Searching for the best camping near Hat Creek, CA? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Hat Creek, CA. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.
Pioneer Camp
$143 / night
Manzanita Lake Campground (elevation 5,900 ft.) is the largest campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is within walking distance of the scenic Manzanita Lake, a popular fishing and family destination, and offers impressive views of Lassen Peak, the largest volcano in the park at 10,457 feet. The facility is conveniently located one mile south of the park entrance, close to The Loomis Museum, Loomis Ranger Station and popular hiking trails. Educational programs are presented at the museum and amphitheater.
Manzanita Lake is popular with fly fishermen, but the campground does maintain a catch-and-release policy. Non-motorized boating is also permitted and Kayak rentals are available nearby. The park boasts more than 150 miles of hiking trails, a variety of which can be accessed from the campground, including family-friendly hikes as well as those for more experienced hikers.
Manzanita Lake is popular with fly fishermen, but the campground does maintain a catch-and-release policy. Non-motorized boating is also permitted and Kayak rentals are available nearby. The park boasts more than 150 miles of hiking trails, a variety of which can be accessed from the campground, including family-friendly hikes as well as those for more experienced hikers.
The national park is known for its volcanic history, as well as its diversity of plants and animals. It contains 300 active volcanic domes, as well as 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 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 species of 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.
$15 - $26 / night
Butte Lake Stock Corral (elevation 6,100 ft.) is located in the northeastern section of Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California. It is fairly remote and within walking distance of Butte Lake, which is popular for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming. Several trails are located nearby. The facility is 45 minutes from the main park road.
Outdoor enthusiasts stay at Butte Lake Stock Corral for its many recreation opportunities. The lake is popular for trout fishing, as well as non-motorized boating. Trailheads within the facility include the hike to Snag Lake, trails leading to the interior of the park, and the Cluster Lakes loop. Longer trails nearby will take you to Juniper Lake and Summit Lake. The Pacific Crest Trail can also be accessed from Butte Lake and runs through the park.
Outdoor enthusiasts stay at Butte Lake Stock Corral for its many recreation opportunities. The lake is popular for trout fishing, as well as non-motorized boating. Trailheads within the facility include the hike to Snag Lake, trails leading to the interior of the park, and the Cluster Lakes loop. Longer trails nearby will take you to Juniper Lake and Summit Lake. The Pacific Crest Trail can also be accessed from Butte Lake and runs through the park.
The area is dominated by Ponderosa pines and surrounded by soft volcanic soils. Extending into Butte Lake is a large black lava flow, creating rocky shores and interesting views for visitors in kayaks and canoes to explore. Trails suitable for horses are easily accessed from the corral and numerous forest roads just outside the park boundary. 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 Volcanic National Park boasts over 700 species of flowering plants and 250 species of vertebrates, 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.
The Caribou Wilderness area is managed by the Forest Service has numerous trails that are suitable for stock use and can be accessed directly from the park via the Widow Lake trail.
$37 / night
Sites 1-16 are open year around. Sites 17-46 are open April through mid-October. Water is shut off during winter months.
RV Sites, Tent Camping, Cabins, Yurts and Motel Rooms
4.8 * Google-rated Campground! We are NOT your average seasonal RV park. Nope. Not at all. "Boondockers" call us "boondocking with luxury". We're forested and rustic, yet with super clean bathrooms and showers, and a great swimming pool. Full hookups and with several site types to choose your level of space and privacy, or if you have extra tents, and with pull- thru choices. 68 acres of trails allow you to unwind, and then head into town if you like for a variety of delicious food from The Old Merc, Crumbs, or Annies Rendevous Cafe - right in McArthur!
Our beautiful, spacious RV resort campground is between Mt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta. We are proudly "worth the drive" and remain committed an amazing experience for our all our customers, and seek to be open, inviting and inclusive to ALL guests!
We invite you to enjoy our 68 acres of beautiful oak and pine forest lands, offering comfortable, clean resort facilities, spacious full hookup RV campsites of different sizes including many pull-thru, alternative lodging options, streaming Wi-Fi available at every site, a seasonal swimming pool, walking trails with valley/mountain views and more. Pet friendly! We are NOT a parking lot campground - you'll be happily surprised with the "elbow room" our campground affords guests! We are all about the FUN of natural surroundings, and we also like to make ART out in the woods to surprise you! Our pleasant, helpful staff can't wait to meet you!
While we are mainly a summer season campground, we offer off-season discounts to month to month guests with winterized RVs, and seek to help out winter travelers as much as possible!
$42 - $75 / night
Hat Creek is one of six campgrounds available in the Hat Creek Recreation Area, home to some of the area's best trout fishing. Scenic hiking trails and an active volcanic area can easily be accessed from the facility.
Hat Creek is popular for its trophy trout fishing. The cold waters of the creek allow for a refreshing play on hot summer days. Other popular activities in the area include wildlife viewing, hunting, backpacking, hiking and caving. A variety of day hikes are available in the area, including the Spatter Cones Nature Trail, which is located just across the highway from the campground. The 1.5-mile loop trail provides hikers with a unique opportunity to explore craters, cones and crevices, as well as other geologic features left by the Hat Creek Lava Flow. Nearby, visitors can take a self-guided tour of Subway Cave. The trail is less than a half-mile long and explores the underground world of a lava tube. Visitors are encouraged to bring flashlights for hiking through the cave.
The campground is situated next to Hat Creek in a mixed conifer forest at an elevation of about 4,390 feet. Pine needles, grasses and volcanic rocks cover the forest floor. Sites are widely spaced for privacy.
The campground is located about a mile west of the town of Old Station, and 12 miles east of the northwest entrance to Lassen Volcanic National Park, where active, hissing fumaroles and boiling mud pots are continually shaping the landscape. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail can be accessed near the Spatter Cones Nature Trailhead.
$80 / night
Camp on a private & pristine ranch surrounded by green fields and fish Hat Creek and our stocked lake. We are in Lassen National Forest not far from Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park, both famous for their beauty. We have RV sites and tent sites with options of grass for each, fire pits, picnic tables, hot showers, laundry, restrooms, playground, sandy swim beach, horseshoes, fishing, ping pong & Free WIFi!
Pioneer Camp
$143 / night
Manzanita Lake Campground (elevation 5,900 ft.) is the largest campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is within walking distance of the scenic Manzanita Lake, a popular fishing and family destination, and offers impressive views of Lassen Peak, the largest volcano in the park at 10,457 feet. The facility is conveniently located one mile south of the park entrance, close to The Loomis Museum, Loomis Ranger Station and popular hiking trails. Educational programs are presented at the museum and amphitheater.
Manzanita Lake is popular with fly fishermen, but the campground does maintain a catch-and-release policy. Non-motorized boating is also permitted and Kayak rentals are available nearby. The park boasts more than 150 miles of hiking trails, a variety of which can be accessed from the campground, including family-friendly hikes as well as those for more experienced hikers.
Manzanita Lake is popular with fly fishermen, but the campground does maintain a catch-and-release policy. Non-motorized boating is also permitted and Kayak rentals are available nearby. The park boasts more than 150 miles of hiking trails, a variety of which can be accessed from the campground, including family-friendly hikes as well as those for more experienced hikers.
The national park is known for its volcanic history, as well as its diversity of plants and animals. It contains 300 active volcanic domes, as well as 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 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 species of 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.
$15 - $26 / night
Sites 1-16 are open year around. Sites 17-46 are open April through mid-October. Water is shut off during winter months.
RV Sites, Tent Camping, Cabins, Yurts and Motel Rooms
Guide
Clean bathrooms and showers. Nice park. We stayed one night enroute to the bat area, but world have start much longer
Traveler
Very basic sites, on the river. Hosts are super helpful and friendly, great for a short time.
Scout
Syayed in #3. Kind of confusing to get a reservation. Couldnt buy a ticket at the visitors center. Online only. Once i figured it out it is easy. Once there i went hiking but something was missing THE CAMPFIRE. That was when i started having fun. This is a clean campsite that is only 9.4 miles to west redding.
Traveler
Looked nice to camp and the creek might have been a nice place to drop a line. But, no spots available to camp as hunters used campsites for their personal parking lot and even took over the area to the south of the campsites. There were three trailers there but I lost count of the trucks there. We went up the road further to the Trailhead and hunting vehicles everywhere. So we went further and found a nice spot to camp. It would be nice if the campsites were clearly marked and were used as such.
Scout
Men’s shower code is 9271 as of 10/10/24 for all you stinky campers (myself included)
Scout
Plenty of dispersed camping along the creek just south of Big Pine Campground. We found a could spots that our 38ft fifth wheel could fit, and many spots for smaller rigs. Water, dump, and trash are available at Old Station Visitor Information Center just north (RV sewer dump closes mid October)
Guide
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.
Traveler
Bon rapport qualité prix comparer à celui un peu avant et proximité du lac
TravelerThis was a perfect campsite. Came in late but everybody was eager and happy to help out. Met the hosts who took their time and explained about the park.
Located only 10 minutes from Lassen and by the road and still an rv spot in the forest. Very nice.
An upper class restaurant and a bar so something for everyone.
Very recommandable
Ranger
This campground and the one to the south, Cool Springs, are both run by Pacific Gas and Electric Utility company.
There are campground hosts at both campgrounds and late in September half of Ponderosa Flat closes. The entire campground closes at the end of September.
There was plenty of water in the Reservoir and it could be okay for a boat but you have to look out for all the snags in the water, and there are a lot of them.
Campground is quiet but tight to get a large trailer in, ours is 26 feet and it was tight. The spaces in the closed portion of the campground were a bit more spacious.
Fire rings, tables and pit toilets. It was $30 a night with no power, power sites are more expensive.
If you have a cool campground host you can ride your ATV or Side by side out onto the dirt road and ride for miles. Just be mindful it is not really supposed to be a ride out campground.
Guide
Flushing toilets, easy access, friendly host, gorgeous setting, level ground- can’t ask for any better at $8 a night (after interagency discount)!
Traveler
Sites were not completely level but workable. Looked like homeless folks might have lived there at some point. We made camp 1 night before headed on towards Oregon.
Guide
Well maintained and clean park. Actually has grass, not all gravel. Sites level. Nice pool and laundry room. One night stay and arrived late so did self check in...no password for bathrooms were given, so asked a neighbor for a password. One of the restrooms was shut down for repairs. Too pricy.
TravelerRoad side area, gravel surface. Step entry off road. Creek side good for stop over. State land.
ScoutI’ve never seen cleaner pit toilets Lisa said it all almost. The toilet also have a side table with magazines. We had a good site with a distant lake view. Easy in and out. Can’t beat it for a short overnight stay. The hosts are to be commended.
Scout
We were the only ones there for the most part. Every night there would be a few cars that drive through, but they didn’t stay. Bring yellow jacket traps - there’s a reason it’s named beehive
Scout
Same experience as the other reviews. Arrived late Friday night on Labor Day weekend and found a spot right at the beginning of the dirt road - coming from Redding direction, turned right off of 44 onto the dirt road then took the first right. The turnoff is on Google maps and was easy to find even in the dark. Nobody else around that we saw, even given the busy weekend! Agreed with others on the road noise but it was fine. Just a few minutes from Manzanita lake. Great find!
GuideGreat stop. The Most Immaculate pit toilets ever! Many pull through sites. Easy on/off Hwy 139. Trees . Quiet. Only one other camper there on a Monday . Honor federal interagency passes.
Scout
My family and I were recently evacuated from my home due to a wildfire. We are fortunate enough to have an RV and were able to get to an evacuation area. After staying a few days in the evacuation zone, we needed to refill our water and empty our tanks so I visited Boulder Creek.
I offered to pay for some water and for use of their dump station. I was immediately met with the following statement by their front desk employee: “It’s 20 bucks to dump and I don’t do water fills.”
I’ve met some of the kindest and most gracious people during this incident, but I was disgusted as I walked out and noticed the freshly watered little planters full of flowers and the lack of humanity or even an attempt at kindness shown by Boulder Creek’s employees.
I highly recommend to anyone looking for a place to stay in Redding to find somewhere else.
Scout
oh wow what a fantastic and gorgeous location. really well maintained when it comes to their bathrooms (flushing & sinks) and trash cans… but holy bear. around 4am a black bear (maybe 500lbs?) came through our site and pulled on the bear box and kept it moving to check neighboring sites (which were vacant) only to come back shortly later for a few sniffs. this would’ve been less scary had we been in an RV buuuut tent camping + bear is not the vibe guys. it definitely smelled us and knew exactly where we were & we’re incredibly fortunate but of course we were terrified. i’d definitely come back with different equipment and plenty of mace and really wish there were more signs about the likelihood of bears in this area at this time. there were a handful of signs but so small and easy to get lost amid all the other super valuable information.
TravelerIt’s likely that the heat draws the bees out, so you may have a different experience other times of the year. The bees made this incredible location no longer worth it.
ScoutI didn't put two and two together. Woke up to the BIGGEST swarm of wasps circling our fireplace and trying to make a nest in our fender. Be very careful with putting all your cookware away and completely burn your used paper towels. We went during a no burn period, so we were out of luck and ran out of camp.
ScoutThere's signs acknowledging it's free camping. Large barren area with a toilet near the lake. Not great for a tent but can make it work. Good distance away from roads and houses. Lake view.
Traveler
Good for a quick stop over. Quiet and never crowded. Clean bathrooms. Right on the river with easy access to the 5.
RangerLarge 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.
Guide
Just try to get a last minute camp spot on Memorial Day weekend most places. We were fortunate to discover Butt Lake near Lake Almanor. Only one small burn area far from the campgrounds. Friday was opening day for Cool Springs campground. A PG&E operated facility, it was in great shape and ready for the season. We did three nights, departing on Monday. On Friday night we were one of only a few guests. Saturday and Sunday were full, but the feeling was vary spacious. The lake is a reservoir with no actual inlet. Rather it is fed by a pipe from Lake Almanor with a hydroelectric plant just prior to the water entering Butt Lake. Oddly for a PG&E lake there is not hydroelectric plant at the outlet dam. Did some bike riding to check out the dam, Ponderosa Flat campground, Pioneer cemetery, and east shore of the lake.
GuideStayed 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.
Camping near Hat Creek, California, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are plenty of options to enjoy the great outdoors.
Camping near Hat Creek, California, is a fantastic way to enjoy nature and create lasting memories. Just remember to plan ahead and be prepared for the unique aspects of each campground!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Hat Creek, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Hat Creek, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 201 campgrounds and RV parks near Hat Creek, CA and 19 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Hat Creek, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hat Creek, CA is McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 42 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hat Creek, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 free dispersed camping spots near Hat Creek, CA.
What parks are near Hat Creek, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Hat Creek, CA that allow camping, notably Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lassen National Forest.
