Shasta Dam Chappie-Shasta OHV Dispersed
Shasta Dam / Keswick · Shasta-Cascade · 40.7211, -122.4402
Free 14-day dispersed camping in the Chappie-Shasta OHV area, with dam views, dust, and total solar dependence.
Quick specs
- Length limit
- 28 ft
- Cell signal
- Boat launch
- Car-top / hand launch
- Shade score
- 1/5
- Season
- Year-round, brutally hot July–August
- Elevation
- 1,250 ft
| Hookups | Dry Camping (No Hookups) |
|---|---|
| Amenities | Dog Friendly, OHV Trails, Free Camping |
| Booking | Harvest Hosts |
Conditions right now
Lake level, forecast, alerts, fishing and the nearest public camera for Shasta Dam Chappie-Shasta OHV Dispersed. Pulled from state and federal feeds and refreshed every morning.
Updated Aug 29, 12:54 AM PDT
Lake level
992 ft
74.9 ft below full pool
58.4% of capacity
The lake dropped about 4.6 ft over the past week. At 992 ft the Shasta Dam / Centimudi ramp here is well in the water and the courtesy dock should be rigged.
Gage reading for 2026-8-28
Source: California Data Exchange Center, Shasta Dam gage (SHA)
Weather
- OvernightClear62°F
- SaturdaySunny90°F
- Saturday NightClear61°F
- SundaySunny93°F
Clear, with a low around 62. Northwest wind around 2 mph.
Source: National Weather Service
Fire & weather alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts and no CAL FIRE incident within 45 miles as of this morning's check. Fire restrictions can still be in force, so read the forest order before you light anything.
Current Shasta-Trinity fire restrictionsSources: National Weather Service active alerts and CAL FIRE incident feed
Fishing report
Shasta Dam / Centimudi fishing report
Summer pattern on the Shasta Dam / Centimudi. Bass are off the banks and holding on the first drop — points, submerged brush and the shaded side of rock walls hold fish through the middle of the day. Get the topwater work done before the ski boats wake up, then go to a dropshot or a small jig on the same spots. Trollers are running downriggers well below the surface for kokanee and rainbows; the fish are stacked wherever the temperature breaks. The lake is sitting near 992 ft, so shoreline structure that held fish last month may be high and dry now.
- What is biting
- Spotted and smallmouth bass, kokanee, rainbow trout
- Where in the water column
- Bass 15–35 ft on structure, kokanee and trout 45–90 ft on the thermocline
Built from the Shasta Dam water temperature and elevation gages plus seasonal patterns on this arm. Reported 2026-08-29.
Nearest public camera
BassMtn · I-5
About 3.9 mi from the campground — useful for road surface, smoke and haze, not for checking your site.

Local deep dive
Local insider tip
Camp the flat bench above the Coram Ranch staging area. Verizon holds 3 bars from the ridge, which is rare for free camping this close to the dam.
Access road & clearance
Graded dirt with washboard and one loose-rock rise. Fine for a 4x4 truck camper or a short trailer; do not attempt with low-clearance basement storage.
Best loop for big rigs
Realistically a 28 ft ceiling. Scout on foot first — turnarounds are informal and OHV traffic kicks up blind dust.
Nearby things to do & rentals
Sponsored partners
Portable Solar Generator Kit
There is no shore power out here. Budget 400W minimum.
See gear picksKeswick Reservoir Kayaking
Cold, calm, and almost always empty on weekdays.
Launch info