Mccarthy Point Lookout, Paynes Creek, CA

Mccarthy Point Lookout is located in the Almanor Ranger District, Lassen National Forest (1 hr 56 min north of Chico, CA) with an elevation of 2,901 feet. The site is normally open from mid June to the beginning of October. There is a fee of $75.00 per night. Activities include fishing, horseback riding, hiking trails.

Make a Reservation

Campsite Reviews (12)

4.5 out of 5

5 star		58%
4 star		33%
3 star		8%
2 star		0%
1 star		0%

@TorriK6D481512 · Camped on Jul 7, 2024 at Campsite #1

We love this place! It was our second time staying here so I was a bit more prepared for our stay. This time however, was extremely hot weather so we did not hang around during the day which was a bummer because the facilities are beautiful. But I did manage to bring a portable battery operated fan which helped.

@KatrinaM670132 · Camped on Sep 11, 2023 at Campsite #1

Stunning in every way.

@BryonyM3717930 · Camped on Jul 24, 2023 at Campsite #1

Like most lookouts, the view from this one is pretty darn good! It's quite different from any lookout I've stayed in before, featuring two rooms one of which is a full kitchen, along with a full-sized BBQ. If we ever find ourselves in the area again, I would definitely consider staying here. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. The 1000' walk listed might be the trail to the left of the shed, as the paved path is much longer. It's worth noting that both wheelbarrows have flat tires. Additionally, be aware that there is a feral cow in the vicinity. We almost ran into it on a blind corner, and later, it was seen near the lookout. On the paved path, we also spotted a couple of piles of fresh bear poop, though we did not encounter the bear itself.

@ReadyD073DDAF2 · Camped on Jul 22, 2023 at Campsite #1

Beyond cool. Avoid the road in from Cohasset if possible unless you are in a D8 Caterpiller. We stayed 2 nights at the cabin in 105 degrees F and highly recommend spending the day in the icy waters of Mill Creek. Evenings were much more pleasant.

@JoyL1481807 · Camped on Jun 11, 2023 at Campsite #1

Cabin was lovely with beautiful views. We saw zero other people on our drive in or drive out, only time we saw others was on a trip to Black Rock, so definitely be prepared for remoteness. We experienced 3 thunderstorms while we were there, really great views of lightening from the panoramic windows. We also saw lots of wildlife - deer, bears, bats. This is an amazing location! Orange signs with black arrows definitely helped with navigation to cabin off 32! We were able to navigate the roads just fine in our CRV. There were a few issues that others should be aware of, but are expected in nature for a cabin this old! The corner of the cabin roof leaked during some of the torrential downpour, we used the trash bin to collect the rain. There are mice, lots of mice at night, they can climb in everything - grill, oven, etc. our best defense was stacking all food not in hard plastic on top of our slick-sided cooler in the middle of the floor. They were unable to climb the cooler.

@JessicaW627491 · Camped on Sep 5, 2022 at Campsite #1

Please do not follow the driving directions found in your reservation email (via Hwy 36 from Red Bluff). There's absolutely NO REASON to go that route. It was extremely rocky, curvy, and scary with the cliffs. There was also one water crossing that I would imagine is impassable in the spring. It took us nearly 3 hours after turning off Hwy 36. When we left the cabin to go home, we went the other way toward Hwy 32. Hwy 32 takes you to Chester or Chico. This route was smoother, shorter, and much more driveable. Words cannot adequately describe how terrible the drive from Hwy 36 was. I beg you not to take this route. Also, we found ourselves in a bit of a pickle on Day Two when we realized our car battery was dead. We immediately called the Almanor Ranger Station for help and they said, "We don't offer that kind of help." This is not a critique on the rangers; it's simply a warning that if you need help, you are likely on your own. Please plan for that. This area is extremely remote and the closest help is 2+ hours away (Chester, CA is likely the closest civilization). Pack a satellite communicator in case of an emergency. Cell phone service is spotty at best. Now for the good part. The views from the cabin were stunning. Never in my life have I seen anything like it. We will go back (we learned what to do differently next time) and we are very much looking forward to it. Be advised, there really isn't much to do when you get there, not even hiking (unless you hike the fire roads). Pack plenty of books and games! Enjoy!

@SarahW8627049 · Camped on Aug 31, 2022 at Campsite #1

fantastic! I got to the lookout and stayed there for two nights. Just took in the beautiful nature the whole day I was there and went on a nice walk along the forest roads. Black rock camp is definitely worth stopping by, took a little bath before going back home.

@BradleyW579022 · Camped on Aug 19, 2022 at Campsite #1

Beautiful spot that is fairly easily accessed by vehicle with a short hike to the lookout. I recommend coming in from Highway 32 as the roads from that side are much nicer than the ones coming in from Highway 36. The roads from 36 are very beautiful though, with sections that drop down the side of a cliff! I did not see any other cars on this road as when driving to the lookout on a Friday evening. I was in a Volvo station wagon which handled well, a higher up sedan could probably make the trip coming in from 32, but a Jeep is needed if driving in from 36! The cement pathway to the lookout is a bit longer than anticipated, but there is a shorter dirt path if you are not using the cart to carry belongings(note: carts stored in the shed but one of the available carts appears to be missing a wheel). Be prepared for tons of insects!!! There was 2 small scorpions hanging out in the sink at nighttime. Flies outside along the trail like to attack your eyeballs during the daytime. Also plenty of ants, bees, spiders, around and the building is not sealed to the outside very well(oh and saw bats at dusk!). A few of the windows do have screens which are necessary during the summer heat! Avoid propane lamp use to try to keep it cooler inside. Saw no bears while I was there(was a little worried about that), but I did see some cows on the road near the Ishi marker. Also be sure to plan for the bathroom, it is just a vault toilet and is a bit of a hike away from the lookout. Verizon cell coverage is spotty but I was surprised to find I had a couple of bars at times. Sunrises, sunsets, and stargazing opportunities are amazing at this location, and are the main reason for a 5 star review! Check the cabinets for additional amenities in case you forgot anything!

@LindaM3264387 · Camped on Jul 13, 2021 at Campsite #1

The views from the cabin were amazing, but we did have an issue trying to find the lookout cabin. It was difficult to know if we took the correct turn off H32 (coming from Chico) and we were unaware of the importance of following the orange and black arrow signs posted on various trees along the route. This added to about 2.5 extra hours to our trip. Once you know where the Lookout is located, it is very easy to find. The weekend we were there, the outside high temp was 93 degrees and it was quite warm inside the cabin with all the windows open and no A/C. We couldn't keep the front door open for air since bears had been spotted in the area. And in the middle of the night, we did hear mice scattering about in our cabin looking for food. Plan to take as little as possible because the trek from your car to the cabin is about 1/4 mile. Luckily, they do provide two small carts/wagons to carry your items from your car. This saved a lot of time. It was a great adventure and something we have been wanting to do for a long time, so it was a memorable stay!

@LindaM845 · Camped on Jul 13, 2021 at Campsite #1

@TaylorD832 · Camped on Jun 16, 2021 at Campsite #1

Absolutely a beautiful place to “camp”. We packed as if there were NO creature comforts, and honestly we packed way too much! It felt like the cabin had everything - down to propane lights, running water (non potable) and even 4 extra cots for sleeping. We did see two bears in the area, but we were very aware it’s definitely bear country! The view is beautiful, but it does get hot very quickly (mid June) so be prepared! We took a relatively short trip to black rock campgrounds to cool off at Mill Creek and do some fishing, and came back to do some bbqing at the provided bbq at the lookout cabin. Just to re-emphasize - you ARE in the wilderness! So be aware you will experience wildlife in their natural habitat, and should pack similarly to if you are legitimately tent camping. I downloaded maps prior to our trip since there is not much in the way of cell service, but the directions provided by the rangers are spot on and easy to follow. All in all, I HIGHLY recommend this experience. It’s not often you get to stay in an old lookout tower, and you just can’t beat the view from the top of the peak.

@TaylorD8225401 · Camped on Jun 16, 2021 at Campsite #1

See other campgrounds near Paynes Creek, CA with availability Tonight
See other campgrounds near Paynes Creek, CA with availability This Weekend

Other Campgrounds Nearby

We track all the sites so you don't have to.

Reservation Systems

Campsites Tracking

Campsite Reviews

Available Tonight

Available this Weekend

Cancellations Today

PRO $2.50/month

You're in Control. We never save credit card information or auto-renew subscriptions.

Availability Map Search
3000+ Interactive Campground Maps
Campground Virtual Tours
Save Your Favorite Campsites
Favorite Campsites Availability
Campground Mobile Speed Test Maps
National Parks, Forests & Ranger District Layers
Wildfires & Air Quality Map Layer
Satellite View Map Layer
Campsite SMS Cancellation Alerts
Rent your Property & Cabins
Love's & Super Walmart Map Layers
Cracker Barrel & Bass Pro Shop Map Layers
Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) Layer
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Map Layer
RV Propane, Parking, Dump, Water Map Layer

Pro is FREE for 7 days. (No credit card information required!)

Thanks to all our Supporting Members

@BranJen - Santa Clara, CA

I wanted to thank you for this site and especially for the notifications feature. Thanks to your site and my subscription I was able to book a campsite I've been annoyingly trying to book for 5 years unsuccessfully. So thank you.

@Wondering - Oregon

Wow! Woke up this morning to a notification that a favorite had opened at Paulina, and when I went to check, it was there. This membership just paid for itself in the first 24 hours I owned it. Couldn't take the site it conflicted with a trip already set, but it truly was there. Thanks Tons.

@CarlaLThompson - Colorado

I just love this site and I tell everyone about it! It's so competitive to secure desired campsites and the alerts really help track when sites free up. The best part of this story is our alert notified a cancellation the next day!!!!!! Just incredible!!!