Ellery Creek
Ellery Creek is located on the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake. The campground is terraced, providing views of the lake from all of the lower sites and some of the upper sites. At certain water levels, boats can be moored on the shore within sight of the campground, making Ellery Creek a very popular place to camp among boaters.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 19 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
19 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 20 | Paved | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 002 | Back-in | 20 | Paved | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 003 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | 8 / 1 | |
| 004 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | 8 / 1 | |
| 005 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | 8 / 1 | |
| 006 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | 8 / 1 | |
| 007 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | 8 / 1 | |
| 008 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 009 | Back-in | 30 | Paved | 8 / 1 | |
| 010 | Back-in | 40 | Paved | Full | 8 / 1 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Fees | If the reservation was made through recreation.gov please call 1-877-444-6777 to make a refund request. Refunds must be requested no later than 14 days before your scheduled arrival date for a full refund (excluding recreation.gov fee’s). |
Each site offers fair to good privacy and sufficient shade provided by the deciduous trees in the campground. There are two sets of vault toilets and water spigots throughout the camp. Each site has lockers for food, picnic tables, fire rings with grills, paved parking spurs and tent pads. There are no showers available or electric/water hookups for trailers. All sites at this campground can accommodate small trailers as well as tents.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | April 1 to September 12 |
| Forest | Shasta-Trinity National Forest |
| Booking | Reservation season is April 1 - Sept 12 through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) @ recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. |
| Fees | Single Unit = 1 vehicle and 8 people @ $28/Night Additional vehicles, if space allows, will be charged $12/Night. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Redding, California: Take I-5 to Gilman Road. From the north take the Salt Creek exit to Gilman Road. Go east for 16 miles to the campground entrance (located on the right hand side of the road between Moore Creek and Pine Point Campgrounds). *The Map Driving Route link gives directions to mail office, not the campground.
| Nearest town | Lakehead, California |
| Coordinates | 40.9158° N, 122.2408° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedShf Rx
27 mi from the campground
- PrescribedFive-6 Rx
38 mi from the campground
- PrescribedFive-7 Rx
39 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Cousin Gary RV Center ↗ | 18.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Ted Fay Fly Shop ↗ | 20.5 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 23.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Ellery Creek Campground, Lake Shasta, California Campsite Photos
Worth a stop
The Lake Shasta Caverns are also located on the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake in an area know as the Grey Rocks. Tours are given daily at this privately owned facility. The nearby Hirz Mountain Lookout offers panoramic views of Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen and the surrounding area at an elevation of 3,500 feet. The nearest store is 21 miles away in Lakehead.
- 2.9 miDekkas Rock Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 3.6 miHirz Bay Public Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 4.2 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miSamwell Cave0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.8 miHirz Bay1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.4 miDekkas2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
- inShasta-Trinity National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,715,499 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Natural features
Shasta-Trinity is the largest national forest in California with a diverse landscape encompassing five wilderness areas, hundreds of mountain lakes and 6,278 miles of streams and rivers. Lake Shasta sits at an elevation of 1,067 feet, with 365 miles of shoreline punctuated by steep mountains blanketed in manzanita and evergreens. A snow-capped Mount Shasta, the second-tallest mountain in the Cascade Range, looms in the distance. Lakeside sites at Ellery Creek offer excellent views and access to the water. Wildlife is abundant in the area.
Recreation
A public boat ramp is located approximately 4 miles away at Hirz Bay, but informal mooring is allowed at Ellery Creek if the water levels are sufficient. This area is popular for water skiing and jet skiing. Lake Shasta offers excellent fishing for trout, catfish, Chinook salmon, crappie, bluegill, white sturgeon, brown bullhead and bass.
Guidebooks for California
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Ellery Creek?
Sites at Ellery Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservation season is April 1 - Sept 12 through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) @ recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Ellery Creek?
If the reservation was made through recreation.gov please call 1-877-444-6777 to make a refund request. Refunds must be requested no later than 14 days before your scheduled arrival date for a full refund (excluding recreation.gov fee’s).
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Ellery Creek?
Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Ellery Creek open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April 1 to September 12.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Ellery Creek have?
20 sites, including 19 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Ellery Creek?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Ellery Creek?
There are no showers available or electric/water hookups for trailers.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Ellery Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Ellery Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Ellery Creek?
A public boat ramp is located approximately 4 miles away at Hirz Bay, but informal mooring is allowed at Ellery Creek if the water levels are sufficient. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Ellery Creek?
Lakehead, California. The Lake Shasta Caverns are also located on the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake in an area know as the Grey Rocks.
Source: Getting there
What if Ellery Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Pine Point (0.9 mi), Mccloud Bridge (1.6 mi, first-come), and Moore Creek (2.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby