McCloud District Recreation Report

 

 

 

Updated June 26, 2024

 

The McCloud Ranger Station is open 8:30am -4:30pm Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

 8:30 to 12:00 Thursday and Saturday

Closed Sunday Monday and Federal Holidays

Please call 530-964-2184

(Please stay on the line through the entire message. Phone will ring in the office when message ends.)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

McCloud Boat Ramp: This is a FEE PAY Day Use Area. Please register and insert $5.00 into the self serve payment envelope and deposit into the fee tube for parking and or boat launch.

McCloud Reservior is at extremely low level. The Forest Service has closed the boat ramp until lake levels return. Please enquire with PG&E for lake levels and any information concerning the reservoir.

Pilgrim Creek Road (13) is Open. Intermittent open and close.  Debris flow can be ongoing during extended high temperature events, causing rapid melt of snow and glacier ice. Mud Creek Closure is still a Forest Order. No stopping or using the land in Mud Creek. See Forest Orders.  

 Please remember, by Forest Order there is NO camping allowed outside of designated paid developed campgrounds along the McCloud River Loop from Highway 89 to just east of Cattle Camp. 

  Please be advised that Log trucks are actively hauling on Pilgrim Creek Rd, Esperanza Rd, Harris Springs Rd and Powderhill Rd. Use caution.  Drive carefully.

 California campfire permits can be obtained online for free at:  www.preventwildfireca.org  

 

Bears!!! Do not feed wildlife. A fed bear is a dead bear. Bears should be indifferent to humans. They are not your friend. Command it to leave if you encounter one.

Camping on the McCloud Ranger District

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd910413.pdf

Lower Falls Day Use Area: Open.

Lakin Dam Day Use Area: Open.

Algoma C.G.: Open. Just a few user-created sites and a dry vault toilet and tables. no piped water. no fee. 7 day stay limit. The new Algoma Bridge has a posted weight limit.

Ah-Di-Na: Open. Located on the Lower McCloud River at an elevation of 2300 feet, this remote campground has 16 sites with tables and fire rings, flush toilets, and drinking water. The dirt access road from Lake McCloud is very rough and rocky. Low clearance vehicles, trailers, and RVs are not advised. 14 day limit. $10 per night. No reservations.

Camp 4 Group Site: Open for Day Use. This is a reservation only site for Group Camping. You can reserve this group site at recreation.gov.  

Cattle Camp: Open. There are 27 sites with tables, fire-rings, water, and toilets. $15.00 per night. 14 day stay limit. Campers must self-register at the campground entrance. No reservations. Dogs must be leashed.

Fowlers: Open. There are 39 sites with tables, fire-rings, water, bear lockers, and toilets. $15.00 per night. 14 day stay limit.  31of the sites are RESERVE ONLY. Reservations can be made up to no less than three days in advanced to arrival date, at recreation.gov. Eight additional sites are available on a first-come basis. Dogs must be leashed.

Ash Camp: Open. Travel at your own risk. Sharp rocks on roadway.

Trout Creek: A few user created sites, no fee, no piped water. first come only. 14 day stay limit. No trash/garbage service. You must pack out your trash.

Harris Springs: Open. There are no toilets, piped water, or trash/garbage service. Visitors must pack out all trash and bury human waist appropriately.

Star City CG: This is a primitive CG, walk in only.  Do not move the boulders and drive into the CG or through the lake bed when the water is low.  Do not camp on private property around the lake.  No fires at any time, but you may have a gas stove, lantern or BBQ with a California Campfire permit, no charcoal.  There is no restroom, dispose of human waste properly.  There is also no trash pick-up at this site.  Please pack out what you pack in.

 

Dispersed Camping 

Remember to dispose of human waste properly.  Deposit solid human waste in cat holes dug 6 to 8 inches deep and at a minimum 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the hole when finished. Pack out toilet paper and feminine hygiene products. PACK OUT what you Pack IN and LEAVE NO TRACE.  We are seeing a lot of littering around the unit, please clean up when you leave.   Dispersed camping ROG

There is no dispersed camping along the McCloud River Loop.  To see the Forest Order (No 14-21-05) and a map of the restricted area please click on the following link:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd910413.pdf

 

 Lookout Rentals:

Girard Ridge:  Open.  Please go to https://www.recreation.gov/ for reservation information.  The lookout is at about 5000' and has spectacular views of Mount Shasta and Castle Crags.  There is a wood stove, fire pit, pit toilet, and a bed with a mattress.  Once reserved you must call for the combination no sooner than one week from the date of occupancy.  Check-out/in is at 12:00 p.m.  Girard Ridge L.O. ROG 

Little Mount Hoffman: CLOSED. Pre-opening work is in pr

 

Roads and Trails: 

Roads:

  • The Hawkins Creek Rd. (11) Open.

  • Military Pass Road: Accessible from Hwy 97 through to Hwy 89.  The Military Pass road may not be passable for low clearance vehicles. 

  • The KC (31) road is closed at the Mud Creek Crossing.

  • Harris Spring Road (15): Open.

  • The Powder Hill road (49) to Medicine Lake.  Please drive slowly and navigate around the potholes whenever possible to reduce damage to your vehicle or trailer. Vehicles with trailers may wish to try another route and motorcyclists must be extra careful.

OHV USE:  Off road, motor cycles, quads, side by sides or all-terrain vehicles should stay on the dirt roads, do not drive cross-country or off of the dirt roads.  Please do not cause damage to the roadways or banks by spinning donuts.  When you create ruts or damage the roadways, it stays for years, promotes erosion and results in other harmful effects.  Please be light on the land when driving on muddy or wet roads.  Always let someone know where you are going and bring enough supplies (food, water, chains, a shovel, warm clothes etc.) in case you get stuck, broken down, or lost.

Trails: 

  • McCloud River Trail- This trail stretches from Lower Falls Day Use and Picnic Area fifteen miles to Algoma C.G.  Along the way you will experience three magnificent waterfalls the Upper, Middle, and Lower, Lakin Dam, and Cattle Camp Swimming Hole. McCloud River Trail

    The trail is mountain bike friendly and horses are welcome but may not venture downstream of the Upper Falls area.   Link to Order and Map PDF

     

  • The Pacific Crest Trail runs through the District, over Bartle Gap, Grizzly Peak to Ash Camp then west to Castle Crags. PCT Access ROG McCloud Ranger District

     

  • Yet Atwam Creek Trail:    This five mile trail parallels Yet Atwam Creek and a short distance of Cabin Creek. The trail passes through a forest of mixed conifers and hardwoods.  It is approximately 4.5 miles long and takes about 2.5 hrs. to accomplish. NO Campfires allowed when we are in restrictions.  This is a beautiful trail with waterfalls, foaming rapids, and wide pools.  Remember to give other hikers/recreationists room.  Dogs must be on a leash.  The Pacific Crest Trail intersects the Yet Atwam Creek trail in about a quarter mile from the Cabin Creek trailhead and is a good starting point when hiking west. Squaw Creek Trail/Cabin Creek ROG

     

  • Brewer Creek trailhead -  OPEN.

     

  • Clear Creek trailhead- OPEN.

 

 

  

 

The "Res", as it is called by locals, is a popular fishing lake.  It has been inundated with larger boats as of late, please be respectful to smaller fishing boats, kayaks and paddle boards.  Remember that your wakes cause massive erosion to the banks of a beautiful lake.  

The boat launching facility has a vault style restroom at the boat ramp area with picnic tables and bear proof garbage cans. There is a $5 charge for day use of the facility whether you are using the dock/ramp or just parking for sight-seeing, bank fishing, or other activities.  When fishing from the banks or in a boat practice good fishing/boating etiquette, do not set up within casting distance from another bank fisherman, observe all boating safety laws, and give others space.  Never consume alcohol or controlled substances while operating a boat.

You may purchase an annual McCloud Reservoir Boat Ramp pass for $25 at the McCloud and/or Mount Shasta Ranger Stations.  Do not block the boat ramp in any way; the red slashed area means 'No Parking'. 

The dock and ramp areas are for the loading and unloading of boats ONLY.  Jumping from, fishing from, swimming near, and sun tanning on the dock is against Shasta Trinity National Forest rules.  Please do not place personal items on the ramp while fishing from the bank and there should be no one playing or present on the ramp itself whether it is being used or not.  Please do not litter; Pack it in, Pack it out.  Camping near the Reservior is subject to the two week stay limit and there is no camping or overnight parking at the boat ramp facility allowed, it is intended for day use only.  Please do not camp on private land.  Again, you are required to purchase a day use or annual pass to park at the facility whether you have a boat or not. The longer parking spaces on the west side of the parking lot are for vehicles with boat trailers ONLY, do not park in them if you do not have a trailer even if the lot is getting full.  

 

McCloud Ranger Station

2019 Forest Road

PO Box 1620 McCloud, Ca 96057

530-964-2184

(Stay on the line until the message is over, then the phone will ring in the office)         

Mt. Shasta Ranger Station: 530-926-4511

(Shasta McCloud Management Unit)

 

 

 

 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/stnf/?cid=STELPRDB5165648