Jones Valley Inlet West is dispersed camping at its most basic — a stretch of Shasta Lake shoreline where you claim your own spot along the Pit River Arm. No formal sites, no hookups, just lake access and seasonal restrooms for those who want to wake up next to the water without the structure of a developed campground.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Primitive
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 📍GPS
- 40.72877, -122.23009
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
This isn't camping in the traditional sense — there are no designated sites, fire rings, or picnic tables. You're essentially car camping on open shoreline, picking your own spot along the lake's edge. The setting is classic Northern California reservoir country: steep hills covered in manzanita and evergreens dropping down to the water, with Mount Shasta visible in the distance when conditions are clear.
During the fee season (roughly mid-May through mid-September), you'll find portable toilets and trash service. Outside those months, it reverts to true dispersed camping — pack everything in and out, no facilities, no fees.
What to Know
This operates on pure first-come, first-served basis. You can't reserve ahead or pay in advance — show up, claim a spot if one's available, and pay on the day you arrive. Payment options include the recreation.gov app for scan-and-pay convenience, or the old-school iron ranger for cash and checks.
Water levels dictate much of the experience here. When the lake is high, you can moor boats informally right at your camp. When it drops, you'll need to use the public boat ramp about a mile away at Jones Valley proper. The area draws a water sports crowd — expect jet skiers and water skiers during busy periods.
On the Water
Lake Shasta's 365 miles of shoreline offer serious fishing opportunities. The species list runs deep: trout, catfish, Chinook salmon, crappie, bluegill, white sturgeon, brown bullhead, and bass. At 1,067 feet elevation, the lake stays accessible year-round, though winter camping means hauling out your own trash and dealing with no facilities.
The informal mooring setup works well when water levels cooperate, making this a solid base camp for extended time on the lake rather than day trips from more distant campgrounds.