Lassen National Forest and surrounding public lands near Burney, California offer several tent-only campgrounds with varying levels of amenities and accessibility. Dusty Campground, located on Lake Britton, provides tent campsites with fire pits and picnic tables from May to October. Rocky Campground, situated along Hat Creek about 30 minutes from Burney, features walk-in tent sites with creek access. North Battle Creek Campground offers both drive-in and walk-in tent sites near a reservoir, while Madesi Campground provides primitive tent camping along the Pit River. Hat Creek Dispersed area allows free primitive tent camping with basic amenities like vault toilets.
Most tent campgrounds in the Burney area feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal grading. Vault toilets are common, but potable water is limited to established campgrounds like Dusty and North Battle Creek. Forest service roads leading to backcountry tent sites often require high-clearance vehicles, particularly after rain or early in the season. Mosquitoes can be problematic near water sources, especially at Dusty Campground where one camper described "vast clouds of them" in early mornings. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with complete bans possible during dry summer months. Cell service is generally unavailable at primitive tent camping areas.
Tent campers frequently use these sites as bases for exploring nearby attractions like Burney Falls, just minutes from Dusty Campground. According to reviews, Rocky Campground offers exceptional privacy for tent camping, with one visitor noting they "were the only people on our loop" and enjoyed "listening to the sounds of the creek all night." North Battle Creek's walk-in tent sites provide direct reservoir access with separate bathroom facilities for these campsites. Wildlife sightings are common, with campers reporting deer, salmon, quail, and frogs. The diatomaceous earth at Dusty Campground can be challenging for tent campers, as the fine dust "gets into everything" and can make finding flat tent spots difficult, though the lakeside location compensates for this inconvenience.
"I last minute drove up to the Redding and Burney area to hike and see spring waterfalls in the area. I wanted a quieter campsite to relax at so Dusty was just right."
"Burney falls campground was full so 10 minutes away I found pg&e campground. It’s very small with approximately 7 sites but it’s right on lake Britton."
from $16 - $20 / night
"First day out on the Tiger for a lap of Idaho & Montana and I see there might be a hot spring near the town of Big Bend. A great little twisty road from 299 to Big Bend put a smile on my face. "
"This spot is close to the road, but the drive does run parallel. I have a 4x4 Tacoma and I found it a little difficult initially to navigate past the first hill."
"Take creek trail. Bathrooms, garbage, water available at main campground. 1 bar lte AT&T."
"This was a basic dry campground with nothing but clean vault toilets but we had a great time. The sites are pretty private and most overlook the creek. We were the only people on our loop."
"There are two sets on campsites, drive-up and walk-in."
"last time we visited the water was out of service at the drive in camp spots. to get to the lake access sites you have to get permission to drive past the gate. dogs cost $2 each night. a few of the signs"
from $24 - $44 / night
GuideCute RV park, clean showers, restrooms, and laundry area. The pool looks nice, but it is closed for the season right now. There’s a recreation area with a workout room. There’s some traffic noise from the highway, but it’s not too bad. Staff are very friendly. The campground is clean and well maintained. I would definitely stay here again.
TravelerThe north side of Mount Shasta in the Trinity national Forest at these GPS coordinates 41.52034° N, 122.24421° W. Boondocking off of dirt roads and Open land. No facilities, just beautiful views and peaceful. Update— there is a freight train that runs frequently through this area approximately 5 miles away., So at times the peacefulness is broken by the sound of the train whistle.
RangerQuiet, fcfs, self check-in envelops at the entrance. Vault toilets (2) and a hand water pump. Direct access to MTB trails and short drive to the town.
TravelerWe did work for the new owners they were just awesome to say the least. Looking forward to staying with them as guest next time around.
GuideThis place is glamping at its best! Ample sites, close to the NP, laundry, two restaurants on site, gift shop, etc
ScoutIt’s pretty empty this time of year. Was informed it will close for the season next week. Camp sites are oddly marked. Lots of trees to navigate around. But spacious. Tent and RV Camp spots as well as cabins. Internet is the fastest I’ve seen at a park 40mb download. There is road noise at night so pick a spot in the back. Showers and bathrooms are very clean.
GuideWe stayed two nights here and were able to walk to the Apple harvest festival across the street. You are definitely packed in here but the park is really nice. We stayed in spot 29.
These spots seem to have shade all day long: 25-34 47-70
Spots we saw that we would like to stay in next time: 18, 19, 83A, 113
Also good: 80-83 and 105-113
36-47 have no shade in the afternoon/early evening
The bathrooms were old but clean. I wish the outdoor cooking facilities were better maintained. I’m not quite sure they are usable, but my husband says they are.
We definitely will return to this Park. I appreciate the tight ship they run. We let them know that our cable box was broken when we arrived, and even though we don’t use the cable, they had somebody there within five minutes to fix it. Strict 10pm quiet rule, which I also appreciated. Some highway noise, but it was not that bad. The little town of McCloud is so very cute and easily walkable. We recommend Sage for a fancy dinner.
TravelerI showed up for a first come first served site. It wasn’t clear when I drove in that you can look at the dates on the reservation tags and use the site if you’re between days it is reserved. Nice shady wooded campground right next to the river with easy access to a gorgeous trail.
TravelerI used this RV park while roadtripping in a van. The people were friendly and the bathroom was super clean. I would stay here for tent camping too.
The Lassen National Forest area surrounding Burney sits at elevations of 3,000-4,000 feet with volcanic terrain and underground springs feeding numerous waterways. Tent campsites near Burney, California remain accessible from late spring through early fall, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 45-85°F. The region's volcanic history creates unique camping conditions including diatomaceous earth at some sites.
Fishing at Hat Creek: Hat Creek Dispersed camping offers primitive tent sites with excellent fishing access. "I've been going to this spot for 30 years and it's great, clean, peaceful, and great fishing," reports Daniel J., who frequently camps in the area.
Kayaking on Iron Canyon: The reservoir at Hawkins Landing Campground provides water recreation opportunities about 30 minutes northwest of Burney. Emily R. notes it's a "Great fishing spot with bathrooms! No phone/wifi service but it's a great camp spot!!"
Wildlife viewing at Ahjumawi: Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park Campground offers boat-in tent sites with opportunities to spot local wildlife. "Saw a few bears roaming the tree line, but they stayed far away," reports Brittany S., who visited the prairie-adjacent campground.
Waterfront camping: Dusty Campground on Lake Britton provides direct lakefront access. "The lake is maybe 20 feet from the site which is perfect for boat access and Lake Britton is my favorite I've ever been to," shares Danielle W., who has camped there regularly for years.
Private campsites: Twin Bridges Campground along Hat Creek offers secluded tent camping spots. David S. explains, "Many sites are creek front. Lots of large trees for shade. First come first served. No or very limited cell coverage. Hat Creek is a famous fly fishing stream."
Solitude and quiet: North Battle Creek Campground provides an escape from crowded camping areas. "This is a great spot that I almost didn't review because I don't want anyone else to know about it," admits Michael I., who appreciates the campground's relative isolation.
Road conditions: Many tent sites near Burney require driving on forest service roads. Christopher E. advises about Hat Creek Dispersed: "Road is rough only to top then levels out. Footbridge to main campground found midway in creek."
Insects and dust: Tent campers should prepare for mosquitoes, especially near water. Autumn O. warns about Dusty Campground: "The road isn't paved so every time someone drove by there would be a massive dirt cloud covering your tent and chairs, food, drinks."
Water sources: Many primitive tent sites lack potable water. At Twin Bridges, Jim Y. notes the area "Can be crowded at times but has lots of camp grounds" while mentioning "creek has native trout."
Beach access: Look for campgrounds with swimming areas for children. Tom B. found Dusty Campground when Burney Falls was full: "It's very small with approximately 7 sites but it's right on Lake Britton. There is even a little beach area for swimming and launching kayaks."
Educational opportunities: Madesi Campground includes accessible fishing platforms ideal for teaching children to fish. Greg B. discovered "a PG&E camp right on the Pit River. Complete with a beautiful, clean vault toilet and ADA fishing platform."
Movie history: Introduce kids to film history while camping. Laura H. shared about Dusty Campground: "Another perk of this campground is the railroad/bridge that was featured in the old movie Stand By Me is walking distance from the campsites."
Site selection: For RVs and trailers, seek level areas in dispersed camping zones. Doug W. notes about Hat Creek Dispersed: "Just a short run of slightly rough road to get to expansive meadows of boondocking."
Campground amenities: Crystal B. reports about Dusty Campground: "There are a few level spots for camp trailers. Right next to the lake with a little beach available. A favored local spot."
Walk-in site logistics: When choosing walk-in tent sites at North Battle Creek, Kylee C. advises: "To get to the lake access sites you have to get permission to drive past the gate. Dogs cost $2 each night."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Burney, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Burney, CA is Dusty Campground with a 3.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 46 tent camping locations near Burney, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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