roadtripper394226

Lake Siskiyou Resort is just a short 4.5 miles from Mt. Shasta City right on Interstate 5 in Northernmost California. The campground and amenities were developed quite some years ago so some areas are below standard.... but with that said it is a nice camping experience if you like to be outdoors. There are full hookups, partial hookups (water, electric) and tent spaces. There are over 200 spaces. It is a very popular camping spot in the summers so it can be crowded and noisy with lots of kids. The RV spots close to the water are often most desired, but are also the most crowded and sometimes noisy, there are great spots "up the hill" from the camp store that have a little more privacy depending on the spot you choose or are assigned. We have camped here numerous times throughout the years.

What to do there? Great easy hike, a trail completely goes around the lake, beautiful! Swimming area, fishing, boating and kayaking, a small marina with rentals, a camp store with the usual souvenirs and a very nice ice cream concession where you can make sundaes! There is a small restaurant that has a beer/wine bar and pretty good food at decent prices. There is a outdoor theater where they show movies in the summer and a snack bar at the swimming area. Nearby is the Sisson Museum and a fun fish hatchery where you can buy a handful of food and feed the little fish! A drive past the campground goes up to a box canyon that is a fun drive, but not with a trailer or motorhome... the road gets a bit sketchy before long. But even though one may think the road doesn't go through, it does and goes all the way to the top of a mountain that intersects with the Pacific Coast Trail. There is also a free campground (Gumboot Lake) that is up the road quite a ways, but not easy to always find, signage is mostly absent.

Other reviews have said they stayed free.... but don't confuse that with the actual campground where there are hookups and amenities. Across the lake on the East side is a area where folks often camp for free, but it is totally boon-docking. If you have a kayak or small boat you can cross the lake to the campground area. If you stay across the lake and drive over to the "resort" there is a daily entrance fee of something like $1 per person.

The only downsides to this campground is that it is often quite busy so you won't be getting a wilderness experience, and many of the facilities need upgrading, especially the restrooms and showers, at the beginning of the season they are in pretty good shape, but they have very heavy use in the summer so many people choose to use the restrooms in their own RV's if they have them.

The access is easy except, there is one small sign (easy to miss sometimes) that indicate where the entrance is and it comes as a bit of a surprise if you haven't been there before, so watch your GPS or map so you don't have to try to turn around on a two lane road to go back and find the entrance. Not super easy to find in the dark if you aren't familiar with the area.

With all that said, even at the busy times we enjoy the beautiful lake and one can always find a quiet place to relax as long as you head away from the crowds.

Collier State Park is a very nice full service campground. They have full hookups, tent facilities, and horse facilities as well. Beautiful setting right next to the Williamson River. Nice hikes along the river, and through the forest. Campground has very clean and nice restrooms, showers available and Accessible restrooms/showers available as well. Located right off of Highway 97 between Klamath Falls, Oregon and Chemult, Oregon. About an hour from Diamond Lake Resort, or Crater Lake National Park. Within a very short hike along the river one can access (its is free!) the Collier Logging Museum which is a self touring outdoor museum. Very interesting. Once a year on Father's Day a group operates some of the old time forestry machines for folks to see how they worked! Good fishing located along the Williamson River as well.

Cell service for ATT was spotty as there are lots of trees, we had minimum coverage without a booster.

Cattle Camp is located mid way along the Mc Cloud River Loop access off of Highway 89 in Northern California. It is a Forest Service Campground, self registration, National Senior passes accepted for 50% discount, vault toilets, water available within the campground, tables and fire rings. Lovely forested area, with some areas having considerable sun if you are looking to help your solar. There are also a few double sites. First come, first served. Max spur 32 feet. The road is paved into the campground and the sites have paved spots for trailers or vehicles. Many of the sites are "larger" and even though you may have neighbors next door, you can often find privacy. It is a popular campground in the summer months as the area has a swimming hole nearby, and the beautiful McCloud River has access within a little distance. Lovely hike along the river (the entire hike is 12 miles, but can be accessed at various stops). Swimming near one of the falls, but at your own risk.

The campground is open May to October.
While we were there even though it was towards the end of the summer, the vault toilets were clean.

This small, but nice are to camp is located right on the Scott River near river access with good fishing, rafting in spring, swimming in summer. It is about 17 miles from the small town of Ft. Jones, California so it is not near any major highway. We are sorry to report: At last visit it appears that the Forest Service has eliminated this campground for "official" camping. The area is still accessible right off of the road, but the signs have been removed as well as the tables and other amenities. It is believed the area is still available for day use and camping as a "dispersed area". Please contact the Forest Headquarters for up to date information. No drinking water, no restrooms (removed) fire rings and tables mostly removed.

Elevation: Approximately 2,200 ft.

Number of Campsites: 4 family sites. Sites are flat and is handicap accessible.

Day use: Available

Affiliation: National Forest Campground Klamath National Forest ~ Scott River Ranger District.

Hiking: Across the road from the Kelsey Creek Trail. Nice day hikes and longer trips into the Marble Mountain Wilderness.

Open Dates: Most sites within the Klamath National Forest are open from mid-May through mid-October. Some sites may be available with reduced services.

Campsites are on first come basis.

Price: Free!

Amenities:
River Access nearby
Floating the river ~ summer
Rafting the river ~ spring
Swimming the river ~ summer
Hiking
Seasonal Fishing
Water View
Immediate access from road
Handicapped accessible (flat and fairly easily accessed, but no actual specific access ways)
Please note: Drinking water is not available. Pack garbage out. The Forest Service says if you use river water to drink or cook with, be sure and boil properly or have an adequate filtration system.

General Description:

Campground is in forested area adjacent to Scott River Road and at water's edge, however, located above on a cliff. Shaded area in trees. Undergrowth dry in mid to late summer. Wildlife may include black bears, deer, mountain lions, birds of prey. Poison oak may be in the area.

Services: Store and services 17 miles at Fort Jones. Major supplies in Yreka on Interstate 5. Automobile fuel services available in Fort Jones. Nearest Hospital and full service emergency room: Yreka, however, emergency medical services may (or may not) be available in Fort Jones.

Klamath National Forest Headquarters
1711 South Main Street
Yreka, CA 96097
(530) 842-6131

Scott River Ranger District
11263 N. Highway 3
Fort Jones, CA 96032
(530) 468-5351

We camped here towards the beginning of the season in June 2021. The campground is at about 5,000 ft. in elevation so cooler at night than in some neighboring areas. Nice treed area and not too far from a fork of the Salmon River. There were very clean vault toilets, potable water, and bear-proof trash receptacles. No hookups, no dump station. It is a lightly used campground according to the forest service information, and we found that to be true, as we were the only campers at this campground. The entrance to the campground is about 1/4 mile off of the main road and it is a little steep so coming back up could be a pull for some depending on how heavy your rig might be. They list the max size as 20 ft. but I think there were several spots where a longer rig could be easily accommodated, one just needs to watch for overhanging branches.

Large sites, 12 sites in all, and the Senior pass, etc. gives a 50% discount for the $10 a night.

Great hiking in the area, access to the Pacific Crest Trail is nearby as well. Seasonal trout fishing.

We use AT&T cell, but there was no service and highly expect no other service either, you are deep in the forest here and mountains.

Fire permits: Are necessary and recommended, they can be obtained online from the forest service website and or from a ranger. A current California Campfire Permit is required to use a camp stove, barbecue or have a campfire outside the developed campground. Local fire restrictions supersede the campfire permit. Inquire at the Ranger Station before having a fire. We were able to obtain a free permit from a ranger in a campground, and I believe the permit is good for California.

Services of any kind are not in the immediate area. If traveling be sure you are familiar with how far you can comfortably travel along the road. From Callahan to Cecilville is a nice two-lane road, going west from Cecilville is not recommended for trailers, although we made it easy with a 16 ft trailer, it is a one-lane road for miles with only pullouts for quite a few miles and a very steep drop of a sharp edge. But if you go no farther west than Cecilville you are good pulling most anything.

The nearest fuel and groceries would be in Etna, California, and large stores (like Walmart, etc.) available in Yreka, California would be about 55 miles away and you would travel up and down in elevation. The nearest medical assistance would be Yreka, CA, or by helicopter.

Forest Service type campground, but Hat Creek flows right by the campground. World class trout fishing here! It is at about 4,400 feet in elevation so it is cooler than places in the valley near Redding. A interesting Lava Tube is close by with stairs, but take a strong flashlight and sturdy shoes! It isn't a long tube, but gives one a good idea of what they are like! Some of the amenities need updating, but the area is beautiful and the sound of the rushing water is fantastic! There was a large forest fire near there a few years ago, so driving in the area looks sad part of the time with all the burnt forest, but the campground is nice. Easy to get in and room to park. It is right off the road along Highway 89. Not far from the road, so you might hear some traffic, but it will quiet down in the evening.