Lassen Volcanic National Park's Summit Lake South sits at roughly 7,000 feet elevation, occupying the southern half of a small alpine lake shared with Summit Lake North — Lassen Volcanic National Park across the water. The National Park Service manages both sides, but the two campgrounds offer noticeably different experiences. South has vault toilets rather than flush toilets, costs $22 per night, and includes loops C, D, and E, with loop E reserved for tents only, meaning no generators.
Sites vary considerably in quality. A handful sit directly on the lake, while others are more open and exposed due to tall conifers with little understory vegetation beneath them. Reviewers consistently note that sites are close together with minimal screening between neighbors. Parking pads at many sites are angled steeply, which creates real problems for rooftop tents or any setup requiring a level surface. The lake access from the south shore runs into marshy vegetation along parts of the shoreline, making swimming less straightforward than from the north side. The campground does stay clean, and summer conditions tend to be dry and dusty.
The location works well as a base for covering the park. Fishing and swimming in Summit Lake are the primary on-site activities, and the campground connects to hiking trails that reach other parts of Lassen. For campers who want to compare options across the park, campsites near Lassen Volcanic National Park range from more developed sites to backcountry alternatives. Reservations are available and worth making, since the tent-only loop in particular tends to fill during summer weekends.
Description
Overview
Summit Lake South Campground (elevation 6,700 ft.) is conveniently located on the main road of Lassen Volcanic National Park. The campground is within walking distance of the small but scenic Summit Lake and eight miles from the 10,457-ft. Lassen Peak, the largest volcano in the park. Hikers will find one of the park's major trails only 1/4-mile away from the campground and many more within a close proximity. Summit Lake South is on the opposite side of the lake from Summit Lake North Campground.
Recreation
The campground is a hub for hiking and backpacking trails within the park. Campers can access many of the park's 150 miles of hiking trails from the Summit Lake area. The Cluster Lakes loop trail--a major trailhead into the park's interior that bypasses several alpine lakes and is popular among birders--is located a short walk away at the Summit Lake Ranger Station. This is the closest campground to the Lassen Peak Trail and within 10 miles of the hydrothermal area, Bumpass Hell. Educational programs are presented at an amphitheater within the facility.
Facilities
This facility has vault toilets, drinking water, campfire rings, picnic tables and a more secluded tent-only loop. There are no flush toilets. For more information visit Campgrounds of Lassen Volcanic.
Natural Features
The national park is known for its volcanic history, as well as its diversity of plants and animals. It contains 300 active volcanic domes and many hydrothermal features, such as mud pots and steam vents. Lassen Peak is the southernmost active volcano in the Cascades, and the second-most recent volcano to erupt in the lower 48 of the United States before Mount Saint Helens. Lassen National Park boasts over 700 species of flowering plants and 250 native species including birds, mammals, reptiles and fish. The park is at the junction of the Cascade Mountains, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Basin, thus providing many unique habitats.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsSummit Lake South is located in California near Mineral
Public CampgroundDirections
From Redding, California take State Highway 44 east approximately 48 miles to the Manzanita Lake entrance of the park. The campground is 14 miles south of the entrance on the main park road.
Address
LASSEN VOLCANIC NP P.O.BOX 100
Mineral, CA 96063
Coordinates
40.4902778 N
121.4236111 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 8/11/26
- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 7 usersLast on 8/11/26
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 8/11/26
- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 7 usersLast on 8/11/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
Contact
General Info
Reservations
Drive Time
- 1 hr 7 min from Redding, CA
- 2 hrs 33 min from Yuba City, CA
- 2 hrs 46 min from Reno, NV
