West State of Jefferson, NorCal Free/Cheap

[CaddyGrn]

There is some really nice free camping here in the State of Jefferson (Northern California)! Travel I-5 to Yreka about 35 miles from Oregon border... Take Hwy 96 West.

Trees of Heaven: After about 10 minutes of driving along the Klamath River you will come to the Trees of Heaven campground. Nice, but has a fee. USFS campground. Right next to the Klamath River. It is the closest to I-5 along this route. Has water, pit toilets, even a group area. Lots of trees. Good for fishing. One downside to this spot is the road off the hiway is quite steep for about 1/4 mile down to the campground, but you can see other rigs from top the road looking down and can determine if you want to give it a "go".

Beaver Creek: Very nicely secluded along side a wonderful creek. Free. USFS. Travel about 45 minutes West on 96 and turn north (right) at Beaver Creek Road. If you get to the "town" (loosely used) of Klamath River you have traveled too far. Travel another maybe 15 minutes along the road and on your right you will come to Beaver Creek campground. About 6 camping spaces. 14 day maximum. Nice flat spaces to park. Pit toilet, but new and clean at last visit. No fresh water. No trash service. Beautiful scenery. If you go too far the road will become a gravel road.

The photo below is of a campsite right next to Beaver Creek.

[flyfshr]

That looks so nice. Thanks for the posting. Those six spaces will never be the same and I hope some of our members can put them to good use. How's the fishing?

Brad
FF

[CaddyGrn]

It is a nice place ~ secluded. I don't know about the fishing, not being a fisherperson myself... but close by there is lots of people that fish in the Klamath River!
C. East

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by flyfshr

That looks so nice. Thanks for the posting. Those six spaces will never be the same and I hope some of our members can put them to good use. How's the fishing?

Brad
FF

Brad,

The fishing in the Klamath river depends on who wins the water rights fight, the farmers or the fish.

Bill

[CaddyGrn]

More cheap or free in the State of Jefferson (Northern CA or Southern Or)

Indian Scotty Campground. NFS campground. Closed during winter. From Yreka at Interstate 5 take the exit by Wal-Mart and travel to Fort Jones. From Ft. Jones turn at the Scott River Road and follow it for about 14 miles. You will see a sign and cross a one lane bridge across the Scott River. Great swimming holes, good fishing, access trailheads into the Marble Mountain wilderness. Good rafting and kayaking in spring, tubing in summer on Scott River.

Pit toilets, but clean at last visit. Potable water at last visit, but very high iron content. Quiet, usually can find open campsites. $10 a night, $5 with Golden Age pass.

[CaddyGrn]

We recently went to the best National Forest Service Campground ever... and it was right here in "The State of Jefferson" in Siskiyou County, California.

Kangaroo Lake
While traveling Interstate 5 in Northern California between Redding and the Oregon border there are a number of great places to camp.... just off the beaten path a ways. Small campground, but very nice at about 5800 ft. A beautiful lake that is regularly stocked with fish, great for swimming or a kayak (no motors). Also some wonderful trails in the area for hiking. You will need to find directions before you head up, and part of the road is a one way only so be prepared to pull over on a pull out when you meet someone coming down the road... but it is quite "do-able". This campground has the best accessible areas I have seen to date, a person in a wheel chair can actually wheel right into the water and get their toes wet! No hookups, but water spigots nearby and many of the campsites are large and reasonably level. If you have questions, let me know! The campsites are $15 a night, with a self service station.... checkout is at 2:00 p.m. If you have a Golden Eagle pass it is half price.

[CaddyGrn]

Here is an interesting link for travelers.... I have it marked for Siskiyou County, California...but you should be able to find most US topo maps. Free downloads!

Free Siskiyou County, California Topographic Maps

[CaddyGrn]

While traveling Interstate 5 in Northern California north of Redding, there is a nice little NFS campground right off the freeway near Dunsmuir. Sims Flat Campground. Next to the Sacramento River, nice flat areas, nice walk along the bank. Quick and easy access back to the Interstate.

[bird_dg]

An addition to the information on Simms Flat; for many years that was one of the stops on our fall trout fishing pilgrimage(?) along the upper Sac and McCloud rivers. Beautiful place but it is along a major railway, you can expect to hear train whistles at any time, day or night.

[CaddyGrn]

About 20 miles from the Oregon/California border just a bit off of Interstate 5 is Iron Gate Reservoir. (BLM campsites) They have several camp sites and they are all free. One area has both water and a dump station. No power. Take exit #789 to the East from Interstate 5 and travel approximately 10 miles to the campgrounds. There are also boat ramps available at two campsites, all is free. It can be hot and dry in the summer months, and there are rattlesnakes in the area, so when hiking stay on trails and keep an eye out. In the spring and fall or even winter the area is usually accessible. Some of the campgrounds are open year round. The exit off of Interstate 5 is at the small burg of Hornbrook, California.

[HiJoeSilver]

Good info looks like some great places. Thanks for sharing.