Hirz Bay sits on a manzanita-studded hilltop above the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake, trading lakefront sites for elevated views of the water and distant Mount Shasta. The developed campground puts you within a mile of boat launches while keeping you above the summer crowds that pack the shoreline camps.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Developed
- 💵Fee per Night
- $28
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 📍GPS
- 40.86667, -122.25306
- 🌤️Best Seasons
- spring, summer, fall, winter
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 🗺️Address
- CA
Amenities
The Camp
The 37 sites spread across a hillside dotted with manzanita and oak, each with a paved parking spur, bear-proof food locker, and fire ring. You're camping at 1,067 feet elevation looking down at the lake rather than right on it — a trade-off that means cooler evenings and better views of Mount Shasta's snow-capped peak in the distance. The campground includes flush toilets, drinking water, and even a pay phone for those without cell service.
On the Water
The nearest boat launch sits a mile away at Hirz Bay, putting you close enough to the water without dealing with the boat trailer chaos of lakefront camps. Shasta Lake's 365 miles of shoreline offer fishing for everything from trout and bass to Chinook salmon and white sturgeon. Resorts around the lake rent watercraft and sell fuel if you're not hauling your own boat.
The Trail
The 2-mile Hirz Bay Trail starts right from the campground, winding through the same manzanita and oak that shade your site. For bigger views, Hirz Mountain Lookout climbs to 3,500 feet with panoramas of Mount Shasta, Mount Lassen, and the sprawling lake below.
Nearby
Lake Shasta Caverns operate daily tours from the Grey Rocks area on the McCloud Arm — a privately run outfit that's been showing off the underground limestone formations for decades. The caverns make a solid rainy-day backup or a break from the lake heat.