Sheep Camp Primitive Campground
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
This tent-only campground is located in the center of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, 17 miles west of Redding, California, and three and a half hours north of Sacramento. Ponderosa pines and fir shade the campsites which have cliffside views of Brandy Creek. Nearby trails lead to a series of lovely waterfalls or into old-growth forest high on Shasta Bally Mountain.
The cool, clear waters of Whiskeytown Lake provide endless water activities. The picturesque mountain setting and extensive forested backcountry offer ample opportunities for hiking and biking.
Sheep Camp is a tent-only campground. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, a large bear-resistant storage locker, a metal fire pit with a swing-arm barbecue grill and a lamp pole. Drinking water and electricity are not available. The campground has four campsites which share one vault toilet. To access these tent-only sites, walk approximately 25 feet from the parking area.
Due to a small parking area, towing vehicles is prohibited in this campground. The following are prohibited: all trailers, fifth wheels, pop-up campers, cab-over campers and motorhomes. Sleeping in vehicles is not allowed. No overflow parking is available.
Need to Know
Download your proof of payment for your campsite from recreation.gov onto your phone or other device. You must be able to show this to a park ranger if requested.
Whiskeytown is a National Park Service site and charges an entrance fee for each vehicle. If you already have a valid Interagency Annual, Senior, Access, Military, or Whiskeytown Annual pass, please display this pass in a hangtag or place it on the dashboard of your vehicle. Annual passes from Crater Lake National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lava Beds National Monument are also valid here at Whiskeytown. Entrance passes can be purchased at the Whiskeytown Visitor Center or online at https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74295.
- Check-in time is 1:00 p.m. and check-out time is 12 p.m. (noon).
- Maximum occupancy is 6 people and 2 vehicles.
Tent camping only. Sleeping in vehicles is not allowed.
- Black bears frequent the area: all food, beverage containers, toiletries, cooking and eating utensils must be stored inside a bear-resistant locker or out of sight in your vehicle unless they are in immediate use.
- Generators are not allowed.
Protect our natural resources. Gather only dead and down wood for firewood. Do not put nails in trees or damage or remove vegetation. Campfires must be attended at all times and completely extinguished (using water and dirt) when going to bed or leaving the campsite.
Please be advised that because the Carr Fire of 2018 burned extensively through the park, post-fire hazards such as falling trees and branches remain. Stay alert while camping in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
- Click here for more information about Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Camping is limited to an aggregate of 14 days between April 1 and October 31 (inclusive) and no more than 30 days per person per calendar year.
A temporary fire ban on campfires and berbequing with briquettes. is now in effect. Gas grills and gas stoves are still allowed. Campfires are currently not allowed in the fire rings in the campsites.
Natural Features
Tall pine and fir trees providing cooling shade make Sheep Camp Primitive Campground a relaxing retreat. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is located where the Klamath Mountains, Cascade and Coast Mountain Ranges, and the Sacramento Valley meet, creating a wide variety of wildlife and landscapes.
Nearby Attractions
Brandy Creek Beach is located three and a half miles south of the campground and features sandy beaches, a large swimming area, picnicking and barbecuing facilities. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, there are showers, a store with food and supplies and rentals of paddle boards and kayaks.
Recreation
During the summer heat, swimming, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and water skiing are popular on the 3,200 acre lake. Year round, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, gold panning, fishing and picnicking attract visitors. Hunting is allowed in the appropriate season.
Contact Information
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PO Box 188 Whiskeytown CA 96095
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 530-242-3412
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Redding, CA, drive 10 miles west on Highway 299. Turn left on Kennedy Memorial Drive and follow it for 5.4 miles to Brandy Creek Road. Turn left and follow Brandy Creek Road for 2.4 miles to Shasta Bally Road. Turn right on Shasta Bally Road and follow it for .4 mile to the campground.
Available Campsites
- Site 004, Loop SHEEP CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop SHEEP CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop SHEEP CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop SHEEP CAMP PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
