The best camping near Mount Shasta with campfires

Shasta-Trinity is the largest national forest in California and known for its many rivers and streams.  Not surprisingly, many campground options can be found along a river or creek, including the McCloud River, Upper Sacramento River, Trinity River, and Eagle Creek. In Klamath National Forest, campers have options along the Klamath River, Scott River, and North Fork of the Salmon River, while equestrians can bunk down at Hidden Horse and Carter Meadows campgrounds near the Pacific Crest Trail.

Less than an hour away, California’s largest reservoir is a hotspot for all things water related. More than 30 public campgrounds can be found around the lake’s three main arms, including developed, group, boat-in, and dispersed shoreline campgrounds. Popular options include the Sacramento River Arm’s Lakeshore East Campground, the McCloud River Arm’s Bailey Cove Campground, and the Pit River Arm’s Jones Valley campgrounds. Private campgrounds and RV resorts offering more extensive amenities can also be found around the lake.

Southeast of Mount Shasta, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park offers an epic waterfall and a campground, while PG&E runs several campgrounds around Lake Britton. Nearby Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park offers a unique boat-in campground on Big Lake. Several lakeside and riverside campgrounds can be found in the Hat Creek and Almanor ranger districts of Lassen National Forest, while Lassen Volcanic National Park offers a surreal landscape of volcanic and alpine terrain, pretty lakes, and eight campgrounds.