A 20-foot fire lookout tower above Shasta Lake's McCloud Arm, reached by a rough dirt road and a final quarter-mile on foot.
At a glance
- Price
- $
- Per night
- $100 / night
- Book on
- Recreation.gov
- Price
- Affordable
Hirz Mountain Lookout sits atop a sharp peak in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Mount Shasta, California, about 3,500 feet up. The 20-foot tower delivers a full 360-degree view, taking in Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen, and the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake spread out below.
Getting there is part of the deal. From Redding, the route runs up Interstate 5 to Gilman Road, then onto road 35N04, a single-lane dirt road with limited sight distance that takes about 5 miles at low speed and calls for a high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicle. The last quarter mile is on foot only, over rocky, slippery, steep ground, so sturdy shoes with good ankle support matter. This is a pack-it-in, pack-it-out site with no potable water, though a vault toilet and a picnic table below the lookout are on hand.
The lookout is open seasonally, from May 1 through October 15. Check-in is at 2:00 p.m. and check-out at 11:00 a.m., with a four-night maximum stay per group per year. A California Campfire Permit is required for any stove use, since fires are restricted to designated sites only, and this lookout is not one of them.
Reservations run through recreation.gov, with the nightly rate at $100. For questions ahead of a trip, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest office can be reached directly.
Good to know
- How do I book Hirz Mountain Lookout?
- Reservations are made through recreation.gov. The nightly rate is $100, with a four-night maximum stay per group per year.
- Do I need a special vehicle to get there?
- Yes. The final 5-mile stretch on road 35N04 is a single-lane dirt road recommended for high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicles, and the last quarter mile must be done on foot.
- Is water available at the lookout?
- No, potable water is not available on site, so you'll need to bring your own along with everything you plan to use, since it's a pack-it-in, pack-it-out facility.
- Can I have a campfire there?
- Fires are restricted to designated sites, and the lookout is not one of them. A portable stove requires a valid California Campfire Permit, available free from Forest Service, CAL FIRE, or BLM offices.
- When is the lookout open?
- It's available seasonally from May 1 through October 15, with check-in at 2:00 p.m. and check-out at 11:00 a.m.
Details checked September 30, 2026. Prices and hours change; confirm before you go.
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