Best RV Parks & Resorts near Alturas, CA

Although we had new solar, it was too hot to depend on that alone for the night, so my wife found this location. It was not a bad night's stay. 

There are a few sites, all on dirt/gravel slots, no trees in the parking area.  Nearest to the shower-bath house are double sites, a plug, 30-amp power and water for each side of the power box, and out towards the street are more like single sites, my wife was told those sites are for bigger rigs. The RV parking all looked like relatively new installations for the water and power.

Full hook up is water and electric with a dump station on site, no at site dumping available, for $25.00. 

There is a pay station located at the shower-bath building with pay envelopes to fill out and drop in a lock box. 

Bathrooms were actually very nice and clean. One side is the two bathrooms the other side two shower rooms. 

The showers cost $3 or 5 dollars IN QUARTERS ONLY, and there is a change machine by the bathrooms if needed. As we were in our small Micro-Minnie Winnebago we opted to try the shower room. My wife and I paid the $3 for both of us and used the shower at the same time. Good water pressure, clean room, warm water. 

We didn't need to dump, but it wasn't said well on any signage we saw, and we believed paying for full hook up was also to mean dumping was paid for. It costs $5.00 to dump if you don't pay for full or just need to stop and dump. 

As there were no directions we were unsure how exactly you were supposed to park to be in "your site" so we just kinda went with it and parked to be able to stay connected to our truck without the truck sticking out too far in the driving lanes in case others came in to stay. There were only three RVs at the location that night, including ours, so it wasn't crowded. 

It seemed like the back of the RV was supposed to be at the power water connection, but we never did find out for sure. 

Since this visit was during the heatwave of July 2022, it was VERY nice to have power for the night, and we had our  rig A/C on all night long. 

It was a very quiet night, and if we were in in the region again, as long as the fair isn't going, we wouldn't have any problem staying there again. Overall a nice place, and we saved a lot of money from staying at a regular RV park. Nothing fancy but not bad either in our opinion.

There is a large group site. Restrooms and showers. RV hookups and a clean out station. Dog friendly but not very private. Almost no vegetation separating sites.

• Forested with ponderosa pine.
• 22 RV sites, 10 rustic cabins, 8 tents, group site
• shower house
• Full hookups *playground structure
• Our friends and we had the place to ourselves. (Antelope fire very close, but smoke had dissipated after 3 hours of rain)
• All pull through sites big enough to keep toad hooked up
• The owner said their main season is hunting season which starts the end of September. We overnighted here the 9/12/21. Very pleasant.

Good campsite nestled in the trees. Approximately 10 tent sites, 20 RV, and 15 cabins. RV are full hookup. Showers, laundry and friendly staff. Easy, close drive to Lava Beds National park

This campground is HIGH up in the mountains (over 5,000 feet) so remember sunscreen, water, and the fact that it’s going to get plenty cold at night regardless of the season. There is a lot of BLM boondocking activity in this area so it’s nice to have an actual campground.

There are seven sites in total and according to signage you can stay for a maximum of 14 days. This is plenty even when you take into consideration the vast number of hiking trails and off circuit lakes to explore. It’s a beautiful corner of California and highly underrated.

RVs can fit in these spots but the maximum length is about 24 feet. Vault toilets. No camp host and no cell service.

You drive down a gravel road right through a 6,000 acre working cattle ranch. There are 40 pull through RV sites with electric, water, and some sites have sewer. There is a dump station. We were there during a Blue moon with no light pollution and it felt like you could grab it out of the sky. Was quite an unexpected find.

Confused? This lake must be seasonal because we could not find it while traveling around this campsite. There is a small marshy area and grass as if the lake is there at other times of the year. The campsites have very little privacy, but there are bathrooms, amenities, nice day-use area, pet exercise area, etc. This park is on the border of California near Lakeview… so while I did not necessary think it was worth the drive to go see this campground, the nearby town is a great little American escape for groceries, a great little Saturday Farmers Market, a nice cup of coffee, or just to explore.

This sight is great for boon-docking campers; it has maintained camp sights, picnic tables, and a few fire rings. A short walk from the camp sights there is a vault toilet that’s maintained during the dryer months. Great fishing, stargazing, and kayaking. But be prepared for no cell service at the campground, however about 2 miles south on the main road will provide 2 bars of service for those with Verizon. Also pack lots of food, water, and fuel as the closest gas is in Alturas and or Standish Litchfield “45 miles north or to the south on hwy 395.” I wouldn’t recommend swimming in the lake as the lake has been know to have very small leaches sad for swimming but great for fishing. Don’t forget to check your local fire restrictions and obtain a fire permit before heading out.

Free usfs camping! Secluded little campground right off 299. Follow directions on Dyrt app as coordinates don’t quite take you to the actual campground. There is signage as you turn off 299 but mileage is off. Pit toilets, trash and seasonal? water (was off when we were here in late October). Sites may be small for a big rig but fit our van with plenty of room.

Howards Gulch Campground • Modoc National Forest • $12

Northern California • Basin & Range Birding Trail 15 Northeastern location

Just past a hundred miles of farmfield coming from the North we enter the Modoc National Forest, and turn left against our GPS’ wishes into Howard’s Gulch Campground (Forest Service). Pay attention to the signs. It's analog but it's right. It’s a small, primitive camp in Northern California with 12 sites. Two which are walk in only and none which are for large RV’s. The fee is $12 which is significantly more than the next campground down the road which is free, but the consistency of the Forest Service sites makes it worth it. 

The trees are tall and red, and according to a conveniently placed sign, coniferous. There are also signs indicating common birds of the area and their habitats, along with a 1.5 mile trail built by the U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and the California Department of Corrections. The trail has been dedicated “for your hiking pleasure…” This campground is also part of the Basin & Range Birding Trail system of Northern California and Southern Oregon.

Like all forest service campgrounds there is a fire pit and a picnic table in each site. Most of the sites are spaced relatively privately, but since you’re in the middle of nowhere you’ll probably be sharing the camp with one, maybe two other campers. In addition, some sites have a stand alone charcoal grilling set-ups.

Trails like this one lead right from camp. Bring your binoculars.

There are plenty of water taps. At least five, but since it isn’t potable there isn’t really much benefit. Since the water is being “treated with chemicals” I wouldn’t even recommend boiling it for use leaving it for the dousing of fires, but the camp is under no-burn restrictions. Rightfully so, considering the summer California has had so far.

Toilets are standard vaults, but there are three of them for 12 sites. Two of which are recent new builds. Being low in the gulch you’re surrounded by walls on three sides to the outer side of the camp loop. The inner loop still backs up to a cliff wall for an unusually located tall mound...and OHMYGOD MY WIFE JUST CHOPPED HER THUMB! SHIT! SHIT!SHIT!SHIT!SHIT!SHIT!SHIT!

...

The reason to camp here is…you’re on your way somewhere else most likely. Coming from Oregon to Yosemite or Tahoe or vice versa. But if you do you won’t be disappointed and if you like birds you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The nearest town is at least 20+ miles if you need anything so come prepared. My Wife's thumb is fine by the way. Despite a serious scare at the time. She field dressed it like a boss using our first aid kit (which we've since upgraded). She'll have a reminder scar, but her badass level went up like a million points. I give Howard’s Gulch 3 Tent Stakes of Awesomeness for being a solid campground with nice sites and trails leaving right from camp but not much else going on. Also, there is no indication of who Howard is. I certainly didn't meet him.

Pro-Tip #1: Prepare for summer heat. You aren’t at elevation here.

Pro-Tip #2: Bring binoculars.

Pro-Tip #3: Bring water and anything else you might need. No place near by to get anything.

This sweet little place beside a creek in Surprise Valleyis just right for low-key tent camping and they have a place for a small van or RV too. Composting toilet, dipping in the creek, and a cool little town (restaurant there is open Thurs-Sun). It's on a farm, technically, but they are mostly taking time off farming. Dark skies and no worries.