Nelson Point operates on a split personality: walk-in camping in spring, then group-only reservations through summer. It sits on the Sacramento Arm of Shasta Lake with no drinking water but all the standard car camping amenities. The nearest boat launch is 6 miles away at Antlers.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 📍GPS
- 40.84833, -122.34583
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- 530-275-8113
- 🗺️Address
- CA
The Camp
Nelson Point delivers straightforward car camping along Shasta Lake's Sacramento Arm. Each site comes equipped with the essentials: picnic tables, fire rings, grills, tent pads, bear boxes, and paved parking spurs. Vault toilets handle sanitation duties, but you'll need to haul your own water. The setting puts you lakeside in the vast Shasta-Trinity National Forest, with views toward snow-capped Mount Shasta rising in the distance beyond steep mountains covered in manzanita and evergreens.
What to Know
The campground runs two distinct seasons. From April 1 to May 13, it's walk-in only — first-come, first-served for individual families. After May 13 through September 11, the entire place switches to group reservations only. No individual family camping during peak season unless someone books the whole campground.
This scheduling quirk makes spring your window for spontaneous visits, while summer requires either joining a group reservation or looking elsewhere. The group-only summer policy keeps it quieter than typical Shasta Lake campgrounds during the busiest months.
Nearby
Boaters need to plan ahead — the nearest public launch sits 6 miles away at Antlers. Lakeside resorts in the area offer boat rentals and fuel if you're without your own craft. Shasta Lake supports both motorized and non-motorized boating, plus water skiing when conditions allow.
Fishing targets include trout, catfish, Chinook salmon, crappie, bluegill, white sturgeon, brown bullhead, and bass. The lake's 365 miles of shoreline provide plenty of spots to work.
Lake Shasta Caverns operates on the McCloud Arm at Grey Rocks, offering daily tours of the privately-owned facility. It's a solid rainy-day or hot-afternoon option when the lake loses its appeal.