Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Shasta-Trinity National Forest adventure.
California’s largest national forest offers year-round outdoor adventures and diverse camping options.
Spanning more than a million acres, Shasta-Trinity is the largest national forest in California, with a landscape that stretches from 1,000 feet to over 14,000 feet, and five designated wilderness areas. Explore three scenic byways, more than 450 miles of trails, including 154 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, or climb the snow-capped Mount Shasta. Hundreds of alpine lakes, and more than 6,000 miles of rivers and streams offer plenty of water-based activities, including boating, paddling, and fishing. The forest also offers a wide range of camping options for overnight stays, including developed and dispersed campgrounds, boat-in campgrounds, shoreline campgrounds, fire lookout stations, and historic cabins.
May to October are the best times for camping in the forest. Summer weekends are particularly popular and most campgrounds fill up quickly. From fall to early spring, snow and ice may affect road access, especially at higher elevations. Some activities, including downhill skiing at Mount Shasta Ski Park, are snow dependent. Mushroom season runs in the spring and fall, while wildflowers can be seen from late January to early November, depending on the elevation.