This isn't your typical campground — it's a restored CCC-era fire lookout tower perched at 3,540 feet on Hirz Mountain. The last quarter-mile requires hiking, and you'll sleep in the actual lookout cabin with 360-degree views of Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen, and the McCloud River Arm snaking through the canyon below.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Developed
- 💵Fee per Night
- $100
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 🏔️Elevation
- 3,500 ft
- 📍GPS
- 40.91361, -122.26250
- 🌤️Best Seasons
- spring, fall
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 530-275-8113
- 🗺️Address
- CA
Amenities
The Experience
You're renting a piece of fire detection history here. The current lookout dates to 1937, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps with a 20-foot steel tower added in 1949. Two twin beds accommodate a maximum of two people in the cabin itself, with basic storage cabinets and a picnic table at ground level. The composting toilet sits in a separate building.
This is primitive by design: no water, electricity, cooking facilities, or bedding provided. Pack everything in, pack everything out, including all trash. You'll need enough water for your entire stay, cooking gear if you want hot meals, and a California campfire permit for any portable gas stove use.
The Setting
The views explain why this mountain made sense for fire detection. Mt. Shasta's snow-covered peak dominates the northern horizon, while Mt. Lassen rises to the southeast. The narrow McCloud River Arm cuts a blue-green line through the landscape far below, visible for miles in both directions. The lookout provides 360-degree sightlines into the headwaters of the McCloud River and its tributaries.
The gray limestone exposures of Hirz Mountain itself add geological interest to the immediate surroundings. Wildlife includes rattlesnakes and bears — both frequent the area and require appropriate caution.
Access Reality
The access road demands high-clearance vehicles and isn't for nervous drivers. It's rocky, steep, and offers limited visibility around turns. Even with the right vehicle, you'll park and hike the final quarter-mile to reach the lookout.
The effort filters out casual visitors, leaving this spot to photographers, stargazers, and those who appreciate both solitude and panoramic mountain views. Binoculars make sense here for wildlife watching and picking out distant peaks.