Looking for tent camping near Whiskeytown? The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Whiskeytown, California's most popular destinations.
This tent-only campground is located in the southeast corner of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, 13.5 miles west of Redding, California, and three and a half hours north of Sacramento. Clear Creek flows past the campground, making it a popular spot for fly fishing. The camp is shaded by alders and large canyon live oaks. The cool, clear waters of Whiskeytown Lake provide endless water activities. The picturesque mountain setting and extensive forested backcountry offer ample opportunities for hiking and biking.
During the summer heat, swimming, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and water skiing are popular on the 3,200 acre lake. Year round, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, gold panning, fishing and picnicking attract visitors. Hunting is allowed in the appropriate season.
Tall trees providing cooling shade make Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground a relaxing retreat. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is located where the Klamath Mountains, Cascade and Coast Mountain Ranges, and the Sacramento Valley meet, creating a wide variety of wildlife and landscapes.
For facility specific information, please call (530) 246-1225.
Brandy Creek Beach is located three and a half miles from the campground and features sandy beaches, a large swimming area, picnicking and barbecuing facilities. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, there are showers, a store with food and supplies and rentals of paddle boards and kayaks.
$20 / night
This facility is used on an "as needed basis" by the Shasta Recreation Company (Concessionaire to the Forest Service). There are 8 camping sites that can accomodate a trailer with an average max. size of 16'. All sites have a picnic table, campfire ring, and an unpaved parking spur.
This tent-only campground is located in the northwest corner of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, 19 miles west of Redding, California, and three and a half hours north of Sacramento. Crystal Creek flows alongside each campsite. The campground stays relatively cool due to the creek and to the shade given by a canopy of fir, maple and pine. Three nearby trails lead to lovely waterfalls. The cool, clear waters of Whiskeytown Lake provide endless water activities. The picturesque mountain setting and extensive forested backcountry offer ample opportunities for hiking and biking.
During the summer heat, swimming, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and water skiing are popular on the 3,200 acre lake. Year round, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, gold panning, fishing and picnicking attract visitors. Hunting is allowed in the appropriate season.
The heavy forest canopy and burbling year-round creek make Crystal Creek Primitive Campground an ideal location for a peaceful retreat. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is located where the Klamath Mountains, Cascade and Coast Mountain Ranges, and the Sacramento Valley meet, creating a wide variety of wildlife and landscapes.
The Tower House Historic District is located within the recreation area less than five miles from Crystal Creek Primitive Campground. Learn about the California Gold Rush history of the area by strolling among the historic buildings, water ditches, and a former gold mine, or by panning for gold or attending an interpretive program at the site. Oak Bottom is located eight miles from the campground and features beaches, lakeside picnicking, and a full-service marina with boat rentals.
For facility specific information, please call (530) 246-1225.
$20 / night
This tent-only campground is located in the center of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, 17 miles west of Redding, California, and three and a half hours north of Sacramento. Ponderosa pines and fir shade the campsites which have cliffside views of Brandy Creek. Nearby trails lead to a series of lovely waterfalls or into old-growth forest high on Shasta Bally Mountain. The cool, clear waters of Whiskeytown Lake provide endless water activities. The picturesque mountain setting and extensive forested backcountry offer ample opportunities for hiking and biking.
During the summer heat, swimming, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and water skiing are popular on the 3,200 acre lake. Year round, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, gold panning, fishing and picnicking attract visitors. Hunting is allowed in the appropriate season.
Tall pine and fir trees providing cooling shade make Sheep Camp Primitive Campground a relaxing retreat. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is located where the Klamath Mountains, Cascade and Coast Mountain Ranges, and the Sacramento Valley meet, creating a wide variety of wildlife and landscapes.
For facility specific information, please call (530) 246-1225.
Brandy Creek Beach is located three and a half miles south of the campground and features sandy beaches, a large swimming area, picnicking and barbecuing facilities. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, there are showers, a store with food and supplies and rentals of paddle boards and kayaks.
$20 / night
Information unavailable at this time.
Open May 15- Sept 11 with services. Campground is open during the off season with no facilities, no fees, pack it in, pack it out.
$15 / night
Greens Creek is one of four boat-access only campgrounds on Shasta lake. Located on the McCloud Arm of the lake, this facility is popular with those visitors who want to get away from the crowds. Whether or not the access is difficult varies depending on the current lake level. There are vault toilets and no piped water. This is a pack it in, pack it out facility.
The McCloud River Wintu tribe held Hirz Mountain in reverence and had a name for it in their own language. But it was a white miner, Henry Hirz, who gave the mountain its modern name. Hirz was a gold miner who lived on Hirz Creek in the 1860s and was one of the earliest white men in the McCloud River country. When the lookout was built, it was originally a structure that sat on the ground. The mountain was a strategic location for detecting fires because it had a direct view into the headwaters of the McCloud River and most of its tributaries. In 1937, the Forest Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) rebuilt the Hirz Mountain Lookout cabin and included a garage and outhouse. It was one of the last CCC-era lookouts to be built. In 1949, a steel tower was added, constructed of a steel K-brace tower that stands 20 feet above ground level. Coming here is not for the faint of heart. The access road is rocky and steep with limited visibility - high clearance vehicles are recommended - and the last quarter-mile must be traversed on foot. Those who make the journey are rewarded with unforgettable views of the landscape by day and the stars at night.
The main recreational activities at Hirz Mountain Lookout are sightseeing and stargazing, and this is an ideal setting for those with a passion for photography. Visitors may want to bring binoculars to go birding and wildlife watching. There are also opportunities to hike, mountain bike and hunt in the area.
This lookout tower sits atop Hirz Mountain at an elevation of 3,540 feet, offering 360-degree views of Mt. Shasta's snow-laced peak to the north, Mt. Lassen to the southeast and the gray limestone exposures of Hirz Mountain itself. The narrow blue-green ribbon of the McCloud River Arm winds past the east side of Hirz Mountain, extending north and south as far as the eye can see. Visitors to Hirz Mountain Lookout are advised to use caution, as rattlesnakes and bears frequent the area (click here for information on bear safety).
$110 / night
Guide
We camped in a tent, but most others were in RVs. It was very rowdy and loud at night but the campgrounds are in a good location next to Shasta Lake.
Guide
Big parking lot picnic benches and one group tent site
Traveler
So pretty. Did the normal tent camping which is nice at the upper campsites, got a paddle board and pretty much had the whole lake to ourselves
Legend
I loved this campground! Would go back in a heartbeat. This was the first KOA I've ever stayed in, and I was worried it would be too cheesy/boring (in comparison to the forest/state/national park ones I tend to love), but it was totally fun.
Pros: Lots of clean bathrooms, warm swimming pool, lots to do including a whole forested area with swings, a fort, etc., games, ping pong, decent sized sites. Close to the entrance to Lassen Park.
Cons: Some tent sites were better than others. My favorite tent sites were T6. T7, T8 and especially T13.
Traveler
Stayed in a tent site for some car camping. The sites are well spaced out and offer a lot of privacy. Tons of amenities. Showers are free!
Scout
Beautiful spot at the foot of Mt. Shasta! Lovely little town I’ve stayed here twice now once in April and once in august. They have four tent camping sites with electric hookup and fancy seating among many other types of sites
Traveler
Loved listening to the creek while falling asleep, lots of shade and the staff was friendly. Sites are nicely spread apart #8 #9 being the best that were open. not rv accessible tent sites
ScoutNice, lots of amenities. Minus one star because of the cold shower that should have been hot. Other than that, the beach is nice, the tent sites are nice. A bit bustling busy during the summer, great for kids
GuideCute town and peaceful campground. Clean bathrooms and showers. Pool, game room, shuffle board, basketball court and off leash dog park. Lots of trees in the sites great for hammocking (in the tent sites). I would definitely stay here again.
Traveler
Great little park. Lots of shade and green grass, good management, Clean restrooms and well kept grounds. Close to river and lakes for boating and fishing. There is a great area for tent camping or a place to dry camp with your RV just below the main RV park. There are targets set up for bow hunters in the pines below the park.
Our 35 foot fifth wheel easily navigated the space.
TravelerThis is a great little mom and pop rv campground. There are tent sites away from the rv part, but we never checked that area out. The rv spots are very clean, and even though they’re close together with no privacy it was an amazingly quiet park. The park is about 1/4 full time residents, 1/4 permanent vacation spots that people keep trailers at and visit from time to time and the other half is campers. We stayed for a week and became buddies with the camp host Craig who gave us great fishing tips for the area and had some great conversation with as well. The owners were very nice and run a tight ship. The rv spots are full hook up with nice green grass, no cable but ok Verizon signal and we got a few local channels on the tv antenna. They have a nice little store and a fish cleaning stand. We fished Lewiston lake less than 10 min. away and Whiskeytown Lake about 20-25 min. away with great luck. The little town of Lewiston is pretty cool and a 5 min walk from the campground as well is the trinity river. We will definitely be back.
TravelerTruly and amazing place! I’m looking forward to going back after Covid. We met our family half way and wanted a campground we could all find easily. It’s a bit pricey but for the convenience it was well worth it! Tent sites are huge and so is the campground! We stayed pretty far away from the beach and we were all by ourselves! Might try some of the dispersed camping in the area and use the campground day use and store next time?
Traveler
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. Depending on the water level real estate on the beach can get tight, but there are spots off the beach that are wooded. You can tent camp or bring your travel trailer. The entrance is a little rutted so if you bring a trailer just be cautious. the beach has a ton of drift wood for fires, we have yet to bring our own. There are some small stores and boat launches near by.
TravelerWe spent a full week here and enjoyed it immensely. Our tent site was large and spacious and even when full, the campground was quiet and peaceful. The hosts were very attentive to the needs of everyone staying there. We had one night during which a nearby, private property had some dogs that barked all night. We reported this concern the next morning, after which the hosts contacted the neighboring individuals and the dogs were quite for the remainder of our stay. The bathrooms and showers were always clean and well maintained. We will definitely stay there again.
Legend
General: There are tent sites, partial hookups, and full hookup sites, as well as cabins and cabooses that can accommodate either couples or families. It was pouring when we were there, so we opted to stay in a caboose! There is also a dining car
Site Quality: The camping sites are nestled among the trees; some are pull-throughs and others are back-in (mostly the tent sites). Most of the sites appeared level, but not all of them (beware of Site 34). The pull-throughs in the center are less private (but I believe these are the ones with full hookups). The best sites in my opinion are the ones that back up to Little Castle Creek. Especially after a good rain, you can be lulled to sleep by the sound of the rushing creek!
Bathhouse: Keypad entry so I was not able to see the inside (we stayed in a caboose and therefore did not have entry). There are showers and also a very nice laundry facility.
Activities: There is a pool in season and also a hot tub that was open when we were there. It is covered but it was cold and rainy, so we didn’t try it out. There is a short hike at nearby Hedge Creek Falls and you are close to Mount Shasta.
We stayed here 25 years ago in a caboose with our daughters, and it was nice to see the place has been kept up nicely. We would definitely return and stay in the campground next time (weather permitting).
Traveler
The RV/tent sites are all well designed with good separation. Most of the campsites have nice views of the mountains that surround the lake. Some walk-in campsites are located close to the lake. 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. 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.
ScoutI decided to go on a last minute solo trip and called this places for a one night reservation. Next time I definitely want to stay longer. It’s a great family spot and there were lots of dogs and kids running around. The tent camping spots are far enough from people and you don’t feel like you’re on top of each other. You can choose if you want to glamp or camp here, so it’s also a good place if you have friends that don’t like dirt but want to be around pine trees.
One thing I will warn is google maps did tell me to turn too early and I was wondering around a neighborhood for a little bit. You turn right off of 44 to get to the site.
Scout
The campground is pretty good, but I was shocked by the lack of camping etiqette from our fellow campers. In particular there was just a lot of noise- generators running loud and at all hours. Thankfully, the camp hostess was great and mostly got it under control.
Given how hot it gets up there I'd have liked there to be a little more shade. The sites on the perimeter of the campground are better than those in the center. While I generally like campsites close to the river, those set against the hill seem to provide a little more shade and privacy. The exception are the couple near the end of the loop where the campsites are closer to the river and set away from the road- best for those tent camping.
It was a nice place, though a long 4.5 hour drive for us. We had spotty access with AT&T.
Scout
oh wow what a fantastic and gorgeous location. really well maintained when it comes to their bathrooms (flushing & sinks) and trash cans… but holy bear. 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 (which were vacant) only to come back shortly later for a few sniffs. this would’ve been less scary had we been in an RV buuuut tent camping + bear is not the vibe guys. it definitely smelled us and knew exactly where we were & we’re incredibly fortunate but of course we were terrified. i’d definitely come back with different equipment and plenty of mace and really wish there were more signs about the likelihood of bears in this area at this time. there were a handful of signs but so small and easy to get lost amid all the other super valuable information.
ScoutThis campground was the favorite of the trip. The tent sites are well spaced, the check-in process was quick and you got to speak to someone to get a map and ask any questions too. The store had everything you could've possibly forgotten, along with soft serve ice cream. The bar/restaurant had live music until 10pm. The lake and marina was a short walk. And the campground was located near the cutest downtown area of Mount Shasta. If you want dinner in town, check out Yak's for the best burger ever! This resort is great for groups, saw a lot of groups that were there for at least a week. Lots of bear activity warnings, but I didn't have any issues. Bathrooms and showers were pretty clean, nice and hot with good water pressure. Would absolutely stay here again!
Guide
The sites are varied here. You have tent sites and RV sites and all are spacious. I didn’t feel like I was on top of my neighbors at any point. Each site did have a fire pit and picnic table though not all sites had near boxes. Mine did not so I kept all my stuff locked away in my car.
Lots of good options for hammock hanging.
There are sites closer to the shoreline and others that are a bit more of a walking distance. Some are reserved sites but they also had some first come first serve. I drove up on a Friday afternoon and was able to find a great FF spot.
When I went the water level was low as they drain Trinity Lake into Whsikey Town but it was still pretty. Plenty of kayakers, paddle boarders, and jet skiers on the lake. Not overly crowded though.
GuideThis spot is so incredibly scenic for a free campsite. Camp right on the lake/river. We stayed on a Thursday night until Friday morning and there were only a few other people there, we could see any of them from our spot so we felt totally isolated. 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. Had like 1 bar of spotty service only enough for maybe a phone call (Verizon). Very hot during the day, not chilly at night but cool enough to tent camp and enjoy a fire. 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. Don’t forget to get a CA fire permit if you want a fire or to use a camping stove it only takes a few mins to obtain online
Traveler
We stayed here for 4 nights in a towable trailer. I highly recommend getting a spot near the tents and exit to the river road if you are towing a trailer. We were on the end of Raccoon Rd and it was fantastic. The tent sites looked great with plenty of space for you to set up. Several people even brought small trailers like RPods into the tent area and just didn't use hookups. There are plenty of dirt paths out to the lake both from the KOA and nearby. Many people brought ATVs to utilize these and it looked like a great time. We used out truck and mountain bikes to tootle around on them and had a great time. This place would be great if you tow a boat and just want to set up with tents in an RV site as well - we saw many people doing that. Kayaks were available to rent in set 2 hour timeslots, banana bikes available if you are into that. There are plenty of games like bocci and ladder ball. All in all we had a great time and would highly recommend it. Great place to use a base camp to hit nearby rivers, ponds, trailheads, or even the lake. 20 minutes away from the main marina on the south side of the lake where you can rent a boat for the day too!
Traveler
En route Phone GPS was not reliable, luckily they have a big sign. Check in was ok, family run business and the office was a mess. Small store carries some essentials. You have to drive through several long term older Travel trailers that look like they have been there for years. I camped at site 28, which was actually a group site. It was great to have a large unoccupied area to one side, but the other side had an unoccupied long term TT that stunk like rotten fish. It was so bad we never put out our patio rug, or cooked outside. Across the way was a clean small pool which was very nice. We enjoyed riding our bikes around the loop, and walking down to the Trinity River. There are 2 river spots from the campground. Both are scenic, only one is safe to enter the water and that spot had a very small river rock spot to set up a couple chairs. If you are tent camping or in a smaller RV, their are some better sites that are further away from the permanent old Travel Trailers closet to the entrance. If you are there over a weekend they do have a very large outdoor laser tag area. They technically do have a free Wi Fi, however it is very weak, almost nonexistent. Verizon had no cell coverage.
GuideMy husband and I were desperate to add a couple days on to the end of our scheduled vacation to the Dunsmuir, CA area as we didn't have to be home until Sunday, but had to check out of the Railroad Park RV Resort on Friday, and there were zero campsites available in Siskiyou County.
We stumbled on the Douglas City Campground using a great brochure/map we got at the Whiskeytown Information Center.
We have a 25' pull-behind trailer, so our boondocking options were very limited as most in that area that we could find were set for tenters or very small rv's.
The incline down to the campground at Douglas City is very steep - maybe a 12% grade, and we didn't have a clue what sort of place we would end up at. Wow, were we pleasantly surprised! A small, cozy campground with host, right on the Trinity River, for $10/night! We grabbed the one pull-through site, but many are easily backed into, and all are nicely paved and mostly level. There are some cute tent sites as well. The days were very hot - probably 100° - and there are no hook-ups so we siesta'd in the afternoons. The river is gorgeous, cold, clean, and refreshing. The Trinity River is popular for rafters so we had fun waving at rafts full of happy people floating by. The night temps dropped nicely after the sun went down behind the mountain, so we were able to cool off. We watched a bat aerial show in the evenings, and listened to the many bird calls as well. The moon and stars were well visible as their is no light pollution in that area.
I would have given the campground 5 stars except - they have two lovely looking bathroom/shower buildings that are locked up tight with notices that they are closed due to Covid-19, but they supplied the campground with 2 portapotties instead. (??!) I took a star away for that lack of common sense. 😁 We are self-contained so it didn't affect us too much, but tenters would have more of an issue with it.
All in all - it was a wonderful stay, and we will definitely stay again.
2 take-aways - the river is filled with iron lyrite/fool's gold, and is really pretty when the glakes sparkle in the sun. Also, there is a decent amount of poison oak here and there, so beware. Leaves of 3, let it be!
Ranger
Campground Review: No matter where you find yourself on Shasta Lake you will be surrounded in houseboats and the beauty of the lake. On the way in (heading south on I-5 you will see Mt. Shasta in all of its glory standing in a blanket of hills and trees. There are plenty of cool places to drive for a better view if you can stomach some hilly land and loose sand, and the spider webbed lake won’t disappoint any way you approach it. When you’re camping in a roof top tent (Kukeman 3 by Tepui) any place with semi flat ground is a good place to camp! Though the drive from Seattle is quite long, it’s worth it once you get a load of the view of the lake and the bridge you’ll soon forget the hours you spent in the car. I highly recommend coming here and tent camping, car camping, cabin camping, or houseboat camping.
Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt I get to review some great and often very practical products. This trip I was lucky enough to review RŌM Pack, a blanket, poncho, and tent in one.
This little combo is heavy duty and ready to take a beating. It may start out as a backpack, but as soon as you need a place to sit the soft inside and waterproof outside is ready for the job. I went straight to the RŌM Pack when I spilled water on the mattress of my Roof Top Tent and it kept us dry all night. The poncho feature is very warm, and it was very warm at Shasta Lake (about 80 degrees) so I didn’t get to test out that feature too much, but the pack is very comfortable on your back, as a blanket. And as a way to keep you warm once it cools off. There are plenty of places to stash things (like a snack or a drink)! I’d recommend this to anyone who wants a tough blanket for outdoor activities, but also a durable bag and poncho. It’s very nice looking, stylish, and durable.
GuideWe stayed at the Railroad Park Resort near Dunsmuir, CA for 5 nights. It was fine, with a couple small issues.. The rest of the park might be wonderful - converted train cars and cabooses, cabins, and a small motel - but the rv portion sort of felt like the red-headed stepchild. I believe our fees were $280 for 5 nights. Full hook-ups, pull through site (many were back-in only) and zero privacy, although the rv park is in a pretty stand of very thinned trees at the far end of the RRP property. There is a teeny store with some basic supplies and snack foods, and ice and wood available for purchase, wifi advertised, as well as a swimming pool. The bathrooms are decent and include showers. We are a family that prefers a little more privacy away from the world, but this park was our only option as we didn't book until 3 weeks prior to our last minute trip to see family in Dunsmuir. Siskiyou County campgrounds are currently full to brimming, and people are lining up at 6am for the few fcfs sites at the FS campgrounds. Reservations are all booked out until the end of August at least.
We signed a list of rules when checking in to the RRPR, that include a strict "No marijuana use anywhere on RRP property", yet continually got wafting pot smoke from several other campsites. I complained once, and the young man at the store apologized and made a note about it.
Also, the woman working in the store in the mornings and during the day was quite rude and snippy, and reiterated at least 4 times that campground guests were only to use the swimming pool down near the cabooses between 10am and 3pm - as if we weren't to meddle with their upscale guests in the train cars and cabins. It felt a bit awkward, but we did use the nice pool one day when we didn't go swimming in Lake Siskiyou.
Wifi was advertised and a log on with password provided, but we were unable to log on the entire time we were there.
There were many huge rv's including full sized busses that seemed to navigate the park just fine, and some tent sites around some of the edges.
All in all - it was not a fantastic experience, but was alright, and we met a few other wonderful campers which is always a neat experience.
Sorry - I didn't take any pictures, but there are some decent ones if Googled.
Whiskeytown, California, offers a fantastic escape for tent campers looking to immerse themselves in nature. With a variety of campgrounds nearby, you can enjoy stunning views, peaceful surroundings, and plenty of outdoor activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Whiskeytown, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Whiskeytown, CA is Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground — Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Whiskeytown, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 58 tent camping locations near Whiskeytown, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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