This is a group Campsite for parties ranging from 2-35.  It is a developed campground with tables, fire pits, restroom with vault toilet and garbage pick up.  The rate is $30 per night and can be reserved on recreation.gov or reserveamerica.com only.  Permitted campers at this site must stay within site boundaries and not spill over into the day use area.

Behind the group camp site the Camp 4 day use area is open to the public.  Hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  There is NO camping allowed in this area.

Please do not dam up the river, it must flow to remain healthy.

For more information please call the District Office at 530-964-2184

Nearby Activities

• Camping

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 41° 14′ 3.0876″ N

Longitude 121° 59′ 8.9880″ W

This day use area is a popular site for viewing all sorts of wildlife as well as fishing. There is a wooden deck over the water with handicap access.

* The wooden deck suffered severe damage over the winter due to high river levels.  It is unknown when repairs will be conducted.

Lakin Dam has benefited people and wildlife.
According to local residents, Lakin Dam was built in 1925 by the McCloud River Lumber Company. The dam was built to supply a reliable water source for the people of McCloud, and to provide water for the mill’s boilers, which ran the mill.
In addition to providing water for the town of McCloud, Lakin Dam creates the slow moving waters where the native Redband Trout live.
The original dam’s pipes were made of redwood wrapped with wire. The redwood was replaced in the 1960’s with a steel pipe.
The dam was named after Bert Lakin who was general manager of the McCloud River Lumber Company. Mr. Lakin was well respected in the American lumber industry.
On October 1, 1936 he lost his life in a forest fire on the west edge of McCloud.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 41° 13′ 55.9632″ N

Longitude 122° 0′ 32.2092″ W

Species present: Rainbow and Brook 

Trout Seasons: Open all year. Bag limit: 5 per day, 10 in possession.

Date of usual ice out: July 1 (6,200' elevation)

Access roads: This lake is located in Section 27, T39N, R5W. Access it via the South Fork Road (Road 26) from the W.A. Barr Road. About 6 miles up Road 26, at the wooden bridge, take road 40N43 to the left across the wooden bridge, go about 500' and turn right onto road 39N45. Go about 1.5 miles to road 39N44 and turn left. These roads are very rocky and are not suitable for low clearance vehicles. At the end of road 39N44, the Gray Rock Lake Trail (5W07) goes to Gray Rock Lake. Go east, cross country, about a mile over the pass from Timber/Gray Rock Lake. It may be a rough walk.

Camping: 2 fair to good sites and firewood is available

Surface acres: 2.5 acres and 10' deep.

Comments: Good fishing, but the shores are brushy. There is a small pond below the lake that is sometimes good fishing also. This lake is on National Forest land.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ S

Longitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ W

Species present: Rainbow and Brook Trout

Seasons: Open all year. Bag limit: 5 per day, 10 in possession.

Date of usual ice out: July 1 (7,250' elevation).

Access roads: This lake is in Section 21, T41N, R6W. Access is via the Parks Creek Road (Road 17), from Stewart Springs Road. About 4.5 miles up Road 17, take road 41N73 to the right. At West Parks Lakes Creek, the bridge has been removed. Park and walk from this point. Cross the creek and continue on the road to Road 41N73A. From the end of this road, a faint steep trail goes to Lower West Parks Lake. It's about a 1.5 hour walk from the bridge removal site to the lower lake (of three).

Camping: Several fair sites. Good firewood availability.

Surface acres: 2 acres and 12' deep.

Comments: Fair fishing for small Brook Trout. This lake is on National Forest Land.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ S

Longitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ W

Species present: Rainbow and Brook Trout

Seasons: Open all year. Bag limit: 5 per day, 10 in possession.

Date of usual ice out: June 1 (6,300' elevation).

Access roads: Access roads: This lake is located in Section 1, T38N, R6W. The Seven Lakes Basin is about 20 miles by road and trail from Mt. Shasta City. Access is via the South Fork Road (Road 26) from the W.A. Barr Road. One route to the basin is via the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) which crosses Road 26 after about 12 miles (Gumboot Trailhead). Park here and walk south on the PCT for 2.25 miles to the divide between Seven Lakes and Mumbo Basins. At the divide, take the Seven Lakes Trail (an old jeep road) to the south.

Alternative access to this area is by continuing on Road 26 for an additional 2.5 miles past the Gumboot Trailhead, to road 38N61. Turn left and go about a mile to where an unmarked private road goes to the left into the head of Seven Lakes Basin, just above Helen Lake. Do not attempt to drive this private road…it is extremely steep and eroded and becomes very loose in the summer. It is about a mile walk from this point to the Seven Lakes Basin.

Camping: 2 fair sites. There are more further back in the trees.

Surface acres: 5 acres and 35' deep.

Comments: This lake, at the upper end of the Seven Lakes Basin, receives moderate to heavy use. It is surrounded by rather dense brush and trees. It has a good population of Eastern Brook Trout.

This lake is owned by Sierra Pacific Industries. They say, "Motorized access may be restricted at any time. Pedestrian access is allowed at your own risk. No campfires during fire season. Outside of fire season, campfires are by permit only. Trash and garbage should be carried out."

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ S

Longitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ W

Species present: Brook and Rainbow Trout.

Seasons: Open all year. Bag limit: 5 per day, 10 in possession.

Date of usual ice out: June (7,300' elevation).

Access road: This lake is located on Section 24, T40N, R6W. Access is via the Parks Creek Road (Road 17) from the Stewart Springs exit on Interstate 5, north of the town of Weed. About 9.5 miles up Road 17 is the Parks Creek trailhead of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The lake basin is about 3 miles east and south on the PCT. It is a low gradient trail, but long. An estimated time would be 2 or 3 hours to get to the lake. Another approach is via the Deadfall Trail from the Deadfall Meadows trailhead another 1.5 miles further on Road 17 (at the switchback).

Camping: Limited at the shore. One site is at the outlet. Another is to the north. The shoreline is steep.

Surface acres: 25 acres and 40' deep.

Comments: A large lake that is good for Brook Trout and some Rainbows, even an occasional Brown. Open, but steep shores. Fly fishing especially good. This lake is on National Forest land.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ S

Longitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ W

Species present: Rainbow, Brook, and Brown Trout

Seasons: Open all year. Bag limit: 5 per day, 10 in possession.

Date of usual ice out: July 1 (6,950' elevation)

Access roads: This lake is located in Section 36, T40N, R6W. Access is via the South Fork Road (Road 26) from the W.A. Barr Road. About 2.5 miles up Road 26, just past the concrete bridge, take road 41N53 to the right. About 0.5 miles up this road, turn left on road 40N64 and continue until reaching the Toad Lake cabin site. The last half mile of this road is very rocky and is not recommended for low clearance vehicles. From the cabin site, trail 5W05 goes up the old jeep trail (no vehicles allowed) to the lake.

Camping: Many developed sites with tables and toilets, near the outlet. Many primitive sites near inlet in meadows. Firewood is scarce.

Surface acres: 23 acres 40' deep.

Comments: A popular lake. Fair fishing for mostly small Brook Trout, but some very big Rainbow Trout also. Shores vary from timber to rocks to meadow. The fly fishing can be excellent. Many sensitive and rare plants in this location. An excellent nature walk area…pretty surroundings. Boats are not allowed. This lake is on National Forest land.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ S

Longitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ W

Species present: Rainbow and Brook Trout

Seasons: Open all year. Bag limit: 5 per day, 10 in possession.

Date of usual ice out: July 1 (6,700' elevation).

Access roads: This lake is located in Section 1, T38N, R6W. The Seven Lakes Basin is about 20 miles by road and trail from Mt. Shasta City. Access is via the South Fork Road (Road 26) from the W.A. Barr Road. One route to the basin is via the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) which crosses Road 26 after about 12 miles (Gumboot Trailhead). Park here and walk south on the PCT for 2.25 miles to the divide between Seven Lakes and Mumbo Basins. At the divide, take the Seven Lakes Trail (an old jeep road) to the south.

Alternative access to this area is by continuing on Road 26 for an additional 2.5 miles past the Gumboot Trailhead, to road 38N61. Turn left and go about a mile to where an unmarked private road goes to the left into the head of Seven Lakes Basin, just above Helen Lake. Do not attempt to drive this private road…it is extremely steep and eroded and becomes very loose in the summer. It is about a mile walk from this point to the Seven Lakes Basin.

Camping: 2 fair campsites. Wood hard to find due to high elevation (permission for a campfire must be obtained from Sierra Pacific Industries).

Surface acres: 2.5 acres and 15' deep.

Comments: Fair fishing for Brook Trout. The shore is open enough for fly fishing.

This lake is owned by Sierra Pacific Industries. They say, "Motorized access may be restricted at any time. Pedestrian access is allowed at your own risk. No campfires during fire season. Outside of fire season, campfires are by permit only. Trash and garbage should be carried out."

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ S

Longitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ W

Special note about Heart Lake

The traditional trail to Heart Lake and Little Castle Lake leaves the east end of the parking area and ascends to the divide above the east side of the lake. It begins on public land in section 24 of T39N R5W but immediately crosses the boundary of section 19 of T39N R4W. This entire section of land (about 640 acres) is privately owned property and posted as such. There is no legal access across this section to these lakes. Please be respectful and avoid trespassing.

 

 

Species present: Brook Trout

Seasons: Open all year. Bag limit: 5 per day, 10 in possession.

Date of usual ice out: June 1 (6,050' elevation)

Access road: This lake is located in Section 24, T39N, R5W. Drive to Castle Lake, about 11 miles from the town of Mt. Shasta, on the paved Castle Lake Road, which is usually open on Memorial Day. From Castle Lake, go about a mile south, then there is a faint trail southwest to Heart Lake.

Camping: 1 to 3 poor sites. The lake has steep shores.

Surface acres: 0.75 acres and 11' deep.

Comments: Fair fishing for small Brook Trout. The lake sometimes freezes, which can kill the fish. There is a very small pond on the west side of this lake. The lake is on National Forest land in the Castle Crags Wilderness.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ S

Longitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ W

Species present: Rainbow and Brook Trout

Seasons: Open all year. Bag limit: 5 per day, 10 in possession.

Date of usual ice out: June 1 (6,050' elevation).

Access road: This lake is located on Section 26, T39N, R6W. Access is via the South Fork Road (Road 26) from the W.A. Barr Road. About 9 miles up Road 26, take road 40N37 to the left, which goes directly to Gumboot Lake. The road is paved all the way.

Camping: Many good sites. South shore closed to camping. Vault Toilets available. Firewood hard to find near camps, but is available in the general area.

Surface acres: 7 acres and 15' deep.

Comments: This lake receives a lot of fishing and camping use. There is a trail around it. The lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout, but Brook Trout are sometimes caught. Fly fishing is very good at times. No motors are allowed, but it is easily fished from shore. The lake is on National Forest land.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ S

Longitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ W