The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The BLM, or Bureau of Land Management, is the largest federal land manager with land holdings available for mostly free or lower-fee camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, hunting, and many other outdoor activities. You may ask, "Where can I find BLM camping near me?" The answer is that there are many BLM locations throughout the western and southwestern United States.
Junction City Campground is located right along the banks of the Trinity River in Northern California. The campground is in the midst of a pine, fir, and oak forest dotted with madrones. Popular activities in the Trinity River area include fly fishing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, and gold panning. As with most Bureau of Land Management campgrounds, you are permitted to camp at this location for up to two weeks continuously. Nearby popular attractions are Shasta and Trinity Lakes and Mount Shasta, along with the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. The Lassen Volcanic National Park is 118 miles from Junction City Campground.
The Waldorf Creek Trail gains its 705 feet in elevation steeply up the pine and fir-covered canyon sides in the first part of the climb above the Trinity River to gain the ridge with phenomenal views.
Length: 2.6 miles round trip
Intensity: Moderate
The East Weaver Lake Trail originates near the town of Weaverville. You head up to a saddle and then down the other side a small distance to East Weaver Lake. You can also run this trail and snowshoe in winter. Isolation here is almost guaranteed.
Length: 2.8 miles
Intensity: Moderate
This trail takes you in the Trinity Alps Wilderness steeply to the East Fork Lakes. There is over 3,000 feet of elevation gain total. The first lake you encounter is the largest.
Length: 9.4-mile round trip
Intensity: Strenuous
This trail gives you options to find your own location along the way if you don't want to do the entire hike. There are swimming holes in the creek along the way and waterfalls. There is 3,000 feet of elevation gain for the out and back.
Length: 14.6-mile round trip
Intensity: Strenuous
The Trinity River is designated as a Wild and Scenic River. Fly fishing here for steelhead and salmon is world-class. Boating adventures include kayaking and canoeing in the river, as well as whitewater adventures in Class III to V rapids starting at Pigeon Point. From the town of Lewiston to Pigeon Point along the Trinity is suitable for milder Class I and II boating. Many other boating and swimming adventures, even jet skiing and power boating start at Shasta, Whiskey, or Trinity Lake.
Wildlife is plentiful in the area. You will likely see black-tailed deer, bears, coyotes, bobcats, squirrels, salamanders, red-legged frogs, spotted owls, bluebirds, and ravens. You may even see river otters, but the elusive mountain lion will likely be present but unseen.
Near the town of Big Bar along the Trinity, you will find the Whites Bar Picnic Area with five picnic sites. It is open year-round, but the restroom is closed after the camping season ends.
By the modern era, more than a million ounces of gold were found in the waters of the Trinity River. This makes the Trinity a very popular spot to try your hand at panning, but you do have to respect current mining claims along the river.
Nearby the Junction City area is the Trinity Alps Wilderness, California's second-largest wilderness area. It has over 500,000 acres of land and over 600 miles of trail. Horseback riding is popular here, where elevations can range from around 2,000 to over 9,000 feet. Granite peaks and alpine lakes abound in this wilderness.
BLM RV camping at the Junction City Campground is just $10 per night and needs no reservation. It has no hookups, but it does have vault toilets, fire rings, and potable water in the campground. More Bureau of Land Management camping can be found at the Douglas City Campground, which has the same fees and amenities as the Junction City Campground. Nearby National Forest campgrounds are Big Flat and Burnt Ranch, which are also along the Trinity River. They both cost $12 a night, have no water on-site, and can accommodate up to 22-foot trailers.
Bureau of Land Management free camping along the Trinity River can be found at the Steiner Flat Primitive Campground nearest Douglas City, but it is closed for renovations in 2022. You can find dispersed camping along the Trinity River, but the forest service advises that you pay attention to land ownership in the area. Not all areas along the river are public land. They advise you to look for places that have been previously camped upon and that you choose a durable area that will not be damaged by your activities.
Junction City Campground can get over 90 degrees in the summer because of its lower elevation. At night, though, the temperature can cool off dramatically. It is best to dress in layers that you can put on and remove as needed. The campground closes in November or December when the first snows begin to fly, so it is open for your fall RVing adventures. This is a beautiful, well-wooded BLM location with great access to the Trinity River for a variety of water activities. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
"Leave No Trace" means that we respect nature and other users so that we don't leave any signs or harm from our adventures in the outdoors. Take out your used-up fishing line and all of your other trash. Don't drive on dirt roads when you could cause rutting. Don't feed animals, so they don't harass other users on subsequent visits.
Junction City Campground is just 1.5 miles west of Junction City on California State Highway 299. Campgrounds don't have addresses, but the address for the nearest BLM field office in Redding, California is 6640 Lockheed Drive.
Ready to visit Junction City Campground? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day of exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night, where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
