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Established Camping

Merrill Campground

Merrill Campground, near Susanville, California, is a fantastic spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors with a touch of comfort. With sites that offer both water and electric hookups, it’s a solid choice for families and friends wanting to camp without sacrificing too much convenience.

The campground is surrounded by tall pines and is just a stone's throw from Eagle Lake, making it perfect for fishing, biking, and hiking. Visitors rave about the clean facilities, including flushing toilets, and appreciate the friendly camp hosts who help create a welcoming atmosphere. One camper noted, “The trout fishing is world class and makes for an out-of-this-world fish fry!”

For those who enjoy a bit of activity, there’s a lovely paved trail that runs alongside the lake, ideal for biking or leisurely walks. While there are no showers, the peaceful setting and starry nights more than make up for it. As one happy camper put it, “Quiet starry nights. Recreational lake. Friendly peeps.”

Merrill Campground operates from mid-May to the end of October, so plan your visit accordingly. Whether you’re here for a weekend or an annual trip, you’ll find plenty to love about this campground and its beautiful surroundings.

Description

USDA Forest Service

Lassen National Forest

Overview

Merrill Campground is located in the Eagle Lake Recreation Area of the Lassen National Forest. This recreation area has five campgrounds, three designated day use areas and a marina on the south shore of Eagle Lake. All of these recreation facilities are connected by a 5.2 mile paved hiking/bike trail. The Osprey Overlook, another day use area in the recreation area, can be hiked or driven to for a scenic view of the southern end of Eagle Lake and the surrounding forest basin. The Lassen National Forest offers a variety of lakes, streams and wilderness areas for recreational opportunities. The forest offers miles of trails that are used for hiking, mountain biking, off-highway vehicle riding and in the winter months, snowmobiling.

Recreation

Fishing for the Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout, a California Heritage Trout, is the primary recreational activity on Eagle Lake, but the 3rd largest natural lake in California (22,000 acres), provides for plenty of room for swimming, kayaking, skiing and all other boating activities by motor or sail. There are no 2-cycle restrictions for outboard boat motors or PWCs.

Natural Features

Eagle Lake is located where the Sierras meet the Cascades at the southwestern end of the lake, and the Modoc Plateau of the Great Basin at the northeastern end. This unique location offers diverse landscapes, geology, wildlife and vegetation. Merrill Campground is located in a mature conifer forest of pines and firs on the southern shoreline of Eagle Lake, at an elevation of 5,100 feet.

Nearby Attractions

The Lassen National Forest has many other recreational opportunities and the Lassen Volcanic National Park is an easy days drive to and from Eagle Lake Recreational Area.

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Location

Merrill Campground is located in California

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Susanville, California, take Highway 36 west for 2 miles to County Road A-1. Turn north and continue 14 miles to the Eagle Lake Recreation Area. Continue past Gallatin Road, the first highway you will come to in the lake basin, and follow the signs to Merrill Campground. Located on County Road A-1.

Coordinates

40.5481194 N
120.8120056 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Fair
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Fair

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

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

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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5 Stars

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1 Star

58%
32%
11%
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4.5

out of 5

19 Reviews

Reviewed Oct. 2, 2024

Beautiful Forested Campground

It's definitely a 5-star campground, but if you don't fish, kayak or do paddle boarding, there is nothing else to do within 20 miles. National forest camping with power and electric, Wow!!! The price with a National Forest pass was only $32.

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Marty P., October 2, 2024
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Marty P., October 2, 2024
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Jul. 18, 2024

Nice lakeside camp

Large state lakeside camp, well laid out. Clean toilets but no showers. Ca, so expensive. Great bike/hiking paved path In The pines. Lake entry about 200 yards from Lowest campsites which are unpowered sites. Water and electric available on the two upper levels. We did not have reservations, 4 powered sites and many unpowered were available. We chose the basic site, closer to the lake side.

Site63
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by mark F., July 18, 2024
Reviewed Jul. 14, 2024

Rare USDA camp with power and water

Stayed one night and loved Eagle Lake. Rare USDA campground with power and water. Lovely forest area shades the camp. Lots of families with bikes and dogs all on leashes. Great bike paths to ride or walk right next to the lake.

Site45
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Julie G., July 14, 2024
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Julie G., July 14, 2024
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Julie G., July 14, 2024
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Nov. 30, 2022

Great

Beautiful campground

Site12
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Aug. 13, 2022

Convenient

We did not have reservations and just showed up. It’s nice that they have first come first serve sites available with full hook ups. The Camp Hosts are wonderful people

Site18
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jul. 3, 2022

Lake enthusiast paradise

Close proximity to Eagle Lake. Sites are close together = no privacy. Bathrooms were clean. No showers but flushing toilets. Limited cell coverage. Great hiking trail on paved path accessible from campground.

Site133
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jun. 1, 2022

Beautiful park

We loved our stay here. Stayed at the end of May 2022. Sites are large and spaced out. Big trees everywhere. Restrooms are clean, but don’t have anything to dry your hands with. Also no showers here. But everything is so nice it makes it a non-issue. Lake is amazing. Nice 10 mile paved trail for biking and walking.

Site45
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed May. 30, 2022

Annual Eagle Lake Trip

Our annual camping trip to Eagle Lake at the Merrill Campground in Lassen National Forest started as a family trip for a good friend about three generations ago. Ourselves and other friends have since tagged along for the last 6-8 years (some longer). We now routinely book 6 or more campsites, most with power for trailer hook ups though a couple of us still tent camp. Half the group are avid fisherman and go out every morning. The trout fishing is world class and makes for an out-of-this-world fish fry! This is one of the most pristine and quiet campgrounds we visit. The camp hosts and other campers are always extremely friendly and respectful. The facilities are clean and well maintained, the marina is well stocked (both fishing and daily food/drink essentials). We look forward to coming year after year.

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Aug. 5, 2021

Amazing

Grew up camping here as a child and have so many great memories of Eagle Lake. Unfortunately things have changed quite a bit due to the shift in climate in the area. The water was very low and air a bit smoky upon arrival in early September. Sites are great, with lots of shelter the further inland you go, and just enough pine tree shelter close to the water. Many sites available when we drove in on a Saturday afternoon, so we chose one with a view in the grassy area facing the lake. Amenities are great: flushing toilets, potable water, a general store with a good selection of items. A big, lakeside trail to bike/ walk that spans quite a distance and ends near the marina. The camp host played the French horn at sundown which was unexpected, but really lovely and relaxing to listen to as the sun set. Expect the days to be very hot, but nights extremely cold in the latter half of summer. Come prepared for the mountain climate with warm sleeping bags/ down blankets. Expect to hear some fishing boats and a bit of traffic at dawn if you stay during trout season. Always a good idea to check air quality and burn bans before arriving.

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Riley P., August 5, 2021
Reviewed Aug. 5, 2021

Amazing

Grew up camping here as a child and have so many great memories of Eagle Lake. Unfortunately things have changed quite a bit due to the shift in climate in the area. The water was very low and air a bit smoky upon arrival in mid September. Sites are great, with lots of shelter the further inland, and a bit of pine tree shelter close to the water. Many sites available when we drove in on a Monday afternoon. Amenities are great: flushing toilets, potable water, a general store with a good selection of items. The camp host played the French horn at sundown which was unexpected, but really lovely to listen to as the sun set. Expect the days to be very hot, but nights extremely cold. Come prepared for the mountain climate with warm sleeping bags/ down blankets.

Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Jun. 7, 2021

In Sight of the Lake

One of several campgrounds at Eagle Lake. We like this one because there are several spots close to the water and in the sun. In the heat of the summer there are plenty of spots deep under the thick pine trees that shade the area. In the shoulder seasons it's nice to camp in a sunny spot or at least have the option.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Alison , June 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Alison , June 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Alison , June 7, 2021
  • (11) View All
Reviewed May. 29, 2021

Quiet Campground BEFORE Trout Season

We stayed here for 4 nights and loved it. The lake is appropriately named as we saw bald eagles daily. We opted for the loop with water/electric hookups knowing there was easy access to a dump station across from the entrance to the campground. While we loved our site, it was probably the least shaded of any site there. With no campers in the dry sites closest to the water, we had the perfect unobstructed view of the lake. The campground is very well maintained and the sites are exceptionally large. As it was the last week before trout season opened on the lake, our side of the campground was nearly empty. Not sure that will be the case now. We enjoyed walking the paved Eagle Lake Recreation Trail to both Christie Campground and the marina. Each direction is about a 4 mile out and back.

Site144
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Lori T., May 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Lori T., May 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Lori T., May 29, 2021
Reviewed Oct. 24, 2020

Nice, quite and spacious

Clean and quite. The sites are spread out and offer a lot of privacy. Full hookups $35, water and electric $30. Dry camp $20. On the south shore of Eagle Lake. No fires or Charcoal at this time. Would come back again. Stayed 3 nights.

  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by James W., October 24, 2020
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by James W., October 24, 2020
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by James W., October 24, 2020
Reviewed Sep. 26, 2019

Will be back

Came in just for a quick overnight stay on our way home from Oregon. We will be back. Extremely clean, easy to get in your spot. We have a 30’ travel trailer and there was so much availability, we did go mid Sept so kind of off season. Plenty of shade trees, full hook ups. A decent walk to the waters edge by reasonable.

  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Paul C., September 26, 2019
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Reviewed Aug. 19, 2019

Eagle Lake

Amazing. Such magnificent views driving through the forest to get to Eagle Lake. We planned to stayed 3 days here as we camp in our RV trailer and part of the camp had full hook-ups. Upon arrival there was only one site left #24 which was considered full sun. (Minus trees) It was hot! Most sites had majestic trees and paved. The rest rooms well cleaned with soap. No towels just bring your own. Many campers had their kayak or fishing boats. We travel with electric bikes and dog carrier in tow. There is a total of 6 miles of paved bike path. We loved it! We rode to the other dry camp grounds all very big and spacious with the tall trees. Well whether you dry camp or partial hook-ups across from Merrill entrance is the RV dump station with full cleaning hoses at a reasonable price. We will be RV camping with reservations in the future as we selected some sites. It’s quite and peaceful unless you supply your own satellite, music, or videos. Highly recommended.

Reviewed Jul. 1, 2019

Tall pines and wide lake

We found this campground just about 20 miles outside of Susanville—-the road is winding, but paved all of the way.  The campground is set in deep pines that reach the sky alongside a wide Eagle Lake.  There was decent distance between campsites, and lots of fishermen and firefighters were using the campground. We had a full hookup site, even though we could have gone off the grid with our little solar panel. There was a nice biking/hiking trails long the south part of the lake, a it ran by a nearby well-outfitted store.  The only reason this campground didn’t get 5 stars is that there are no local showers.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Susan L., July 1, 2019
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Susan L., July 1, 2019
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Susan L., July 1, 2019
Reviewed Oct. 11, 2018

lake view

fire rings, tables, flush toilets. close fising and hiking. gorgeous pine trees, lots of birds. good fishing!

Site24
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by julie K., October 11, 2018
Reviewed Sep. 12, 2017

Merrill Camground

Verry quite and relaxing, clean bathrooms and wifi (if your into that sort of thing).Mostly RV campers. my wife and I were in a tent while everyone else was in an RV.

SiteSite8
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Merrill Campground by Chris M., September 12, 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at Merrill Campground?

    Camping at Merrill Campground can cost between $35.00 and $80.00 depending on the site.

  • Does Merrill Campground have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Merrill Campground has 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Merrill Campground?

    Merrill Campground allows vehicles up to 178 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Merrill Campground?

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

  • Does Merrill Campground have wifi?

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

  • Is there cell phone reception at Merrill Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is fair, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is fair.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Merrill Campground?

    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 Merrill Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Merrill Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Merrill Campground?

    There are 302 campsites at Merrill Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts