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Tent campers who pack in their own water and want a quiet alpine lake to swim, float, or fish from will be very happy here. The 2.5-mile PCT leg to Seven Lakes Basin is worth the trip alone, and summer nights in the 30s mean you'll sleep well.
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
6 campsites
Season
The area on the nort...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Check Policy
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
6 campsites
Season
The area on the nort...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Check Policy
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41.2133, -122.5094
Tent campers who pack in their own water and want a quiet alpine lake to swim, float, or fish from will be very happy here. The 2.5-mile PCT leg to Seven Lakes Basin is worth the trip alone, and summer nights in the 30s mean you'll sleep well.
Only six spots with no reservations means arriving Friday afternoon often means no site. Reviewers also flag disruptive behavior and comments from other campers that some visitors outside the local cultural mainstream found unwelcoming, so solo or minority campers should know tha
Reference information about Gumboot Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p><strong>Description</strong>: The area on the north side of this shallow alpine lake is open for camping from June to October, depending on snow. There are at least 6 undeveloped sites (no tables) with user-created fire rings and a vault toilet. Bring your own water or purify the lake water. Suitable for tents and mid-size RV's or trailers. No fee. Usually opens around the end of May and closes due to snow by the first of November. <strong>Features</strong>: This is one of three alpine lakes on the district that can be reached by passenger car. The lake sits in a broad open bowl surrounded by grassy areas and mixed conifer forest. A smaller lake lies only a short distance to the west. Fishing and non-motorized boating are the most popular activities. Hikers can drive 2 miles from the lake to the Gumboot Trailhead to access the Pacific Crest Trail. Views of Mt. Shasta and the Trinity Alps abound. It is an easy 2 ½ miles (one-way) south on the PCT to view and explore the Seven Lakes Basin.</p>
<p> Gumboot Campground has a total of 4 units. Average max. trailer size = 12 foot.</p> <p> <strong>Dispersed camping opportunities near Gumboot Campground:</strong></p> <p> On South Fork Road (26), there are numerous dispersed sites. About two miles west of Lake Siskiyou is the National Forest boundary. About three miles from the Forest boundary is the first of two bridges you will cross. There are numerous sites located off spur roads on the right side of the road along this section. After the first bridge the road narrows and the canyon is steep for about 3 miles to the second bridge. Between the second bridge and Gumboot Lake is another 3 mile section with more sites located off spur roads on both sides of the road. There are also lots of sites around Gumboot Lake as well.<br /> <strong>Directions</strong>: From exit 738 off I-5, head west on Lake Street to the intersection with Old Stage Road. Turn left (south) then stay right at the fork in the road. In two miles you will cross the dam that forms Lake Siskiyou. Stay on the main road around the lake and past the Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort. In another two miles you will see the Forest Boundary sign. The road follows the canyon of the South Fork of the Sacramento River for the next eight miles. At the top of the watershed, there will be a fork in the road. The left fork goes .5 mile to Gumboot Lake; the right fork continues 1.5 miles to the Gumboot Trailhead for the Pacific Crest Trail.</p>
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Summer is the reliable window here. Late June through September brings highs in the 65–80°F range and cool nights that drop into the 30s and 40s. Roads are clear, wildflowers carpet the meadows, and the lake is swimmable. October turns crisp and unpredictable. November snows close access until the following spring. Winter buries the basin in deep snow and sends temperatures well below freezing. Only serious backcountry travelers venture in then.
Best season: June–Sept with warm days, wildflowers, clear roads and full access to trails and lake.
Gumboot Campground is a small, no-fee camping site located by a shallow alpine lake. It has minimal amenities, catering primarily to campers who prefer an undeveloped, back-to-nature experience. Visitors should bring their own water or purify water from the lake. "There are at least 6 undeveloped sites (no tables) with user-created fire rings and a vault toilet." Restroom facilities are limited to one vault toilet.
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