Find this cozy six-site campground set within a forest of pines and other conifers near Castle Lake, a beautiful glacial cirque lake in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Castle Lake Campground makes a convenient base camp for hikes leaving from Castle Lake and the campground is a 20-minute drive from the city of Mount Shasta along Interstate 5.
The six sites at Castle Lake Campground are located along a rough unpaved loop road that has steep sections unsuitable for trailers and RVs. Each tent site has a picnic table and a fire ring. The campground has a pair of vault toilets. Drinking water is not available so bring your own water. Castle Lake Creek flows below the campground and can be used as a source for filtered drinking water. The campground does not have food storage containers or garbage collection, so keep food in your vehicle and pack out your own waste.
No fee is charged to stay at Castle Lake Campground. The maximum length of stay is three nights. Sites are first-come first-served (reservations are not accepted). The campground is typically open from the end of May to the beginning of November, with a winter closure based on snow level.
About a quarter mile up Castle Lake Road from the campground, you’ll find Castle Lake. This lovely mountain lake is closed to motorboats but open to fishing and swimming. From Castle Lake, visitors can take short day hikes up to Little Castle Lake and Heart Lake or venture off trail to ascend to Castle Peak, a summit with incredibly panoramic views.
To get to the campground: Take interstate 5 to exit 73B in Mount Shasta. At the end of the offramp, head west (away from the city) on Lake Street toward Hatchery Lane, following signs for Lake Siskiyou. Turn left on Old Stage Coach Road and drive south for 0.2 miles. Veer right onto Barr Road and drive another 2.3 miles to Ney Springs Road. The intersection comes after you cross the outlet of Lake Siskiyou. Turn left up Ney Springs Road and make the next right onto Castle Lake Road. Drive 6.7 miles up to the campground, which is on the left, 0.3 miles from the end of the road at Castle Lake.
Campground address: Castle Lake Campground, Castle Lake Road, Dunsmuir, CA 96025
Campground coordinates: 41.235, -122.3813 (41° 14′ 06″N 122° 22′ 52.67″W)
Use the map below to create your own directions:
 | Heart Lake and Little Castle Lake This 2 to 3-mile hike visits lakes in a beautiful area of Shasta-Trinity National Forest, including the charming-contoured waters of Heart Lake. |
 | Castle Peak and Heart Lake This approximately 3.2-mile hike ventures off trail above Heart Lake to a summit with extraordinary views of the Castle Crags and Mount Shasta. |
 | Lake Siskiyou Trail (South Shore Loop) This short and easy lakefront loop offers great views across Lake Siskiyou toward Mount Shasta and the surrounding evergreen wilderness. |
 | Faery Falls and Ney Springs This short hike travels along a creek up to an impressive 50-foot waterfall, passing the ruins of an old resort along the way. |
 | Spring Hill This 2.9-mile hike hits a short summit near Mount Shasta with excellent views of Mount Shasta, Black Butte, and the surroundings. |
 | Vista Point Trail This short hike reaches the principal viewpoint in Castle Crags State Park, which has a great perspective of granite peaks known as the Castle Crags, along with views of Mount Shasta and the surrounding wilderness. |
 | Crags Trail to Castle Dome This 5.6-mile round trip hike in Castle Crags State Park ascends 2,150-feet through a garden of granite crags to the base of Castle Dome. This hike can be extended to 6 miles round trip by taking a worthy side trail to Indian Springs. |
 | Root Creek Trail This 2.2-mile round trip hike in Castle Crags State Park takes a level and easy course to a tumbling creek in a mossy forest. |
 | Hedge Creek Falls Trail This short hike leads to a forest-wrapped waterfall, passing behind the falls to arrive at a Sacramento River Overlook. |
 | Bailey Cove Trail This easy 3.1-mile loop circles a hill-covered peninsula on the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake, providing both lake views and shade. |
 | Castle Crags State Park Campground There are 76 developed campsites within this state park that are nestled within a pine forest with access to nearby trails. |
 | Antlers Campground This well-shaded 59-site campground in Shasta-Trinity National Forest has level sites on a bluff next to Shasta Lake. |
[…] lakeside primitive camping at Castle Lake Campground near Mount Shasta. The sites are free and there are no reservations so be sure to arrive early […]