Manzanita Lake Campground — Lassen Volcanic National Park

This campground is huge and busy, but I was able to get a first come, first serve camp site last minute on a weekday. The lake is incredible and Lassen national park is a really special place so it’s a great spot to check out the rest of the park! The hiking is incredible and there is a trail that goes around the lake.

General: Four loops plus a cabin loop, however, after September 5 at noon, the only loops open are A, B, and cabins. 

Site Quality: Some pull-throughs and some back-in. The back-in sites were, for the most part, better suited for tent camping as the camper pads were quite short and many were not level. We lucked out in that our camper pad was only slightly unlevel and we could make it work with our camper van. Some sites were close together with minimal separation while others had more trees separating them. 

Bath/Shower house: There were several toilet options ranging from vault toilets to basic bathrooms with flush toilets, to larger restrooms with dishwashing sinks. Although there was a soap dispenser in the two closest to our site, there was no soap. The very cold water was oh-so refreshing on a cold September morning! The dishwashing sink in the A loop was locked but we did see campers using the one in the B Loop.

Activities/Amenities: There is a camper store with food, showers, gas, and laundry available. You can access both Manzanita and Reflection Lakes (1.5 and.5 miles respectively) from the campground. The Chaos Crags trailhead is approximately a half mile from the A Loop. There are kayak, cataraft, and SUP rentals available for Manzanita Lake but it was a bit chilly when we were there. There is zero cell service in the campground but it is noted there is a milepost where you can grab a signal. On our Chaos Crags hike, however, we got a strong signal on Verizon!

The campground was okay but worth it as a base camp for exploring the northwest part of the park. Happy this one has not been outsourced to a vendor and the price is still reasonable ($26 or$13 with the senior pass).

Manzanita Lake Campground is the campground closest to the north entrance to Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is best accessed from California State Route 44/89. My wife and I reserved space A8 for a four-night stay beginning August 7, 2023. 

While the campground is well-maintained, I cannot, under any circumstances, recommend that space for anyone camping with an RV or travel trailer. From all appearances A8 looked perfect. But appearances can be deceiving. Looking at an online map of the campground A8 appeared to be a pull-through site which it is. The problem is the site dips down from the access road, bottoms out slightly, then rises again back toward the access road. It took us nearly an hour to locate an area within the space that would allow us to attain a reasonable level so that our refrigerator would operate on propane. And our travel trailer is only 18-feet in length. Once the trailer was reasonably level, the entry step was approximately 18 inches from ground to the step (see images).

Despite the initial difficulties, once settled, we found the campground to be quiet even though there is not a lot of space between sites. The camp store offers some grocery items but is mainly dedicated to the sale of tourist merchandise. It does have a gas pump offering only 87 octane regular gas at $4.99 per gallon - cash only which is below market price for the area.

We would camp at Manzanita Lake Campground in the future but would be highly selective in our choice of sites - driving through the various loops we noted that very few are close to level.

We took an eight-day tour through Northern California and this was our first leg. Tent-camped three nights.

Trees help add privacy and make you feel like you’re not as close to your neighbor as you are. Campground was very quiet, even during the day, although we were there during the week, so I’m sure that helped. Stars were beautiful at night. Despite the blazing temps in other parts of the park we were always comfortable here, and even chilly at night! Bear box huge and all site amenities were in good shape. Couple bits of trash and a water bottle unfortunately littered about our spot.

We did have about a dozen anthills spread throughout our site, but were able to pitch our tents a bit away from them. Never had them bother us. We also saw yellow jacket traps in the trees, and they did their job well. Hardly any mosquitos.

Bathrooms mostly okay, except the last morning—strips of TP everywhere, 2/3 stalls not really clean enough to sit on, but I think that was more an issue of guest misuse than camp staff negligence. No dryers or paper towels, but there was soap. Nice dish-washing closet. Showers were hot and had good pressure, but one was broken and the shower head actually fell on one of us! They are no longer coin-op; you pay a $5 use fee at the camp store for the duration of your stay and receive a code to get into the shower room for when it’s locked at night. Otherwise it’s wide open (and I do mean wide—the ladies door is right next to the store entrance so make sure you do all your dressing/undressing behind your stall curtain, though there is a makeshift wall outside the door to help shield the room).

Camp store was a nice place to refill water bottles on our way out in the mornings as we never did find a water spigot near our site. They offer a smattering of groceries (eggs, premade sandwiches, drinks) and have a little cafe, some souvenirs and camp supplies. They ran out of wood our first day there and didn’t know when it would be resupplied (it never was while we were there) but directed us to a place 20 min away where we were able to get plenty. Store folks knowledgeable and friendly. Tiny gas pump out back very convenient and actually decently-priced.

There are a few hikes in the area but most of the main attractions are closer to Summit Lake campgrounds, however they don’t have all the amenities Manzanita does.

We stayed here the first night of our visit to Lassen. This campground is huge. It was almost full and we had a hard time figuring out which sites were available that night until we asked the CG host. We found a pull through that was available that night only.

There is a gift shop and limited groceries available that is next to Manzanita CG. They have showers and laundry which we did not use. They even have gasoline.

The park itself is fabulous.

Our family stayed 3 days and 2 nights, the sites are on the smaller size. We stayed at B13. Restroom were clean, rangers come and clean it almost everyday. Trash is picked up every other day. Bear box was large, easily 2 coolers and more. Lake is just a short walk away and the story carry all the essentials that you might need

Stopped here for a night before beginning of backpacking trip in Lassen. There were people in our spot when we arrived (we got there quite late), but they moved when we informed them we had another car coming. Bear box at D22 was broken. Good, flat ground for multiple tents. Unclear where drinking water was available. Individual working at shop was not very helpful.

Absolutely beautiful campsite area. Bathrooms were basic, buy clean. We'll be back.

Lovely campground. Bathrooms basic, but clean. Private lots

We drove up to the the other side of Lassen 30min away and saw the Sulphur Works hydrothermal vent. We also saw a small bear and deer there. The lake is a short 5 min drive or less away and the museum has a Junior Ranger program which is a book of neat educational tasks for the kids to complete so that they can show it to a ranger and get a Junior Ranger Badge. Breathtaking views of the forest and lots of neat rocks from the volcanoes. I would stay there again! There are things that you don’t see anywhere else there.

On our honeymoon, my wife and I stopped in Lassen Volcanic NP. We were blown away. So gorgeous. This was one of the only campgrounds open at the end of May. Most sites were filled on a Monday night. We did not have a reservation but I would recommend making one. The sites are right next to each other and there is not much seclusion. There is a pretty rigorous hike with a trailhead just down the road. We loved the park, and the campsite was good. FYI lots of pollen around this time. My white truck was yellow after the night. We were here in late may.

Lots of people.

Stayed a couple of days in the big forested campsites. The geothermal features are unique (especially if you haven't been to Yellowstone). There are rental kayaks nearby and plenty of hikes. We did a really interesting cindercone hike.

This campsite is pretty awesome. We stayed at site #21 in loop D. The sites were very large and came equipped with a fire ring/grill, bear box and picnic table.

We had a great time exploring the park and hanging out around Lake Manzanita.

Lassen National Park is beautiful and we hope to be back soon. Even during a busy Labor Day Weekend the park was crowded but nothing like a bigger national park (think Yosemite) in a regular weekend. It was nice being able to experience the park without feeling totally overcrowded.

The camp store was very convenient if you forget anything!

This campground is BIG. there are four loops of sites.  I am a tent camper so this area can be on the crowded side for me with not enough privacy.

That being said the lake is beautiful. Easy access for kayaks and canoes.

The sites are clean, have table, food locker and fire sit.  Bathrooms are flush with showers available.  Close by are cabins to rent on the lake and a store, rentals and even gas,

Great jumping off site to get thru Lassen Park. Can take 45 minutes to get to the other side but there is lots of hiking and incredible views.  And crazy geo thermal sites such as Bumpass Hell.

I love everything about Mount Lassen including the Manzanita Lake camping ground.

UNFORTUNATELY the lake allows no water Recreation due to a over population of beavers; Beavers are apparently dangerous.

It is located less than a mile from the entrance. Large and well shaded sites. Very affordable!

All the amenities including gas, laundry and showers.

Stock up on supplies as the store is limited and expensive!

I have camped at Lassen Volcanic National Park twice. And this campground is definitely the family friendly, rangers in sight, store nearby type of campground here. It’s right next to manzanita lake, and easy to access the area off the highway. My first time here I was more than excited to see bumpass hell, unfortunately this was in June of 2018 so bumpass hell was closed for construction. I still enjoyed my time here because the park is very beautiful. We drove up to summit lake and did some exploring in the area. Summit lake also has a campground that only holds a few sites. It’s a more relaxed and quiet campground since there aren’t really stores nearby.

I used to go to Lassen as a child, but have re-fallen in love with it as an adult, heading back with my children. About a million times less crowded than Yosemite and just as beautiful, Lassen does not disappoint.

Similarly, the campground at Manzanita Lake is miles above any similar campground in the centrally located parts of Yosemite (though outer campgrounds in Yosemite can be nice).

Plenty of space, good prices, beautiful trees and most of all an absolutely beautiful lake all make this campground a winner. Pretty much all of the campgrounds in Lassen are great, but this one has the benefit of being one of the larger ones, so it's (when we were there) easier to find a good spot without reservations. Can't wait to head back.

Spacious campsites with soft dirt/gravel that makes tent camping pretty comfy. Bathrooms were in good shape. The camp store is a close walk and has everything you would need. Stunning views of Lassen Peak from the lake.

California Hidden gems.

Simple to reserve/access campground near Northwest entrance of Lassen. Whole deal was easy enough to be combination somewhere between "vaguely memorable" and "appreciably easy." Fully unobtrusive experience. Racoons (er sumthin weird) kept me company a fair portion of the eve. No bother.

Very large camp near the western entrance of the Lassen Volcanic National Park. Situated on the banks of Manzanita Lake. There are numerous tent, RV, and a few cabin sites available that you can get with little advance notice, unlike many other national parks.

Manzanita has a small camp store with supplies with supplies, hook-ups, and dumpstations availability for RVs, and there is a boat launch for kayaks and canoes on the lake. You can also rent kayaks and canoes and fishing is also widely popular with licenses available in the store.

The camp is also a short drive from the very cool and historic museum that has information about the volcanic history of the park as well as early photographs of the 1915 eruption. It is well worth a visit and has a junior ranger program available for kids, plus general park information. Manzanita is probably the largest camp location within the park and is busy, but there is plenty of opportunities to escape into Lassen.

We love this campground for all of its extras while still feeling like you are in the wilderness. The campground has cabins, as well as tent and trailer spots. If you forget something, there is a small store known for its soft serve ice cream. You can rent kayaks and stand up paddle boards. Each site has a bear box which is great for keeping the chipmunks out of your food. Great views and day hikes in the Lassen National Forest.

Great camp site. We kayaked on the lake and were close enough to the showers by the general store. The park rangers did rounds at night to keep howling animals (coyotes probably) at a distance. It was a great location to drive from. We visited Lassen peak, the cinder cone, butte falls and bumpass hell.

An easy camp spot. The further down the loops the better the sites are. Some sites are close to others. The walk down to the lake isn't far. Nice for a get away! They also have cabins that you can reserve and a small store at the campground.

Manzanita Lake is a really family friendly campground. It’s great seeing the kids ride around the loop on their bicycles and scooters. We had a perimeter site in the A loop, adjacent to the trail that runs to the lake. These sites feel particularly spacious. Due to the type of pine forest, none of them will be private. The interior sites were ok on space for being in a National Park. There is a mix between 3+ night campers and the one nighters, so the park doesn’t completely empty out each day. First come first serve campers would be advised to read the reservation signs carefully, sometimes they are marked a day or two before occupancy and that might be enough time to squeeze in a visit.

There are both plumbed and vault bathrooms, but there is no electricity—so wear a headlamp to the bathroom at night. There is also a water and drain area for dumping dish-wash water, etc. Each site has a bear box, and use of it for all food and food prep, as well as toiletries is expected—campers cannot use their cars. In A loop, we are only a short walk from all things Lake, the laundry and showers, and the camp store. The store has a small menu of hot food offerings available, and the groceries surmount to things found at a gas station plus a few extras like bacon. While travelers should always buy where they burn to prevent introducing invasive bug species, buying wood right outside the park might be a smart choice; the bundles here are $10 each! Ice is $4.65+ for a small 7 lb bag. Showers are $1.75 (7 quarters) for 3 minutes. Many of the groceries are double normal prices. I didn’t dare to check their gas prices! The kayak and canoe rentals are more reasonable. Cabin packages with cook stove, etc, are no longer available with reservations—even though they are still advertised. If staying here for a bit, adventurers will have to drive through Chester to get to other points in the park, like the Devil’s Kitchen (a most beautiful hike). Chester has gas, grocery, hotels, more campgrounds, and some really great local eats. Also check out Drakesbad Ranch if comparing alternatives; we hiked by it on our outing to Devil’s Kitchen and it looks pretty neat.

Waking up to the sound of the wind in the braches of the tall pines, while feeling nothing more than a breeze down below, is a pleasant experience. The drive through Lassen Volcanic is stunning. Under the snow capped peak, wildflowers cascade down the mountainside to frolicking creeks and waterfalls. Emerald lake shines like a deep, green Emerald, and around the corner, Lake Helen is a sparkling Sapphire. The geothermal areas are always interesting and remind us of the forces behind this volcanic tower, and that Lassen is still active. All in all, a great place to car camp.

It's your typical National Park Campground. Sites aren't very private. Great for families, easy access to the lake, general store, flush toilets and showers. It's comfortable camping. We were here in late May/early June and most of the park was still closed due to snow. But it made for fun sliding down the top of a snowy volcano!

Manzanita Lake campground is one of those nationap park campgrounds with several loops and site after site. It is definitely not the most private experience, but one would know that going into it. As far as national park campground go, Manzanita Lake offers a great experience without feeling super crowded- national parks can become zoo-like (because of their fantastic preservation and good marketing :) ), but this campground feels more low key. I am more of a backcountry camper, and I would recommend this campground to a friend.

It is clean, relatively quiet, and has great facilities. It also provides good access to the rest of the park, being at the north end of beautiful rt 89 and just below the Chaos Crags. Everyone should visit Lassen and if you are looking for a campground, put Manzanita on your list.

Campsites were great and well maintained. The beach along the lake was a bit crowed given that it was a holiday weekend. But beautiful trails not too far from the campsites.

I think this would be considered the main campground at Lassen. It has showers, a store, gas, etc. So if that's what you want, it is 5 stars. It also tends to be crowded and busy, which to me is a downside. The sites are very close together so hope you get good neighbors. Still, your in Lassen, so Yay!

There is plenty of hiking, great trails for kids, it's near the visitor center, the main road and lake, so if I were going with kids I would think it ideal. Get a reservation well in advance of your trip.