Think you know the best of the best campsites in the North State? These six bucket-list-worthy campgrounds are top of the tent among visitors and locals alike, and get you close to some of far Northern California’s most iconic waterfalls, lakes and rivers.
While autumn is the time to reserve cabins at popular campgrounds for next spring, it’s not too late to squeeze in a weekend excursion. You can still hike among the changing autumn leaves and enjoy cool fall weather at top camps before most mountain parks close for the winter.
The center of outdoor recreation called California’s Golden Circle, Redding is a short (2-hour or less) drive to top-rated Northern California camp sites. Most are close to trails and waterways that offer outdoor lovers hiking, kayaking, whitewater rafting, cycling, paddleboarding, fishing, tubing and other sports. Many are family friendly and some accommodate group camping, while others offer an intimate back-to-nature feel away from crowds.
Here are six no-miss top-rated campgrounds in the Shasta Cascade region — Trinity, Shasta, Lassen and Siskiyou counties — to add to your 2025-2026 bucket list.
Manzanita Lake Campground
Ranked second among Visit California’s top 10 campsites in the state, Manzanita Lake Campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park is a 49-mile drive east of Redding.
A short walk to fishing, kayaking and hiking trails, the campsite accommodates RVs, tent and car campers, according to the tourism publication.
This is a family friendly campsite that’s close to the Manzanita Lake Camper Store and watercraft rentals, according to the park. Go to lassenlodging.com/manzanita-lake-activities or call 530-779-0307 for pricing.
For those who like a more permanent roof over their heads when they rough it, Lassen also rents one- and two-room cabins with platform beds (sleeping bag or other bedding required) located around the lake.
The park hosts ranger-led programs and youth activities in summer, but crowds thin a month before the campground closes from mid- to late October to April or May. It’s cool in September and late spring, so bring warm bedding and dress in layers, campers said.
Camp spaces fill up fast, so park staff recommend people reserve a space well in advance at recreation.gov.
Trinity Adventure Park
Drive 65 miles west on Highway 299 from Redding to Big Flat in Trinity County and you’ll find a top ranked campground for families, group camping and RVers.
Located next to the Trinity River, privately-owned Trinity Adventure Park is a great place for family and group camping. It’s open year-round to RVs, trailers and car and tent campers, according to staff.
Of its 20 spaces, six have full hookups, six have water and electricity, eight are for tent camping and one is a group site for up to 25 people, according to the Trinity County Chamber of Commerce.
There’s a cafe onsite with a bar and outdoor/indoor seating, said staff, who are happy to direct guests to watercraft rentals and help families select trails that fit their needs and age groups.
Prices in September 2025 start at $35 per campsite. For more information, call 530-623-3964.
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McArthur-Burney Falls Rim Campground
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is a 62-mile drive on Highway 299 from Redding in northeast Shasta County.
Guests called the McArthur-Burney Falls Rim Campground one of the cleanest best-kept campsites they’ve visited. This campground also rated high on HipCamp.com, with a grade of 90% from users.
The park has more than 100 camping spots, about 60 of which are located in the rim campground. It accommodates RVs, trailers, and tent and car camping, according to the state’s park travel website at ReserveCalifornia.com. However, vehicles must be smaller than 32 feet for day-use or camping, and a limited number of RVs and trailers are allowed in the park at a time, according to the park service.
Amenities at the rim campground include bathrooms, showers and picnic tables, but no drinkable water, according to HipCamp, and pets aren’t allowed.
Roughly 100 million gallons of water tumbles 129 feet to the bottom of the Burney Falls waterfall every day, making it a no-miss spot for North State recreation.
As with all parks on the list, some trails and areas close periodically, so staff recommend campers check what’s open at parks.ca.gov before they go. For more information call 530-335-2777 or go to ReserveCalifornia.com.
Peltier Bridge Campground in Whiskeytown
The Peltier Bridge Campground, a tent-only camp site at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
This is an intimate campground with roughly nine camping spaces, according to Whiskeytown Visitor Center staff.
Located south of Whiskeytown Lake, the grounds along Clear Creek are tucked away among the alders and oaks in the southeast end of Whiskeytown. The campground is a 14-mile drive west of downtown Redding, according to federal travel website Recreation.gov, and is a great place for flyfishing, hiking and cycling.
The campground has vaulted toilets, and each space has its own picnic table, bear-resistant storage, barbecue and lamp pole. There’s no on-site drinking water or electricity, so bring your own drinking water. Parking is limited so campers should leave trailers, fifth wheels, pop-up campers and motorhomes behind, the park said.
All camping is $20 per night, and senior discounts are available, visitor center staff said.
For more information call 530-245-1225. For reservations go to recreation.gov.
Castle Lake Campground
This is another intimate tent campground near an iconic North State wilderness site.
Located off Castle Lake Road in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Dunsmuir and Mount Shasta, Castle Lake Campground is close to fishing, hiking, kayaking and swimming opportunities. It’s location near 6000-foot-tall granite spires in Castle Crags State Park makes it even more attractive.
The grounds have six spaces for small to medium vehicles, according to the U.S. Forest Service; no large vehicles or trailers are allowed. The campsite is nestled in conifer forest less than half a mile below the glacier-created Castle Lake, and is close to fishing, hiking and kayaking
Features include picnic tables, fire rings and vault toilets. There’s no drinking water available, so bring your own.
Campsites are first come, first served, according to the forest service, and campers must keeps quiet hours at the campground after 10 p.m. Check out time is 2 p.m. Space rental is free and people can stay up to three nights.
This campground closed early this year due to the Root Fire. It usually closes for the winter as early as mid-September or October, so call before you go in autumn or spring. For more information call 530-926-4511 or go to fs.usda.gov/r05/shasta-trinity/recreation/castle-lake-campground.
Clear Creek Campground
Open year-round, Clear Creek Campground in Lakehead is another top place to pitch a tent that gets you away from crowds.
This small campground has with six spaces, but can accommodate larger vehicles up to a 22-foot trailer, according to the U.S. Forest Service at Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
Amenities include picnic tables, fire rings and a vault toilet. There’s no drinkable water on site, so bring your own.
Stays are free and leashed dogs are welcome, the forest service reported, but no horses.
For more information call 530-623-2121 or go to fs.usda.gov/r05/shasta-trinity/recreation/clear-creek-campground.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding’s Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: 6 impressive campsites in the Shasta Cascades to sleep under the stars
Reporting by Jessica Skropanic, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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