cabins, tent spaces, RV slots, easy access to the marina, boat launching service, boat rentals"
from $30 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Small gas station within walking distance, and a small grocery store in driving distance. 1.5 miles off the highway. Big rigs welcome."
"I say that only because it was 4th of July weekend and there was a dirty bunch around us. But even with that the park crew was great and did the best to keep things up as much as they could."
"Really nice campground with access to the water. I was there in mid July so it was very hot, but there is enough shade that the camp site stayed fairly cool."
"Beautiful views from our campsite and easy access to water. It was super peaceful!"
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Close to the mountain for skiing. Close to the lake for skiing. Nancy the manager was extremely helpful! We found this to have an old fashioned touch. Garbage facilities close by!"
"Only downside was the highway noise."
"Gas station right up the road and many access point to the lake"
TravelerEasy to find if you are looking. Gravel road off of the main paved road. Not recommended for truck and trailer, but almost any car or truck can handle the rough entry, just go slow. There are a few gravel areas to park in if you look for them. Beautiful spot, quiet at night.
TravelerThis campsite is closed. All the Recreation.gov website does not clearly indicate that it is not available. It’s suspiciously available for reservations, however which should be enough to question its status.
GuideThe views were unbeatable and extensive trails right from camp kept me happy. Site was clean and huge, big enough for dog tie out, and it had a tent pad in addition to accommodating our 33 foot trailer. Level and enough sun for solar. Starlink was fine. Neighbors were far enough but annoying barking dogs that the owner couldn’t control were annoying. Campground host did his best to ask her to quiet them but she told him off, poor guy. Toilets were so clean and actually smelled good ! Bear cans and spring water spigots everywhere. What luxury despite the remoteness!
TravelerThis is a nice dry campground. There is a water source but I’d recommend bringing your own supply. It was almost full on a Wednesday night
GuideThis place was easy to find. Spots are tight but we found one spot where we could fit our camper truck. It took some finagling but we got the truck turned around in the spot. I would not recommend a trailer here. Not a lot of room to turn around.
ScoutWe bypassed the sites that were immediately to the right off FR17 (Mineral Rd) to see if there were others up the road. There is one cute site right near the creek but directly on the road so a lot of dust if you stayed there. We continued past 20W and came around the corner to an amazing multi site area! Easily could have had 3 or 4 rigs in here and indeed, there were 4 campfire rings. And no one there! We had it all to ourselves (Tue-Wed-Thu) and were able to easily get to Manzanita Lake and into Lassen. Don't let the piles of logging debris fool you - just go past it!
RangerThe campground is tucked into the Forrest. You have full hookups and a fairly level place to park in the dirt amongst the trees. It’s a bit of a distance to an absolutely beautiful lake with the view of Mount Shasta. There are tons of amenities, including a store, restaurant, marina, boat rentals, bait shop, beach. The water is a nice swimming temperature. interesting to be someplace where campfires are allowed in August in California.
ScoutI stayed at Cassel with a group from my fly fishing club. It is old, but has everything one needs and was quiet. I stayed over Sunday night after club left and it was really nice. The sites are large and private. I can't speak to the bathrooms as I only used my own in my trailer. I wish the campground had a dump station. There is one a few miles away in Old Station. Camp hosts were pleasant and helpful.
GuideGood wild camping area off the main road with lots of pull outs and flat spaces
Camping spots near Lakehead, California surround Shasta Lake at elevations ranging from 1,060 to 1,500 feet. Summer temperatures often exceed 95°F from June through August with overnight lows around 60°F. Water levels fluctuate dramatically throughout the year, affecting shoreline camping access and boat launch availability at most Lakehead campgrounds.
Fishing from shore: At Beehive Point Shoreline Campground, campers can access various fishing spots along the shoreline when water levels permit. "Easy to move about. Great for water sports powered or canoes and paddle boards," notes Paul T., who found the area convenient for multiple water activities.
Crag hiking: Located 30 minutes from Lakehead, Castle Crags State Park Campground offers challenging trails with significant elevation gain. "The top section of the trail is very exposed and there is no water, so make sure you bring enough. The trail is steep and requires a bit of scrambling over rocks," explains Michael I., who recommends starting early during summer months.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campers report bear sightings in the Lakehead camping areas, particularly at Hirz Bay Campground. "Around 4am a black bear (maybe 500lbs?) came through our site and pulled on the bear box and kept it moving to check neighboring sites," reports jojo B., who recommends bringing bear spray and using the provided bear boxes.
Off-season solitude: Many Lakehead area campgrounds empty out during fall and spring. "We stayed here for 4 nights mid week in early May and mostly had the whole place to ourselves. There were a few day use visitors, and 2 neighbors who stayed one night each," writes a visitor about Hirz Bay Campground.
Waterfront access: Direct lake access represents the main draw for many campers. "The campground itself is wooded and very pretty," and "we scored ourselves a really cool spot right along the water," notes Laura M. about her experience at Beehive Point, though she cautions about weekend crowds.
Basic amenities: Most campers appreciate the simplicity of Lakehead area campgrounds. "Bathrooms were clean and stocked with the necessities," reports Rebecca L. about Castle Crags State Park, while others mentioned appreciating the bear boxes, picnic tables, and flat camping spots throughout the area.
Transportation noise: Multiple campgrounds in the Lakehead area experience noise from nearby Interstate 5 and train tracks. "Several train pass each night and you will hear them," warns one camper about Castle Crags State Park. Another notes, "we had to sleep with earplugs to not hear traffic which is unnerving."
Wildlife concerns: Bear activity is frequently reported around Antlers RV Park and Campground, with one long-term visitor stating, "They got into the trash pretty regularly though. It was very evident in the morning when the cans would be knocked over and rummaged through."
Water level variability: Shoreline access changes dramatically based on season and drought conditions. "We stayed here a few years ago and the water was so low that we literally could not reach it, even after a long walk down, it just became too rocky," reports Laura M. about Beehive Point.
Safety precautions: When camping with children near Lakehead, be aware of specific hazards. "If you happen to have pets be cautious there is a lot of broken glass everywhere, my dog had several cuts on her pads," warns Rosa P. about Beehive Point Shoreline Campground.
Insect preparation: Pack bug spray for mosquitoes, particularly near water. "The mosquitoes were bad when the sun started to go down but wasn't a problem with a fire, thermacel and bug spray," shares Mandi W., who camped with children at Ellery Creek.
Timing considerations: School breaks significantly impact campground crowding. "We were incredibly happy this time around that the water levels were so high. It was beautiful. We scored ourselves a really cool spot right along the water on a Thursday afternoon...But. It was spring break. And just about an hour after we arrived, so did everyone else," shares Laura M.
Site selection: At Mountain Gate RV Park, RVers recommend specific site areas. "We're traveling in a 40ft RV for reference though they do also have tent spaces... The spaces are all in the woods with mostly shade, though there are some that get more sunlight than others," notes Adam.
Utility planning: RV hookup quality varies significantly among Lakehead area campgrounds. "Full hookups, wifi, cable, showers, laundry, etc. There's a cell tower on the way in to the campground. You can expect two to three bars of LTE from both AT&T and Verizon," reports a visitor about Antlers RV Park, making it suitable for digital nomads.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Lakehead, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Lakehead, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 234 campgrounds and RV parks near Lakehead, CA and 20 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Lakehead, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lakehead, CA is Beehive Point Shoreline Campground with a 4-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lakehead, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 free dispersed camping spots near Lakehead, CA.
What parks are near Lakehead, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Lakehead, CA that allow camping, notably Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
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