Hirz Mountain Lookout in CA -- Campground & RV Camping

Hirz Mountain Lookout sits atop a 3,540-foot peak on a 20-foot steel tower overlooking Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen, and the McCloud River Arm. Rebuilt in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the cab offers sleeping space for two on twin beds, plus dressers for storage. Facilities include a picnic table and a separate composting toilet building at the base of the tower. There are no cooking appliances, electricity, or water on-site. The surrounding landscape features dramatic limestone exposures, with local trails available for hiking and mountain biking.

Getting there: From Redding, California, take Interstate 5 north approximately 20 miles to Gilman Road, exit 698. Turn right and follow Gilman Road approximately 5 miles to road 35N04. Turn left on the road 35N04. This steep, rocky, dirt road is not recommended for low clearance passenger vehicles. Travel approximately 5 miles to the locked gate. Due to rocky, slippery, steep terrain, the last quarter-mile section of road access to the lookout is for foot traffic only.

• Well separated here, a single-site campground with the nearest through road 0.9 miles off.
• Flat ground is scarce: under a tenth of the terrain within a few hundred yards is level.
• Hirz Mountain stands 1,629 ft above the map pin, 1.0 miles south.
• Cabins and shelters rather than pads.
• Ellery Creek runs 0.9 mi off.

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