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Hirz Bay Group 2 Campground sits along the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake, shaded by a forest of oak and Manzanita. The facility offers a variety of recreational activities, including a nearby boat ramp for water sports and a hiking trail.
The Hirz Bay boat launch is a 1/2 mile from the campground. Hikers can also access the 2-mile Hirz Bay Trail near the campground. Resorts on the lake have watercraft rentals and marinas with fuel. Popular water activities include power and non-motorized boating, fishing and water skiing. Lake Shasta offers excellent fishing for trout, catfish, Chinook salmon, crappie, bluegill, white sturgeon, brown bullhead and bass.
The campground is ideal for groups of up to 80 people. The camp offers 9 picnic tables, a large pedestal grill, a large open fire ring, 2 fireplaces with grates and 2 water hydrants. Vault toilets and bear-proof food storage lockers are also provided. The parking area contains 23 paved spaces and is separate from the camping area.
Shasta-Trinity is the largest national forest in California with a diverse landscape encompassing five wilderness areas, hundreds of mountain lakes and 6,278 miles of streams and rivers.
Lake Shasta sits at an elevation of 1,067 feet, with 365 miles of shoreline punctuated by steep mountains blanketed in manzanita and evergreens. A snow-capped Mount Shasta, the second-tallest mountain in the Cascade Range, looms in the distance.
Lake Shasta Caverns are also located on the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake in an area known as the Grey Rocks. Tours are given daily at this privately owned facility.
The nearby Hirz Mountain Lookout offers panoramic views of Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen and the surrounding area at an elevation of 3,500 feet.
250 miles north of San Francisco. Take I-5 through Sacramento and Redding. Go 25 miles north of Redding and cross Shasta Lake. Remain on I-5 to Gilman Road (From the north, take Salt Creek exit to Gilman Road). Take Gilman Road east 11 miles to the entrance of Hirz Bay on the right.
**Refunds must be requested no later than 14 days before your scheduled arrival date for a full refund (excluding recreation.gov fees).**
Reservation Fee: For some facilities, an additional reservation fee is charged. This additional non-refundable fee is $10.00 for the call center and online reservations.
Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bankcard. Please note the charge on your bank card statement will read "Recreation.gov 888-448-1474."
Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure the Recreation.gov will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates and sites (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be canceled and all fees paid will be refunded.
7.30.2020
Paved roads and pretty big group camp site ,I was able to bring 33ft travel trailer . It was a tight fit but made it work, very clean restrooms. No internet but you do have spotted cell reception if you need to make a call or send a text . The only cons to this place is that the lake is far away and its not an easy descent to it either but the boat ram isn't too far. Also during the hot season it get pretty toasty during the day . We also had bear visiting couple of times during the stay so watch out for that but bear was not aggresive . In overall had a great experience, it's a very secluded area in my opinion so no one will bother you.
This is a great campsite close the the Hirz Bay launch ramp and it's lakeside although it's a little steep of a walk to get down to the water. It has a sink and 2 BBQ's one large one and a smaller double grille. 4 large bear lockers. I'm giving it 4 stars because allot of the benches, bear lockers and BBQ grills are in need of some maintenance.
When I click on the directions from Santa Rosa told me 7hrs and 52 minutes. Yes took me that long. But found out from other family members took them 5hrs from Santa Rosa. Google maps only show you two different directions. After finding out I took the wrong route to the campsite. The faster route is going through Clearlake 29 and then to Hwy 20 E. Then to Hwy 5 North to Redding to Shasta County line. Take exit for the Lake Shasta campground to Hertz Bay Campground. This will take you about 4 to 5 hrs. Not take the directions from google mentioned on the website. And coming back to Santa Rosa. Take Highway 5 south until you see Highway 80. Take you to Vacaville to Vallejo exit West to highway 37 or Highway 12 going to Napa to Sonoma County line. This highway will split to either go towards Petaluma or Sonoma town. I would take going towards Petaluma highway 116 west. Then to adobe Road then to Petaluma Road North to Cotati then to Santa Rosa back roads. For anyone that lives in Santa Rosa. And hasn’t visited this campground. Going for the first time. Don’t make this mistake like I did. No showers at the camp site only two toilets. No bathroom sinks and no soap despensors. No mirrors in the bathroom. There was a black bear came to the site at 4am. Got into the food that was on the table. Place the food in the box lockers when not in use. Bring with you a portable shower cover to take showers. Bring solar chargers and solar lights for night time. Very dark at night. Bring extra lights for the two bathrooms. There is no light in the bathroom if you need to go in the middle of the night. Take main pathway to the lake to swim. Don’t take the steep slope hill like we did. Very dangerous can slide and hurt yourself. Safer ti take the driveway pathway down to the boat dock to swim. The large barbecue hanging one is broken. Need to use rope or other type of item to keep it hanging to place your food to cook. Bring a starter to heat the charcoal like I did. Helps light faster. It does get very hot. Bring a hand towel to keep you cool. I brought a couple of them for my family. Fire pit is there. Love using it. Lots of tables. One of the tables is broken. There is only two faucets to use to wash your self and to wash your dishes. Both only cold water. Bring a large bucket to wash your self and a smaller bucket to wash your hands for the bathroom and leave there for use with hand sanitizer and soap. So people can wash the hands in the small bucket of water. And bring a sprayer for the smell.
Memorial Day 2023 review:
This is a great campsite. Lake is at 100% full and the short hike to the shoreline is easy.
The sink in previous photos posted is no longer there, has been ripped out.
The brick grill is there, and functional but the raising/lowering mechanism may break. Be prepared with tools to fix.
The standalone grill in one picture is no longer there as well.
The fire pit is large and great for fires at night.
The mosquitoes are fierce here, bring bug spray.
Note that this campground only has 4 bear boxes.
BEARS ARE ACTIVE in the area. Put all food and coolers away at night!
I see big cat that turn to a coyote but it was not it was some one that hurt it and it was going down to camp ground looking for kids or some camper to eat it can not run and try get deer so it need to eat people will be .It's menu's only u see and know yeah you'll might know about it or those big cat is halosfe they hide all the time because it's shy
