Sheep Camp Primitive Campground
This tent-only campground is located in the center of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, 17 miles west of Redding, California, and three and a half hours north of Sacramento. Ponderosa pines and fir shade the campsites which have cliffside views of Brandy Creek. Nearby trails lead to a series of lovely waterfalls or into old-growth forest high on Shasta Bally Mountain. The cool, clear waters of Whiskeytown Lake provide endless water activities. The picturesque mountain setting and extensive forested backcountry offer ample opportunities for hiking and biking.
More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 4 |
Site guide
4 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 15 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 002 | 15 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 003 | 15 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 004 | 15 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 15 ft |
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Sheep Camp is a tent-only campground. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, a large bear-resistant storage locker, a metal fire pit with a swing-arm barbecue grill and a lamp pole. Drinking water and electricity are not available. The campground has four campsites which share one vault toilet. To access these tent-only sites, walk approximately 25 feet from the parking area. Due to a small parking area, towing vehicles is prohibited in this campground. The following are prohibited: all trailers, fifth wheels, pop-up campers, cab-over campers and motorhomes. No overflow parking is available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Redding, CA, drive 10 miles west on Highway 299. Turn left on Kennedy Memorial Drive and follow it for 5.4 miles to Brandy Creek Road. Turn left and follow Brandy Creek Road for 2.4 miles to Shasta Bally Road. Turn right on Shasta Bally Road and follow it for.4 mile to the campground.
| Nearest town | Whiskeytown, California |
| Coordinates | 40.6000° N, 122.5942° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Sleeping in vehicles is not allowed.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedShf Rx
16 mi from the campground
- PrescribedFive-6 Rx
21 mi from the campground
- PrescribedFive-7 Rx
21 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 3.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 11.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | The Hermit’s Hut ↗ | 12.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Brandy Creek Beach is located three and a half miles south of the campground and features sandy beaches, a large swimming area, picnicking and barbecuing facilities. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, there are showers, a store with food and supplies and rentals of paddle boards and kayaks.
- 12.4 mi
- 12.7 mi
- 12.8 miCentimudi Public Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 14.9 miCooper Gulch Day Use Area ↗Day use
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
On the National Register nearby
- Gladstone HousesBuilding · French Gulch · 8.4 mi
- Lorenz HotelBuilding · Redding · 10.7 mi
- Old City Hall BuildingBuilding · Redding · 10.7 mi
Natural features
Tall pine and fir trees providing cooling shade make Sheep Camp Primitive Campground a relaxing retreat. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is located where the Klamath Mountains, Cascade and Coast Mountain Ranges, and the Sacramento Valley meet, creating a wide variety of wildlife and landscapes.
Recreation
During the summer heat, swimming, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and water skiing are popular on the 3,200 acre lake. Year round, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, gold panning, fishing and picnicking attract visitors. Hunting is allowed in the appropriate season.
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 Sheep Camp Primitive Campground?
Sites at Sheep Camp Primitive Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Sheep Camp Primitive Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Sheep Camp Primitive Campground have?
4 sites, including 4 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Sheep Camp Primitive Campground?
The longest site here provides 15 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 pets allowed at Sheep Camp Primitive Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Sheep Camp Primitive Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Sheep Camp Primitive Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Sheep Camp Primitive Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Sheep Camp Primitive Campground?
During the summer heat, swimming, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and water skiing are popular on the 3,200 acre lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Sheep Camp Primitive Campground?
Whiskeytown, California. Brandy Creek Beach is located three and a half miles south of the campground and features sandy beaches, a large swimming area, picnicking and barbecuing facilities.
Source: Getting there
What if Sheep Camp Primitive Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Brandy Creek Primitive Campground (0.6 mi), Dry Creek Group Campground (1.9 mi), and Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground (2.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Sheep Camp Primitive Campground in?
Sheep Camp Primitive Campground is a Whiskeytown National Recreation Area campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.