McCloud Bridge sits 17 miles back on Gilman Road, trading convenience for solitude on the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake. The 14-site campground puts you right on the water when the lake is full, with no cell service and the kind of quiet that comes from being genuinely out of the way.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Developed
- 💵Fee per Night
- $28
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 📍GPS
- 40.93834, -122.24500
- 🌤️Best Seasons
- spring, fall
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 🗺️Address
- CA
Amenities
The Camp
The campground hugs the shoreline with 11 single sites and 3 doubles, each equipped with picnic tables, bear lockers, and fire rings topped with grills. Sites average 35 feet of back-in space — manageable for most RVs but not luxurious. Vault restrooms and water spigots handle the basics. When Shasta Lake sits at full pool, you're camping directly on the water with views across to steep mountains covered in manzanita and evergreens.
The McCloud Arm offers a different character than the busier parts of Shasta Lake. Mount Shasta rises in the distance, and wildlife sightings are common in this more remote corner of the reservoir.
What to Know
This is first-come, first-serve only. You must physically show up to claim a site and occupy it the same day you pay — no advance payments accepted. The Iron Ranger takes cash or check, or use the Scan & Pay option through the Recreation.gov app.
The 17-mile drive on Gilman Road keeps casual visitors away, but it also means you're committed once you're here. No cell service reinforces the isolation.
Nearby
Fishing runs the spectrum on Shasta Lake. Spring brings the best trout action on the McCloud Arm north of Hirz Bay, with successful trollers using Kastmasters, Rebels, and Rapalas. Bass fishing peaks in spring and early summer in the shallows, where live bait and rubber worms produce results. The lake holds everything from rainbow trout to white sturgeon.
The nearest public boat ramp sits 7 miles away at Hirz Bay, though informal mooring works when water levels cooperate. Ramp access depends on current lake levels, which fluctuate seasonally.