Best Campgrounds near Chester, CA
The Northern California town of Chester serves as a gateway to diverse camping environments within Lassen National Forest and near Lassen Volcanic National Park. Campgrounds like Rocky Point on Lake Almanor and High Bridge along Warner Creek provide water-oriented experiences, while forest sites such as Elam and Gurnsey Creek offer more secluded settings beneath towering pines. Within a 30-mile radius, campers find everything from primitive sites with basic vault toilets to developed campgrounds with electric hookups, showers, and camp stores. The region supports tent camping, RV sites with varying hookup levels, and even cabin rentals at locations like Plumas Pines Resort.
Most campgrounds in the Chester area operate seasonally from May through October, with some higher elevation sites opening later due to snowpack. As one camper noted about Silver Bowl campground, "In big snow years, it may not open until July." Forest service roads accessing remote campgrounds can be rough early in the season but typically improve as summer progresses. Cell service is limited or nonexistent at many sites, with one reviewer at Elam Campground reporting, "There is NO cell coverage. Either travel down Hwy 32 45 minutes or travel up about 20 minutes." Fire restrictions vary by location and season, with some campgrounds prohibiting fires entirely while others provide established fire rings.
Trout fishing opportunities rank among the most frequently mentioned activities in camper reviews, with creeks and lakes throughout the region supporting anglers. The town of Chester itself serves as an important supply hub, with the Holiday Market grocery store referenced by multiple campers as a reliable source for provisions. Weather patterns create significant temperature variations, particularly at higher elevations. Summer days can be warm while nights remain cool, with one camper at Eagle Lake advising visitors to "come prepared for the mountain climate with warm sleeping bags/down blankets." Insect activity peaks in early summer, with several reviewers mentioning the need for bug spray, particularly for mosquitoes near lakes and streams.
