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Tent campers and boaters who self-supply all water and want a free base camp for Trinity Lake's bass, trout, and Kokanee fishing. Sites fit trailers to 32 feet, and summer nights cool into the 40s even when valley temps spike.
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
10 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
Free
Booking
First-Come
Sites
10 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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360 Main Street, Weaverville, CA 96093
Tent campers and boaters who self-supply all water and want a free base camp for Trinity Lake's bass, trout, and Kokanee fishing. Sites fit trailers to 32 feet, and summer nights cool into the 40s even when valley temps spike.
No potable water on-site and the nearest resupply is 34 miles in Weaverville, so anyone unprepared to haul in everything they need will feel that gap fast. Winter road conditions can close access entirely.
Reference information about Jackass Springs Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>Located approximately 34 miles north of Weaverville on State Hwy 3, this campground offers 10 campsites that can accommodate up to a 32' trailer. There is no piped water.</p>
<p> Total of 10 units. Average max. trailer size = 32 foot.</p>
The elevation is 2,500 ft. The campground is one of 16 in the Trinity Unit of the Whiskeytown- Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area. It is one of the most rustic visited in the NRA. The campground, pack it in, pack it out, stretches out along a ridge above Trinity Lake in a stand of mixed conifers. While the lake is not visible from any campsites, powerboats can be heard throughout. The sites are well spaced and have good privacy. Although no campsites have grilles, several have functioning Klamath Ovens. This is bear country; practice safe food storage techniques. Trinity National Forest 390
Boat ramps are scattered throughout the NRA. Hiking: None Fishing: Smallmouth, Largemouth and Black bass, Kokonee and Chinook salmon, Rainbow and Brown trout, and catfish
Boat ramps are scattered throughout the NRA. Hiking: None Fishing: Smallmouth, Largemouth and Black bass, Kokonee and Chinook salmon, Rainbow and Brown trout, and catfish
Boat ramps are scattered throughout the NRA.
From Trinity Center, CA, take State Rt. 3 north 4.5 miles to French Gulch sign. Turn right at sign onto East Side Rd. and go 12.5 miles to campground sign. Turn right and go 4.3 miles to another campground sign. Turn left into campground. NOTE: The last 12.1 miles is dirt with the final 4.3 miles single-lane and rocky. Check spare tire and tire changing tools. Access may not be passable in winter.
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Summer brings the best conditions for visiting. Daytime highs run 70s to 90s°F, with nights cooling to the 40s and 50s. This is when Trinity Lake is fully accessible for boating, swimming, and fishing. July and August see peak lake activity and busier weekends. Fire-season restrictions are common. Winter temperatures drop to 31–46°F, offering solitude but limited lake access.
Summer best: lake fully accessible for boating, swimming and fishing; warm days, cool nights.
Jackass Springs Campground, located in the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, features 10 campsites that can accommodate up to a 32' trailer. Amenities are basic but functional, and the campground is considered one of the most rustic in the area.
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