By:
Submission
Description : At an elevation of 3700 feet, this is one of two developed campgrounds on the Upper McCloud River. There are 27 sites with tables and fire rings, vault toilets, and piped drinking water. Suitable for tents and larger RV's or trailers. Double sites for large families or small groups. 14 day limit. $15 per night. No reservations. Features : The Upper McCloud River is one of the primary attractions in the area. In addition to swimming and fishing, there is 15 miles of river-side trail to explore. Cattle Camp Swimming Hole is a Day Use Area, no Camping. Please do not dam up the river with rocks, this prevents the natural flow of the McCloud River and encourages algae growth in the swimming hole when the water is low.
From the McCloud Ranger Station, turn left on Hwy 89. Drive 10.5 miles and look for a sign on the left side of the highway for Cattle Camp Campground. At the sign, turn right and go approximately 1/3 mile and turn left into the campground.
This is my 2nd time visiting this campground. Unfortunately as I arrived on April 29, Saturday, the campsite is closed due to inches of snow blocking off the entire road to the campground and the road leading to the river. I would like to notify travelers in advance before you waste your time heading this way!! Despite the high elevation, I'm sure the snow will melt by July. It was cold average temperatures at this area.
I’ve stayed in a lot of places all over the country, and I always say the host is what makes the campground. And Jerry is the best! Quiet and peaceful and spacious sites. I’ll definitely be back!
awesome camp ground !!! big camp spaces ,not crowded ,well maintained grounds , beautiful forests , shade for those hot days , restrooms , cell service depending on carrier and water .. 15 $ a night and its yours... the whole area is well worth a visit , amazing falls , clean cool waters , close by everytjing yet surprisingly not too crowded .. enjoy
"I wanted a campground that was close to McCloud Falls and Mt. Shasta, plus Burney Falls on the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, C-89. Site #12 was beside the road, and there was some truck noise at night, but being closest to the byway, I was first to see a deer walk through camp at dusk.
I put up my azul Ozark Trail tent with the Aerobed queen-size air mattress and made my home for the next few nights. Even though the campground was full, it was quiet, and I felt weird about plugging in my phone with my engine on for a few hours, but I needed have power for the hikes in the morning.
Instead of staking the fly open, I staked one in the middle giving me a front door and holding down the tarp in case of wind or rain.
If it rains, water will puddle, so look for a convex footprint with your head uphill. Never forget the importance of coverage, even if you don’t think it is going to rain. Although water is one of the 10 ways to find magic on the trail, water on dry blankets can drench your sweet dreams.
Two nights of chill became a little more rowdy by the weekend and the center campsite became an out-of-school reunion on bikes, scooters and wilderness walks. I love camping during the summer and if you don’t like families, I don't recommend you camp in popular areas. When the rain started, it was dinner time and most of the families had retreated to campers, so all I could hear was the pounding droplets on my tent.
After a full day of hiking, I was tired and screwed together the JetBoil and gas I picked up from REI for this trip. In less than 5 minutes I was slurping Cup of Noodles, which kept me warm even without the fire.
Before it got dark, I escaped away to the secret water hole named for the camp I was staying. With no one else around, I took a breath and looked for the light.
It started to sprinkle, and I found myself star-struck by the beauty I could create in my life on my own. C-89 Waterfall Loop is 1 of the 8 trips of magic in northern California and Cattle Camp is a dream campground along the way."
We loved this campground. The spaces are a good distance apart, has bathrooms and water within walking distance spread throughout the campground. Very quiet at night. Every now and then you can here a car drive by on 89 but didn't notice it and was not loud enough to bother us at all. Spaces had a paved area to park and a concrete area around the fire ring making it very nice for handicap accessibility. The roads and paved and level for kids on scooters and bikes. A very well put together campground. This campground is well located between Mt. Shasta City, McCloud, and Burney with the McCloud falls and Burney falls all less than a 35 minute drive away. The Cattle Camp swimming hole is a short drive away, not walking distance, cold water but nice to cool off. The campground was full even during the week in June. We were very lucky to get a spot.
