Openings · last 7 days
9
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 9 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234369
When Hirz Mountain Lookout reopens
Hirz Mountain Lookout's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
12
Openings · last 90 days
12
Only 12 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Nov 1, 2026 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 45 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Nov 1, 2026): 8 open for online reservation · 32 reserved · 4 closed · 1 unavailable (cause unspecified).
Where the open windows are
82.2% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 8 of 45 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Nov 1, 2026Not open online82.2%
Open site-nights8 / 45
Reserved (of online inventory)32 / 40
Weekday openings4
Weekend openings4
Of the open cabin-nights on mapped sites, 4 fall on weekdays and 4 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Nov 2026November shows no online availability. 0 of 1 tracked site-nights are open there — 1 unavailable.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 cabin| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open cabin-nights · tracked window| Cabin | Open cabin-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 8 |
This cabin currently has 8 cabin-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateSun · Sep 27
Next open weekendFri · Oct 2
November0 of 1 · unavailable
The next bookable night is Sep 27; the first open weekend starts Oct 2. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
8 open cabin-nights across 1 cabin at Hirz Mountain Lookout, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 1 2-night, 1 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 27 at site 001.
All 1 cabin with current availability
| Cabin | Max RV | Hookups | Open cabin-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Not recorded | None | 8 | 6 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 9, Oct 11 |
About Hirz Mountain Lookout
Overview
The McCloud River Wintu tribe held Hirz Mountain in reverence and had a name for it in their own language. But it was a white miner, Henry Hirz, who gave the mountain its modern name. Hirz was a gold miner who lived on Hirz Creek in the 1860s and was one of the earliest white men in the McCloud River country.
When the lookout was built, it was originally a structure that sat on the ground. The mountain was a strategic location for detecting fires because it had a direct view into the headwaters of the McCloud River and most of its tributaries. In 1937, the Forest Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) rebuilt the Hirz Mountain Lookout cabin and included a garage and outhouse. It was one of the last CCC-era lookouts to be built. In 1949, a steel tower was added, constructed of a steel K-brace tower that stands 20 feet above ground level.
Coming here is not for the faint of heart. The access road is rocky and steep with limited visibility - high clearance vehicles are recommended - and the last quarter-mile must be traversed on foot. Those who make the journey are rewarded with unforgettable views of the landscape by day and the stars at night.
Recreation
The main recreational activities at Hirz Mountain Lookout are sightseeing and stargazing, and this is an ideal setting for those with a passion for photography. Visitors may want to bring binoculars to go birding and wildlife watching.
There are also opportunities to hike, mountain bike and hunt in the area.
Facilities
There are two twin beds offering sleeping space for two people. There is a picnic table below the lookout and a composting toilet in a separate building. Cabinets and dressers are available for storage. Visitors will find cleaning supplies for tidying up the cabin when they leave.
The lookout has no cooking facilities, linens, bedding, water or electricity. Visitors must bring enough water for the length of their stay, as well as garbage bags to pack out their trash. Appropriate footwear is recommended for the hike up to the lookout. Other items to consider include food, a cell phone, cook stove, matches, a cooler with ice, personal items, first aid kit, flashlights or lanterns and extra batteries. A California campfire permit is required for the use of a portable gas stove, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel for cooking ( click here for more information about Hirz Mountain Lookout).
Natural Features
This lookout tower sits atop Hirz Mountain at an elevation of 3,540 feet, offering 360-degree views of Mt. Shasta's snow-laced peak to the north, Mt. Lassen to the southeast and the gray limestone exposures of Hirz Mountain itself. The narrow blue-green ribbon of the McCloud River Arm winds past the east side of Hirz Mountain, extending north and south as far as the eye can see. Visitors to Hirz Mountain Lookout are advised to use caution, as rattlesnakes and bears frequent the area ( click here for information on bear safety ).
1 monitored cabinNo hookupsPets OKMax party 4
Getting there
From Redding, California, take Interstate 5 north approximately 20 miles to Gilman Road, exit 698. Turn right and follow Gilman Road approximately 5 miles to road 35N04. Turn left on the road 35N04. This steep, rocky, dirt road is not recommended for low clearance passenger vehicles. Travel approximately 5 miles to the locked gate. Due to rocky, slippery, steep terrain, the last quarter-mile section of road access to the lookout is for foot traffic only.
Field Office: 14538 Wonderland Blvd., Redding, CA 96019530-275-8113
BikingCampingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHuntingWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234369 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234369 · Hirz Mountain Lookout · Redding CA8 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Hirz Mountain Lookout?
Reservations for Hirz Mountain Lookout are made through Recreation.gov. 82.2% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 8 of 45 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 12 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Hirz Mountain Lookout?
Campsite Sniper detected 9 site-date openings at Hirz Mountain Lookout in the last 7 days, 12 over 30 days and 12 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Hirz Mountain Lookout?
1 three-night opening is showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 27 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Hirz Mountain Lookout?
September 2026, with 4 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 13.
When is the next open date at Hirz Mountain Lookout?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Sun, Sep 27 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Oct 2. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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