4.31139 reviews
Price
$15/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
19 campsites
Season
Usually opens by las...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$15/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
19 campsites
Season
Usually opens by las...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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204 West Alma Mt. Shasta, CA 96067
Anglers and swimmers who can sleep through freight trains. The Sacramento River is steps from most sites, fishing is the main draw, and site #8 puts you close to the flush toilets. Midweek visits mean better odds on this first-come-first-served 19-site loop.
Earplugs aren't in your kit. Reviewers consistently flag the train horns as disruptive, not occasional. Also worth knowing: the water system is shut off right now due to funding, so bring everything you need to drink, and the restrooms are running on portable outhouses.
Reference information about Sims Flat Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p><strong>Description</strong>: This campground is located alongside the Sacramento River at an elevation of 1600 feet. There are 19 sites with tables and fire-rings. Suitable for tents and mid-sized RVs or trailers. Flush toilets; piped water. 14 day limit. $15 per night. No reservations. Usually opens by last Saturday in April and closes Nov. 15th. <strong>Features</strong>: Historic location of Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the 1930s. Interpretive signs depict the camp and suspension bridge spanning the river built by the CCC. World renown fishing on a classic trout stream. Train buffs enjoy watching Union Pacific freight trains as they make their way through the canyon. Also popular with whitewater boaters during the high water of spring runoff.</p>
Total of 19 units. Average max. trailer size = 16 foot.
The elevation is 1,700 ft. Once a stop on a winter Native American trade route, then the site of Sims Trading Post, and later a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp, the campground stretches along the Sacramento River and Hazel Creek. It loops back through a nice mixture of conifer and deciduous trees. Wild sweet peas add color while remnants left by CCC Camp 978 (Camp Sims) and fast flowing river give the camp character. This is a nice campground for an overnight stop for most any size RV. Take a moment to admire the steel suspension bridge built in 1933 by the CCC, the first major CCC project in the U.S. Parts were provided for the bridge without any instructions on how to construct it - existing testimony of the CCC's incredible capabilities. Shasta National Forest 263
Open April 15 through November 15.
The parking aprons are a mixture of paved, grass, and gravel.
From Dunsmuir, CA, take I-5 south 10 miles to Simms Rd. (Exit 718). Take Exit 718 and turn left at stop sign onto Simms Rd. Follow Simms Rd. south 0.7 miles to campground.
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Summer brings the most reliable conditions for river recreation. Daytime highs reach the mid-70s to high-80s°F, with nights dropping into the 50s–60s°F. The river is warmest and most approachable for swimming, fishing, and paddling during these months. Weekends see moderate crowds. Midweek visits offer better availability. Winter turns the area into snow-dusted terrain, though access and conditions vary.
Summer is peak for swimming, fishing and warm river conditions; many positive summer reviews.
Sims Flat Campground is located along the Sacramento River at an elevation of 1600 feet. It features 19 sites equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, suitable for tents and mid-sized RVs or trailers. Highlights include historical significance as a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp, with interpretive signs and a suspension bridge built by the CCC in the 1930s. Visitors can enjoy world-renowned fishing on the Sacramento River, activities during spring runoff, and nearby Union Pacific trains, which are a distinct aspect of the ambiance. However, reviews frequently mention train noise as a significant drawback.
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Pulled from per-site mentions in 139 reviews.
Site #8 is close to clean bathrooms.
Site #2 near a drinking water faucet was reported to have bear feces.
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