campgrounds.fyiIndependent · federal campgrounds · no paid placements
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USFSShasta-Trinity National Forest · California

Castle Lake Campground

Description : This small primitive campground is nestled in a thick mixed conifer forest approximately ¼ mile below Castle Lake.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.5,282ft
Comf.May-Oct6 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Sacramento5h28real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 5,282 ft, Castle Lake Campground has a 6-month comfortable window (May-Oct). Winter nights average around 26°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: 2 named hiking routes, 5 peaks, lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER
QuietCoolRoomyShadeRV-fitReserv.

Reads strongest on cool nights and quiet. Softest on quiet.

Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.

When to go

02 · CLIMATE
JFMAMJJASOND
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Jul
May-Oct
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
91%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Jun 6
Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 13.
54°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Sacramento
246 mi
5h28
02
San Francisco
311 mi
6h55
03
Fresno
443 mi
9h51
04
Los Angeles
709 mi
15h45
05
San Diego
852 mi
18h56
By drive time
Sacramento · 5h28San Francisco · 6h55Fresno · 9h51Los Angeles · 15h45San Diego · 18h56Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 5.2 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Named hiking routes
2
Trail segments
39
Peaks
5

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
5.2 mi
Method

We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.

Check availability on Recreation.gov →