Recreation

A young child and dog both wear life vests while kayaking on Shasta Lake

Enjoy the Shasta Trinity National Forest!

Outfitting & Guides (Special Use Permits)

Recreation Reports for each unit contain current information on recreation sites and activities.

Recreation Opportunity Guides (ROGS) are brochures that contain many kinds of helpful information by topic or area.

Keep up to date with fun and exciting things going on throughout the forest on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Facebook page and X page.

Know Before You Go

Season of Use

Most recreation sites within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest are open from May 15 through September 15, however dates are subject to change. During the remainder of the year, some sites may be kept open as needed or as weather permits. Recreational facilities that remain open will offer reduced services. Some water systems are turned off during the winter months.

Length of Stay

Camping at improved campgrounds is limited to the maximum number of days posted at the site (generally no more than 14 days). Camping outside of improved campgrounds (dispersed camping) is limited to thirty (30) days within a one (1) year period, starting with the first day of occupancy.

Pets

Pets are allowed in the recreation areas unless posted. They must be on a leash not longer than six feet, or otherwise under physical restrictive control when in a developed site.

Campfire Permits

Campfire permits are required outside of a designated campsite and may be obtained free of charge online. Please check our forest orders page for current campfire restrictions.

Dispersed Camping

Generally, dispersed camping is allowed outside of developed sites within the forest, unless otherwise posted. The exceptions to this are McBride Plantations, Castle Lake, McCloud River Loop and Lewiston Lake. Please refer to this document for more helpful information.

Fireworks and Firearms

It is prohibited to discharge a firearm or any other implement capable of taking human life, causing injury, or damaging property: (1) in or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area, or (2) across or on a Forest Development road, or a body of water adjacent thereto, or in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge. (261.10d)

It is illegal to discharge or ignite a firecracker, rocket or other fireworks, or explosive on all National Forest lands (261.14d).

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Current Recreation Conditions

Area Name	Status	Area Conditions
Antlers Public Boat Ramp	Open	Click link for current conditions
Bailey Cove Public Boat Ramp	Open	Click link for current conditions
Bowerman Public Boat Ramp	Closed	Open Year Round or to 45' Draw Down
Centimudi Public Boat Ramp	Open	Click link for current conditions
Clark Springs Public Boat Ramp	Closed	Open to 41' Draw Down.
Fairview Public Boat Ramp	Closed	Open Year Round or to 52 ft. Draw Down.
Gregory Beach Shoreline Area	Open	Click the link for current campground conditions
Hirz Bay Public Boat Ramp	Open	Click link for current conditions
Jones Valley Public Boat Ramp	Open	Click link for current conditions
McCloud Reservoir Boat Ramp	None
Minersville Public Boat Ramp	Open	Open Year Round or to 200’. No Dock and The courtesy dock is no longer available.
Mt. Shasta Wilderness	None	The Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center is an excellent source for current climbing conditions and avalanche advisories, or you can contact the Mt. Shasta Ranger Station @ (530) 926-4511.
Packers Bay Public Boat Ramp	Open	Click link for current conditions
Panther Meadows Campground	Closed
Pine Cove Public Boat Ramp	Open	Open Year Round
Stuart Fork Public Boat Ramp	Closed	Closed
Sugarloaf Public Boat Ramp	Closed	Click link for current conditions
Trinity Center Public Boat Ramp	Closed	Open to 65' draw down. Courtesy dock is in place.

Spotlights

Castle Crags Wilderness

The Castle Crags Wilderness was established in 1984 with the passage of the California Wilderness Act. This 10,500 acre addition to the National Wilderness Preservation System, along with lands within Castle Crags State Park, contains towering granite spires, steep sided canyons, and a few alpine lakes. Most of the area is covered by high brushfields and rocky outcrops with a few wet meadows in the creek headwaters. Mixed conifer forests can be found on the north, east and west facing slopes.

Geology

Castle Crags is actually a part of the vast Klamath Mountains Geological Province that includes much of northwestern California and Southwestern Oregon. Rocks within the province consist predominantly of volcanic and sedimentary types. However, large granitic bodies called plutons intruded into many parts of the province during the Jurassic around 65 million years ago. Castle Crags is one of these plutons.

Castle Crags Wilderness brochure PDF

Chanchelulla Wilderness

View over the mountaintops of the Chancellula Wilderness area on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Chanchelulla Wilderness is a relatively small wilderness area located about 50 miles west of Red Bluff. The Chanchelulla Wilderness was created in 1984 by Congress. The Wilderness features rugged terrain with steep, chaparral and tree covered slopes. Chanchelulla Peak is the highest point at 6,401 feet. This area is popular during hunting season.

Access to Chanchelulla Creek Trail is near Deer Lick Springs on the eastern side of the Chanchelulla Wilderness. The road to Deer Lick Springs is well signed and accessible in 2WD vehicles, although high-clearance and 4wd can be helpful in areas where there are potholes or during inclement weather.

Travel west on Hwy 36 to Harrison Gulch Road, 1/4 mile west of the district office. This paved county road is 5 miles long and connects with Forest road 30N44 north of Knob. Road 30N44 is only 1/10 mile in length and merges with the Forest Road 01 five miles from Deerlick Springs Campground.