Trout Creek is one of the few sizable creeks on the McCloud Flats, and it’s worth the drive if you want a genuinely quiet camping spot away from developed facilities. This is dispersed camping at its most basic — vault toilets are provided, but there are no tables at the sites, so you’ll need to bring your own camping setup and drinking water. The tradeoff for roughing it is solitude and a chance to explore a creek that’s actively being restored to its original state.

In recent years, the Forest Service has partnered with other agencies and organizations to improve the area’s hydrology and bring back native species. You’ll notice the protective perimeter fence that keeps out cattle and OHV use, which means the creek bed itself has been healing. The landscape feels less trampled than many forest camping areas, and that’s by design.

Getting here requires commitment — there’s about a mile of unpaved road at the end, so you’ll want a vehicle that handles rough terrain reasonably well. The full drive from the McCloud Ranger Station takes you left on SR 89 for 2.8 miles to Pilgrim Creek Road (Road 13), then roughly 17 miles to the Trout Creek turnoff. After turning left, you’ll follow the road for a mile to a fork — take the left branch for a short distance to reach the campground.

This isn’t a place for dogs who need amenities or constant attention, but if you have a dog comfortable with backcountry conditions and minimal facilities, it’s a genuine forest experience. The creek itself offers water access for cooling off on warm days, and the quiet means you might actually hear wildlife moving through the area at dawn and dusk. Bring more supplies than you think you’ll need — the nearest services are quite a distance away.