Almanor sits within Lassen National Forest along the shore of Lake Almanor, split into a North and South campground. The South section has seen recent closures, so campers should verify status before arriving, as the USFS website has carried inaccurate information. The North campground operates first-come, first-served and includes a boat ramp, with lake access also available on foot. Summer draws crowds; October visits tend to find more spacing between sites. A general store is within walking distance. Anglers and paddlers looking at dog-friendly camping near Lassen National Forest will find Almanor worth considering, as pets are permitted. PG&E Lassen National Forest Rocky Point Campground sits nearby for campers wanting a reservation-based alternative.

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Map & DirectionsAlmanor is located in California near Chester

Detail location of campground
Public Campground

Directions

From Chester, take Highway 36 west to Highway 89 South. Turn left on Highway 89 and continue south about 6 miles, to Almanor Drive West (not to be confused with Almanor West development and Almanor West Drive). Turn left on Almanor Drive West (directly across from the Almanor Group Camp and rest area) and continue approximately 1 mile to Almanor South Campground. For the Almanor Group camp.From Chester, take Highway 89 South. Turn left on Highway 89 and continue about 6 miles to Almanor Drive west (not to be confused with Almanor West development and Almanor West Drive). Turn right into Almanor Group Camp and rest area ( across from Almanor West Drive).

Address

900 East Highway 36
Chester, CA 96020

Coordinates

40.2169444 N
121.1677778 W

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Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 3 users
    Last on 9/17/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Good Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
    Last on 7/26/26

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Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
    Verified by 3 users
    Last on 9/17/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Good Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
    Last on 7/26/26

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Trash
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Drive Time


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Reviews4 Camper Reviews - Almanor

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3.0

out of 5

4 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 14, 2026

Not a positive review

SAFETY HAZARDS: So many trees cut down with branches and debris left over and not picked up by the contractor or the USFS that could cause injury or death. Imagine tripping or falling in a hole and being punctured by pointy branches. I am sure this was not inspected after the contractor left or prior to departure.

HEALTH: Womens bathroom was open on Saturday 12 Sep 26, but then it was locked on Sunday 13 Sep 26. Water spigots were also turned off outside. The RV dump station down the street was also closed too. Not sure what happening here as it is not the end of the season yet.

SITES: Images online are not current/out-of-date, don't trust it. Many sites including mine had a lot of trees and now it has 1 or 2, with many stumps and debris left behind. Many sites have zero trees now. Our 20ft campervan barely fit on the asphalt pad and many were only about 10-15 feet long and then others were over 50. I guess you take a chance on what is real and what is not.

SIDEBAR: Over at the North campground, I saw cleanup crews with chainsaws doing work within 10-15 feet of a family who was camping and eating breakfast at the table. I would think this would be a not only a noise issue but also flying debris issue. I guess the USFS does not care about safety of the paying public.

OVERALL: I understand fire prevention, but when you cut down living trees and leave behind the branches and such to dry out, now that is a new fire hazard along with the safety hazard. So sad to see such nice campgrounds being turned into such eyesores and hazards. If you have small children, senior citizens or pets, I would strongly urge you not to make a reservation here. If you just need to a place to park your camper(not tent) then it would be okay as long as you are away during the day as there is very limited shade now. Oh, I forget to say my parents raised me here and they lived here after I went in the Navy and this is an embarrassment to the Almanor Ranger District in Chester.

Site1
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Aug. 13, 2026

For the North Campground, what a shame and serious safety issues for all.

Simply put, I am embarrassed to say that this one was opened with major safety issues. I was even told by a person at the Almanor Ranger Office in Chester that they were forced to open this campground.  
Safety issues:
-Trees were fell and slash was left behind without cleanup by contractor.
-Boulders were moved and above mentioned slash was covering the holes left by the moved boulders creating major safety trip/fall hazards. These hazards could cause twisted and/or broken legs and feet and more.
-Fire Hazard: Above mentioned slash was left behind everywhere for it to dry out an become a major fire hazard. Yes, the camp site around the table and fire ring was cleared, but only by about 10-15 feet.  
-Limited walking areas: As the slash was left behind, areas for walking or the kids playing was like walking in a minefield.  Even on the paved drive path, there is holes and to move out of the way for trucks/campers requires movement onto the above ,mentioned slash that was not cleaned up.

I grew up in this area and after being gone in the military for over 30 years, I came home.  This poor campground is a disgrace and I am deeply saddened by the condition the USFS and it's contractor left it in. If I was in charge, I would not have let it open for public use due to the safety issues. 

What a shame.

Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Jun. 24, 2024

North is open, South is closed for Summer 2024

North is open, South is closed for Summer 2024.

It took some digging on this information as the USFS website is wrong.  

I camp here on the South campground at least once every year.  For the 2024 season, they CLOSED it at the last second.  

The North campground is OPEN, but you cannot reserve it.  First Come First Served (FCFS).

Boat ramp is at the North campground, but if you just have a paddleboard or kayak, you can just walk to the water by just waking down the road and launch at the edge of the lake.  

There is a General Store within walking distance and restaurant/bar right on the lake too.  I highly advise reservations for dinner on the deck.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Almanor by Kurt T., June 24, 2024
  • Review photo of Almanor by Kurt T., June 24, 2024
  • Review photo of Almanor by Kurt T., June 24, 2024
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Dec. 5, 2020

Great spot!

It definitely gets busy here in the summer but my stay in October was peaceful. Nice distance between most sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Almanor?

Camping at Almanor can cost between $15.00 and $100.00 depending on the site.

Does Almanor have RV hookups?

According to TheDyrt.com, Almanor has water hookups and sewer hookups.

What is the max vehicle length at Almanor?

Almanor allows vehicles up to 70 feet.

Are fires allowed at Almanor?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Almanor, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Does Almanor have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Almanor does not have wifi.

Is there cell phone reception at Almanor?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is good coverage for AT&T, excellent coverage for T-Mobile, and some coverage for Verizon.

How hard is it to get a campsite at Almanor?

Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Almanor. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Almanor, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Almanor?

There are 55 campsites at Almanor and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts