Panther Meadows Campground
Description: This is a walk-in campground located near timberline on Mt. Shasta at 7500 feet. There are 15 sites, all within a short walk of your vehicle. Tables, fire-rings, and vault toilet. Bring your own water or purify the creek water nearby. 3 day limit, per person, per year. No fee. No reservations. Self-register on site. Usually opens around July 1st, depending on winter snowpack, and closes November 1st. Features: Highest campground on the mountain with open views and vistas. There are two small sub-alpine heather meadows a short distance from the campground. Because of the fragile nature of the meadows, great care must be given by all who visit not to incur damage.
More like this: first-come in California · free in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No fee |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Shasta-Trinity National Forest |
| Fees | No fee |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 41.3550° N, 122.2018° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMcbride Underburn Rx
5 mi from the campground
- PrescribedSnowmans Understory Rx
6 mi from the campground
- PrescribedMcbride Underburn Rx
6 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | The Sportsmens Den ↗ | 6.4 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 8.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Cousin Gary RV Center ↗ | 48.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miPanther Meadows0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miGray Butte1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miPanther Causeway0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miPanther Spring0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miOld Ski Bowl2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miBunny Flat1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Mt. Shasta Wilderness begins about 0.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.2 miMt. Shasta Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 36,981 acres
- 1.1 miKlamath National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,705,451 acres
- 1.2 miShasta-Trinity National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,715,499 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- McCloudHistoric district · McCloud · 7.7 mi
- Dunsmuir Historic Commercial DistrictHistoric district · Dunsmuir · 10.7 mi
- Shasta Inn and Weed Lumber Company Boarding HouseBuilding · Weed · 10.7 mi
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Panther Meadows Campground?
Nothing. Panther Meadows Campground is listed as free. No fee
Source: Forest Service
Is Panther Meadows Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Panther Meadows Campground have?
15 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Panther Meadows Campground?
Panther Meadows Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Panther Meadows Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Red Fir Flat Group Campground (2.8 mi), Mcbride Springs Campground (4.2 mi, first-come), and Fowlers Campground (12 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby