U.S. Forest Service · Shasta-Trinity National Forest · Redding, CA

Mary Smith Campground

Mary Smith Campground is located off County Road 105, two miles north of the town of Lewiston, CA. This campground offers excellent fishing and tent camping. This campground was picked as one of California's prettiest lake campgrounds in Sunset Magazine. Many of the sites have shore access to Lewiston Lake.

More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California · pets allowed in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Mary Smith StairsMARY SMITH CAMPGROUNDMARY SMITH CAMPGROUNDMARY SMITH CAMPGROUND
Photos courtesy of Shyann Shackelford, Adrian Reed Smith (VivaLaPandaz) (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Tent-only12
Yurts6
Host/management2
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

18 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresAccessibleRating
01Tent onlyPavedPartial8 / 1YesStandard
06Tent onlyPavedPartial8 / 1YesStandard
07Tent onlyPavedPartial8 / 1YesStandard
08Tent onlyPavedPartial8 / 1YesStandard
10Tent onlyPavedPartial8 / 1YesStandard
11Tent onlyPavedPartial8 / 1YesStandard
12Tent onlyPavedPartial8 / 1YesStandard
13Tent onlyPavedPartial8 / 1YesStandard
14Tent onlyPavedPartial8 / 1YesStandard
15Tent onlyPavedPartial8 / 1YesStandard

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

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes
FeesIf 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).
AccessibilitySite 09 is listed accessible

There are six Glamping unit sites all with on-site fire pits and picnic tables. The sites offer fair to outstanding privacy. There are both flush and vault toilets, and drinking water is provided. With the exception of the large cluster of sites at the campground entrance (Glamping camping site #'s 2, 3, 4, 5a, 5b, and 9 ADA compliant), the remaining sites are arranged in small groups. No trailers are allowed and there are no parking spurs. Glamping Camping Unit & Site Amenities: Inside: over-sized queen beds with feather down comforters and pillows (linen service provided), two bed-side nightstands, over-sized rugs and a boot bench. Outside: front deck equipped with two armchairs and coffee table, fire pit and picnic table.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonApr 1 to Oct. 18
ForestShasta-Trinity National Forest
BookingReservations available through recreation.gov or calling 1-877-444-6777.
Fees$24 per day, per site, $8 per day per extra vehicle Glamping sites $104-$125

Shasta-Trinity National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Mary Smith Campground30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 6.68 inches of precipitation, 2.2 inches of snowFebruary: 5.69 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowMarch: 5.01 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowApril: 2.62 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowMay: 1.86 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 0.93 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.27 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.17 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.31 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.00 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 4.33 inches of precipitation, 0.8 inches of snowDecember: 7.67 inches of precipitation, 4.0 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 40.3°F averageFebruary: 43.3°F averageMarch: 47.2°F averageApril: 51.8°F averageMay: 59.4°F averageJune: 66.3°F averageJuly: 73.7°F averageAugust: 72.3°F averageSeptember: 66.2°F averageOctober: 55.8°F averageNovember: 45.4°F averageDecember: 38.6°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Weaverville, 13 miles from the campground at 2,058 feet, station USC00049490 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 38 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 9 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, April 1 to October 18.

Getting there

From Weaverville: Take Highway 3 north for 7 miles. Turn right on Rush Creek Road for 9 miles. Turn left on Trinity Dam Blvd for 3/4 mile. Turn right on Lewiston Vista/Mary Smith exit. Campground is 1/4 mile from exit on County Road 105, 2 miles north of Lewiston.

Nearest townRedding, California
Coordinates40.9261° N, 122.9153° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Five-6 Rx

    12 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Five-7 Rx

    13 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Leary Rx

    41 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Srf 2026 Rx Implementation

    42 mi from the campground · 500 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearTrinity Outdoors ↗14.2 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗25.5 mi
RV sales & serviceCousin Gary RV Center ↗34.6 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

California's the prettiest lake campground | Mary Smith Campground at Lewiston Lake.

  • 1.4 mi
    Summit Lake Spur
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 1.7 mi
    Siligo Spur
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 1.7 mi
    Stoney Ridge ↗
    6.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 1.7 mi
    Deer Creek ↗
    6.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 1.7 mi
    Long Canyon ↗
    5.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 1.7 mi
    Four Lakes
    4 mi trail · hiking, horse

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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Trinity Alps Wilderness, which overlaps Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campsites are tucked into a mixed forest of conifer and deciduous trees, surrounded by abundant wildflowers. Every site offers a view of Lewiston Lake and the surrounding Trinity Alps. Lewiston Lake is about five miles long, about 70 feet deep, and sits at an elevation of 1,902 feet. It is a favorite among anglers and paddlers.

Recreation

The area offers excellent opportunities for fishing, kayaking, hiking and wildlife viewing. Pine Cove boat ramp is within four miles, and Fairview launching area on Trinity Lake is nine miles north. Motorized boats are limited to ten miles per hour. Rainbow trout are abundant, and brown and brook trout are common. This is a good lake for a float tube and excellent fly fishing. The area offers wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities.

Guidebooks for California

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Mary Smith Campground?

Sites at Mary Smith Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations available through recreation.gov or 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 Mary Smith Campground?

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 Mary Smith Campground?

Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Mary Smith Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Apr 1 to Oct. 18.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Mary Smith Campground have?

20 sites, including 12 tent-only sites and 6 yurt.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Mary Smith Campground?

Mary Smith Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Mary Smith Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Mary Smith Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Mary Smith Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at Mary Smith Campground?

Site 09 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Mary Smith Campground?

The area offers excellent opportunities for fishing, kayaking, hiking and wildlife viewing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Mary Smith Campground?

Redding, California.

Source: Getting there

What if Mary Smith Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Bridge Camp (3.7 mi, first-come), Stoney Point Campground (6.1 mi, first-come), and Stoney Group Shasta-Trinity (6.2 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby