If you want to explore the beauty of Mill Creek, glamping is an excellent option. Camping has always been a favorite form of travel for many, but Mill Creek, CA glamping is a new and unique way to do it. The Dyrt makes it easy to find glamping for your Mill Creek adventure.
Summit Lake North Campground (elevation 6,700 ft.) is conveniently located on the main road of Lassen Volcanic National Park. The campground is within walking distance of the small but scenic Summit Lake and eight miles from the 10,457-ft. Lassen Peak, the largest volcano in the park.. Hikers will find one of the park's major trails only 1/4-mile away from the campground and many more within a close proximity. Summit Lake North is on the opposite side of the lake from Summit Lake South Campground.
The campground is a hub for hiking and backpacking enthusiasts. Campers can access many of the park's 150 miles of hiking trails from the Summit Lake area. The Cluster Lakes loop trail--a major trailhead into the park's interior that bypasses several alpine lakes and is popular among birders--is located a short walk from the Summit Lake Ranger Station. This is the closest campground to the Lassen Peak Trail and within 10 miles of the hydrothermal area Bumpass Hell. Educational programs are presented at an amphitheater within the facility.
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 National Park boasts over 700 species of flowering plants and 250 native species including birds, mammals, reptiles and fish. The park is at the junction of the Cascade Mountains, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Basin, providing many unique habitats.
$24 / night
Battle Creek Campground is a developed campground with 50 designated sites and a maximum of 8 people per site. Grills and tables are provided. Battle Creek Campground is close to__Lassen Volcanic National Park__which offers many diverse hiking trails and other outdoor amenities.__Battle Creek Campground is located on Highway 36 approximately__2 miles west of Mineral, CA, and 38 miles east of Red Bluff,__CA.
Pioneer Camp
$35 - $143 / night
RV Sites, Tent Camping, Cabins, Yurts and Motel Rooms
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.
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.
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.
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.
$35 - $80 / night
Formerly Childs Meadow Resort
Located on 18 private acres in the Lassen National Forest, The Village at Highlands Ranch is located just 10 minutes from the Lassen Volcanic National Park south entrance and visitor center, and just a few miles from reaching the peak of Mt. Lassen at 10,457 feet. The Village offers comfortable accommodations in the 19-room inn, 24-space RV park with 7 pull-thru and 17 back-in sites, and 7 tent camping sites with picnic tables and fire pits, along with equestrian camping for those traveling with their four-legged friends.
At 5,000 feet, our property offers breathtaking views of Lassen Volcanic National Park. During the summer, take in the quiet mountain breeze or enjoy a crackling fire with family and friends. During the winter, you are steps away from cross-country skiing or snowshoeing right out your front door at the inn. Experience a cosmic art show of stars painted against the dark mountain sky any time of the year!
Almanor Campground is a large family-friendly facility for individuals and large groups alike. It provides direct access to beautiful Lake Almanor and a variety of recreational opportunities in the area.
The 28,000-acre lake provides ample boating, swimming, water skiing and sailing opportunities. A boat ramp can be found next to the north campground. The adjacent beach is mostly rocky, but contains some sand. Fishing in the lake or nearby streams, is a popular activity. Anglers will find a variety of trout, bass, salmon and catfish, among other species.The Lake Almanor Recreation Trail can be accessed from within the campground. The trail winds through the forest, providing spectacular views of the lake, nearby Dyer Mountain and Lassen Peak. The trail stretches approximately 11 miles along the west shore of the lake. It is a non-motorized trail, open to all non-motorized activity.
The campground sits on the west shore of Lake Almanor at an elevation of 4,540 feet. A scenic mixed conifer forest covers the area. Parts of the campground are shaded, while other sections have grassy meadows that often contain wildflowers.
The campground is located 12 miles outside of the town of Chester, California.
$15 - $100 / night
Located near the shores of Silver Lake, Silver Bowl is a developed campground with 18 designated sites. There is a maximum of 8 people per site. Silver Lake offers a boat launch ramp, and__a nature trail encircling the lake and__two picnic areas provide a variety of recreational pursuits. Caribou Wilderness trailheads are located nearby.
At this time we offer 8 cabins, 9 motel rooms and 63 R.V. spaces for rent. Year after year our regulars return to visit or stay. Some groups book their weekend on the same date yearly, while other families move up for the whole summer and build a welcoming community that only gets stronger. Lake Almanor is a place where most people know one another’s names, and if we see a new face we’re quick to introduce ourselves with a smile. If you’re looking for fine dining or a drink with friends, our lakeside restaurant and bar offers an unbeatable view. Plumas Pines Bar and Grill proudly claims the only lakeside restaurant on Lake Almanor. Cruise right up to our courtesy dock and unload your boat for lunch or dinner all summer long. Plumas Pines also has a full service marina with boat slips available both long and short-term, along with a boat launch and an extensive selection of boat/jet ski rentals. After launching your boat or jet skis, fuel up at our floating convenience store and boatside-service gas pump. We have everything you might need for the perfect lake getaway: the only thing that’s missing is you! Come on up to Plumas Pines Resort and relax. You’re on mountain time now.
$54 - $150 / night
Legend
Nice spot near the NP. Level spot, nice clean bath and shower area. Got a nice hot shower, thank you!
We stumbled across it when all the campgrounds in the national forest and national park for closed for the season and what a nice surprise. They had a little grocery store with ice cream..we had some ice cream. It was delicious.
They had the cutest little resort with little cabins, yurts and spots for a camper or big RV. They had a volleyball court, cornhole and a basketball area. Great little spot! We would absolutely come back. Internet on my phone was hit or miss outside. They offered internet for a cheap price. $1.95 a day. 12 minute drive to Park entrance. Otherwise, you are in the middle of nowhere. 20 minutes to a grocery store. Beautiful spot!
Ranger
Large pull-thru sites with vegetation in between. Casino nearby has multiple restaurants and entertainment, including golf. Cheap gas for California. Little bit of a hike to clean restrooms. Quiet. Convenient location for traveling down I-5.
Guide
This is one of my favorite campsites in California. There all the falls, which are beautiful, the lake for swimming and water sports and lots of hiking trails. The campsites are dry sites (no hookups), but they have updated bathrooms and showers. They also have cabin for rent, but you have to bring your own bedding. The visitors center is awesome and they always have programs going on for kids and adults alike. Both the falls and lake Britten is within walking distance. Even if I am not camping, I stop here to visit when going through CA.
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
Traveler
We stayed here in June, 2021 in a 25' trailer. Flush toilets were closed and replaced with porta potties. Lots of natural firewood around to gather. Quiet except for one noisy generator.
RangerThis is a hidden gem on highway 36. Most of the sites had good shade for both trailers and tents. You have to boil the water, so we brought plenty with us. Lassen Park is just a short drive away.
TravelerOverall we had a nice time! The sites are first come, first serve and it was $18/night. We came on Fri 7/28 at 6pm and there were still sites available. We found fire wood there around the campsite. The bathrooms were portable bathrooms. The regular vault toilets were locked. There were people in golf carts making sure you paid. It was very quiet but you can occasionally hear cars from the highway. Our site was pretty big but has limited parking to one maybe two cars. Would definitely stay here again!
TravelerI visited Battle Creek with a friend on a motorcycle trip. We did not pack tents, just tarps that we used our bikes to create shelter. Dean Creek is a really nice camp ground. There is swimming and fishing within walking distance. There were also plant of spots available. However, upon arrival, there were no forms to fill out and pay the self registration, and the camp host was nowhere to be found. This was also a problem because we were unable to buy wood to burn. The host stopped by a few hours later, well after dark, to record our license plates and provide the registration form. The campground is really wide open and the spots are really large. This was sort of a problem due to our loud drunk neighbors. No problem though we got to pay them back when we started up our Harleys and rode past their RV in the early morning. I would like to go back and spend a little more time here exploring the area around the campground.
TravelerWe rolled in here late at night without reservations, and were happy to find a few sites still available! Mosquitoes were out in full force thanks to the proximity to the creek, and the cattle from the ranch next door were mooing all night. Charming! The pit toilets were exceptionally disgusting, so I recommend walking further to the flush bathrooms.
ScoutWe can't wait each year to camp at Battle Creek Campground. I was pretty shocked to see those 2 awful previous reviews. Made me laugh to see they each gave the camp a 4-star rating, then proceeded to run the camp down in their comments. The beauty of a lovely camp like this is the interlude of serenity you experience, away from the busyness of our daily routines, rules, and limitations.
It is a beautiful, clean camp. The Creek is a refreshing sight and good fishing if you like to fish. We just like to camp and relax there with no agenda. We are hoping it is open now, as we are on our way home from So. Cal visiting relatives and are hoping to spend the weekend at Battle Creek, our favorite, before heading home. It is always a relaxing, wonderful time to enjoy the fresh mountain air. Grocery store is within a short driving distance and even a pretty good restaurant if you are tired of cooking. We love the place. I will give another review after we visit next, just to make sure things haven't changed.
Traveler
Stayed 2 nights, August 17 and 18 in B22, Loop B. This is a smaller campground that contains 2 Loops, A & B. We could see a bit of the lake from our site through the trees. No hookups although drinking water is offered as well as restrooms. Campgrounds are well maintained with bear lockers and rv sites ample. Road into the park as well as rv sites can accommodate big rigs. Generator hours are a bit odd although the only time we needed it was briefly in the morning to fix meals. Clouds drifted in about 2:00 p.m. each day with some sprinkles for about 1/2 hour keeping temps cool. Wonderful stay! Definitely would come back - picked out our preferred site already!
RangerIn September of 2015, I hiked with two friends from school up to the summit of Mt. Lassen. We passed by several fellow travelers on our ascent. Reaching the top took just under three hours.
As I was the only one in my crew with legitimate hiking gear and experience, I carried the bulk of our supplies, including the tent. The final approach brought significant increases in wind gusts and a drop in temperature. The barren summit itself looked like the surface of Mars. We first unloaded and walked to the marker that designated the highest point on the ancient volcano - the last eruption being in the early 1900s.
We surveyed the area for our would-be campsite. Our final trek to the topmost part left us with little time to set up camp. Our decision for our final resting place -pun intended- was situated between two rocks on the flattest stony ground we could find. We had heard gusts could reach 70 mph at night. My solution to this was to leave the two side chambers on my tent collapsed and place on them and around the edge of the tent to hold it down.
We crawled inside and ate beef jerky and cold beans straight from the can. It was one of those meals that was eminently satisfying, regardless. The night rolled over us just as a very large (and day away from a lunar eclipse) moon dominated the clear air above us. As we didn't want our tent to have a sail in the high winds, we didn't use the tarp. To preserve the tent in these conditions, I placed myself on the inner edge of the tent where the winds were pushing hardest to keep it all in place.
We were awakened by stiff winds that had persisted through the night. My tent showed a few signs of minor straining from the rocks and wind. I loaded my pack as swiftly as I could manage. In tearing down the tent, we nearly lost it down the side of the mountain as one gust nearly took it away once the stakes were out. Our descent was swift and steady. Hungry stomachs drove us on, as did a sense of accomplishment. After all, we had just camped on a volcano.
GuideGreat location to hit all the tourist spots, this campground is right on the main road. Easy access to trail to more remote areas as well. When the campground is full, it is too busy for my tastes. I would think nice for kids as the lake and trails are right there. Vault toilets (again on a busy weekend not so great), drinking water, campfire rings, picnic tables. There is a small ranger station here, and while I didn't go to any they are supposed to have educational programs at the amphitheater here.
LegendAnother great campsite within the gorgeous (and uncrowded) Lassen Volcanic National Park, this one is on the northern shore of a Summit Lake, a blue, pristine lake near 7000 feet. There are two camping loops with tent sites and small RV trailer sports available. No hook-ups, but flush toilets and sinks nearby.
Sites can be further inland near the forest with a parking lot that separates you from the lakeshore. In the summer, the lake is great for swimming.
There is another campsite on the southern side of the lake that is very similar, but we prefer the north campground in that the sites are closer to the lake itself. Numerous hikes are available within the area.
LegendI like this campground a lot. Just the right size, maybe 40-50 camp sites total in two separate loops and it’s all very walkable. There’s a couple of pull-though spots for RVs and trailers and a decent mixture of small and medium RVs and tents.
Camp sites aren’t huge, but enough room not to be completely on top of each other and lots and lots of trees. Some have more room behind them depending on whether they are facing in or out on the loop. Each spot has a fire grate and picnic table. Nice camp host when we were there and an amphitheater nearby.
Totally awesome lake that’s safely swimmable for kiddos that’s also available for day-use. Flush toilets(always a plus). Enough to do either at the campground or nearby to keep kiddos busy for several days. And Lassen in general is a lovely park.
Pros: Best part is the awesome lake. Fairly shallow overall but plenty of fun.
Cons: Not many“extras” (like a store or playground), but I liked it just the way it is. Some spots better than others as far as privacy/space goes.
GuideThere’s a beautiful view here, and a lot of peace and solitude- as long as you’re willing to share the space with mosquitos! The water is shallow and warm, so not great for fishing in the late summer. Lots of algae, so swimming can be eh, too. Paddle board paradise, though.
RangerWe stayed here two nights after spending one night at the larger Manzanita Lake CG.
The are two loops and about 40 sites. There is also a South Summit Lake CG. We stayed at A5 for 2 nights in the north CG. Not the best site, but the place was full by night fall. We were near the helpful host and near the restrooms with flush toilets, no showers. The CG is about halfway point on the park road, so convenient for visiting the trails and vistas.
We walked around the lake one evening and saw some interesting wild flowers. Drove the road to the visitor center near the south entrance a couple times to see all the volcanic features.
ScoutFire hit this area hard and lots of burned trees and logging going on in the area. We used to come here a lot but its depressing to see so much destruction and hazardous trees. Most of our family doesn't want to stay up here anymore. Nice to have the stream near by but we always filtered the water from the creek.
ScoutI’ve been here a handful of times, This is a former Boy Scout campground. No toilet. There’s a creek where the road first meets the campground. Potable water IMO but go ahead and boil it. Fire restrictions based on regional signage. I’ve had campfires fires here no problem. Existing fire rings. Plenty of wood in surrounding area but you can’t buy it, forage only. Chester is close enough to shop in.
Bugs are a problem (in summer?). bring bug spray and consider wasp traps too. Wasps are not angry kind but there’s millions. Wasps were not a problem for me in May.
This is an unmaintained campground. The grass is overgrown, the gravel is questionable. This is primitive car camping.
Halfway up from Chester to Juniper lake so great spot!
Ranger
Creek runs right by the campground. This campground is about 4 miles off highway 36. Horseshoe pits are right across from camp host. Was very quiet
Ranger
This was a great campground, managed by PG&E. It's pretty small, which made it much more quiet than other campgrounds. Our site was right on the river, so we had the peaceful sounds of rushing water to hear. The site (3) was also pretty decent size, and in my opinion the best site.
The best part about this campground is the proximity to Lassen NP! It is about a 15 min drive to the entrance & Manazanita Lake.
The camp host was super nice, and was telling us how he put a lot of work to rehab the campground. He's done a great job!
Traveler
As a beginner RV-er/camper this site was great. Great staff, easy to get to and find your spot, and convenient spots with decks and hookups.
The neighbors were also awesome, and helped us with questions and guidance.
Lots of RV's but didn't feel crowded at all, as most of them were not there(seasonal spots).
The marina and rental folks were super friendly, helpful and accommodating. we rented a boat for fishing, and the guys slowly explained and guided us (yes... first time fishing as well).
So much to do around - hiking, water sports, geo-caching, and stargazing (when you roam a bit outside the lights of the camp).
RangerThis place is amazing for trailer camping. The sites are close to each other, but every site has a small balcony you can back up next too. Majors Outpost boat rentals are also here and they are Super Friendly. Plumas Pines riding stables are also right up the street.
Traveler
It definitely gets busy here in the summer but my stay in October was peaceful. Nice distance between most sites.
TravelerNorth is open, South is closed for Summer 2024.
It took some digging on this information as the USFS website is wrong.
I camp here on the South campground at least once every year. For the 2024 season, they CLOSED it at the last second.
The North campground is OPEN, but you cannot reserve it. First Come First Served (FCFS).
Boat ramp is at the North campground, but if you just have a paddleboard or kayak, you can just walk to the water by just waking down the road and launch at the edge of the lake.
There is a General Store within walking distance and restaurant/bar right on the lake too. I highly advise reservations for dinner on the deck.
Legend
Silver Bowl campground is located in the Caribou Wilderness of Lassen National Forest outside of Lassen National Park. It is about 35 miles from Susanville and 30 miles from Chester. The last 6 miles of which will be on some pretty rough road, especially early in the season. There are cabins around Silver Lake and people tow boats up for the summer, so I'm sure as the season goes on the road gets easier. Chester is a great place to go for supplies, the Holiday food market has a everything you would need. Best to fill up on gas there too if you decide you want to explore the area.
Campground Review: Even though the FS website https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/lassen/recarea/?recid=11368 said it was open, the campground was not yet open for the season on May 26. In big snow years, it may not open until July. The adjacent Rocky Knoll campground had a gate and was closed. There are private cabins encircling Silver Lake, which is a short walk from the Silver Bowl campground, which I assume is why it had no gate. The information board was blank, and there was no payment envelopes ($12 a night during the season). Off to a rocky start to our Memorial Day weekend, we decided to make a loop of the campsite anyway. There was one other person there, in a camper who was there to fish. We jumped out to see if the bathroom was open, and thankfully one of the vault toilets was open. We decided we would stay for the night, since we were already here. So glad we made that decision, as we ended up staying three nights and it turned out to be a fantastic campground with lots of things to do during the day. Most of the sites are enormous. Site 8, where we stayed, could have easily been a 40 person group site and not felt crowded. There is a well pump for drinking water, however the pump arm wasn't on the well since the campground was closed. The Susan river is nearby for water if you have a water filer (which we did). There is trout fishing in the lakes close by, the Caribou Trailhead is close to the camp, which leads you into the Caribou Wilderness for backpacking or day hikes, and there is a network of fire/logging roads that you can use to explore other parts of the Caribou Wilderness. Dispersed camping is also allowed in the area, so if you drive up and the campgrounds are full, you are free to find a place to camp. You would need a campfire permit to operate stoves or have fires if you are dispersed camping, so check with the local ranger district for that. I would highly recommend this campground. Bring a fishing pole, a kayak to put on the lake, a hammock to put up in the trees surrounding the campsites, hiking shoes, or just do nothing. You can't really go wrong at Silver Bowl campground. 5 stars all the way.
Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products from time to time. At Silver Bowl campground, I tested the Midland Radio X-Talker Extreme Dual Pack - https://midlandusa.com/product/x-talker-t77vp5/ - aside from a couple issues, which I will detail later, they worked great. The radios come self contained in a hard plastic carrying case, with all the accessories included. I will let the Midland website above go into more details and technical specs for anyone interested. On to the review.
When hiking in remote areas without cell service, or wandering around lakes fishing, it is a good idea to have some type of communication in case an emergency arises, or you just want to keep in contact with others in your group. These radios do exactly that. I took one with me, and left the other in camp with my girlfriend, and was able to communicate with her easily. Before going, I had familiarized myself with the radios and there various abilities. There are 36 channels, security codes to keep communication private in high use areas, high/low power settings to extend batter life, an NOAA weather alert mode that scans 10 channels and provides weather alerts and updates for your area. The radios have very clear, crisp sound. I didn't get out of range once, probably about 3-4 miles apart at most on various hikes or while fishing. I charged them up before leaving and with light use on the high power setting over 3 days, the battery was still showing two bars. the included hands free headsets worked great. A wireless option would be nice, however that would increase the cost, and for ~ $100 retail, they offer great value. These would be great to use hunting, boating, off-roading, at festivals, etc. They served every purpose I needed them to on this trip, with two exceptions:
Overall the range is a small nitpick and I won't downgrade them too bad for that, however the lack of access to the NOAA weather alert stations in remote areas is a big issue for me. I would give them 3.75 stars. They worked great, feel like they will hold up well over time, and come in a case that holds all the accessories needed, so all you have to do it toss them in the car and not worry about forgetting chargers, ear pieces, etc. They will be a fixture in our camping gear going forward.
GuideThe road in is dirt and pretty long but my Toyota Camry made it no problem. The campsites are pretty large but you definitely can see and sometimes hear the people near you. Vault toilets, well for water. Maybe a quarter mile from the easiest place to get into Silver lake. You can also walk over the hill to Caribu lake which was gorgeous
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Mill Creek, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Mill Creek, CA is Summit Lake North — Lassen Volcanic National Park with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.
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