Ellery Creek
Shasta-Trinity National Forest — lakeside, fishing
Location: Lakehead, CA, CA
Price: From $30 per night
Rating: 4.1 out of 5 (25 reviews)
Season: May through October
Ellery Creek is located on the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake. The campground is terraced, providing views of the lake from all of the lower sites and some of the upper sites. At certain water levels, boats can be moored on the shore within sight of the campground, making Ellery Creek a very popular place to camp among boaters.Each site offers fair to good privacy and sufficient shade provided by the deciduous trees in the campground.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Showers, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/ellery-creek to be notified when sites open up.
Ellery Creek offers terraced lake views and is popular with boaters, with informal mooring allowed when water levels permit. Campers praise it as a quiet, less-crowded spot with beautiful large trees and water views.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Bald Eagle, Ringtail, and various snake species (Striped Racer, Shasta Alligator Lizard) verified in the area.
Insider tips for Ellery Creek: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand. Lower terraced sites provide lake views; some upper sites also have views. Afternoon shade arrives early at most sites; check site-specific shade if planning tent camping. Informal boat mooring allowed at campground when water levels are sufficient; formal boat ramp 4 miles away at Hirz Bay. Sites 13-18 are on a long paved lot — choose other sites if you prefer traditional camping feel. No camp host or rangers present — self-sufficient camping experience.
Skip Ellery Creek if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites; only suitable for self-contained RVs.. You prefer easily accessible water access — low water levels require hiking up and down.. You want year-round camping — seasonal operations May through October only..
Best time to visit Ellery Creek: May through October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only..
Nearby campgrounds: Pine Point (Shasta Lake, Ca) (Lakehead, CA), Hirz Mountain Lookout (REDDING, CA), Mccloud Bridge (Redding, CA), Moore Creek (Lakehead, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Ellery Creek
Cell signal at Ellery Creek (Lakehead, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Ellery Creek is located on the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake. The campground is terraced, providing views of the lake from all of the lower sites and some of the upper sites. At certain water levels, boats can be moored on the shore within sight of the campground, making Ellery Creek a very popular place to camp among boaters.Each site offers fair to good privacy and sufficient shade provided by the deciduous trees in the campground.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with high demand.
Lower terraced sites provide lake views; some upper sites also have views.
Afternoon shade arrives early at most sites; check site-specific shade if planning tent camping.
Informal boat mooring allowed at campground when water levels are sufficient; formal boat ramp 4 miles away at Hirz Bay.
Sites 13-18 are on a long paved lot
choose other sites if you prefer traditional camping feel.
No camp host or rangers present
self-sufficient camping experience.
Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Redding, California: Take I-5 to Gilman Road. From the north take the Salt Creek exit to Gilman Road. Go east for 16 miles to the campground entrance (located on the right hand side of the road between Moore Creek and Pine Point Campgrounds). *The Map Driving Route link gives directions to mail office, not the campground.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Shasta-Trinity National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Shasta-Trinity National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Ellery Creek cost per night?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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