Shasta Dam Chappie-Shasta OHV Dispersed campsite in the Shasta Dam / Keswick
Boondocking / BLM

Shasta Dam Chappie-Shasta OHV Dispersed

Shasta Dam / Keswick · Shasta-Cascade · 40.7211, -122.4402

4.1(96)

Free (14-day limit)

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via Harvest Hosts · affiliate

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 and amenities
HookupsDry Camping (No Hookups)
AmenitiesDog Friendly, OHV Trails, Free Camping
BookingHarvest 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 restrictions

Sources: 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.

Public highway camera near Shasta Dam Chappie-Shasta OHV Dispersed at BassMtn

Source: Caltrans District 2 highway camera

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 picks

Keswick Reservoir Kayaking

Cold, calm, and almost always empty on weekdays.

Launch info

Shasta Dam Chappie-Shasta OHV Dispersed: questions people ask