Best Tent Camping near Modoc National Forest, CA

Enjoyed the tent site and it had a nice shower.

This campsite is nestled in the forest away from the highway. It has cabins, RV, and tent camping available. There is a new playground for children. When you stay, a free shower is included. The bathrooms are regular flushing toilets with showers in the room and outlets if you need to blowdry your hair. The attendant on the grounds is very nice and friendly. We arrived late (9pm) and she was able to assist us with getting settled. There is a small shop next to the office. You can also book your lot reservation online. I'll include a picture of the map of the area. For those tent camping, bring a tarp for your tent to sit on. It's a dirt, rock, and pine needles area. In the morning, you'll hear song birds.

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

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.

The falls sell the place.  They are beautiful.  The PCT trail goes right by on the opposite bank. Great fishing upstream from the falls. Great fun at Lake Britton.

BUT this is one busy crowded campground.  It is large (many sites) has cabins, a visitor center and a store.  So for me a tent camper this can feel like a freeway.  So go in the off season - spring and fall.  All the camping areas are not open then, but there are no crowds.

For tents some of the sites are open and not very private - meant for RVs. But you can hunt down a decent tent site.  They have all the amenities here.

Beyond the falls and beyond the lake there is lots of hiking here. Hiking up the stream is magical.  There are fall colors to enjoy, especially around Lake Britton.  You can even strick out for the subway cave or Lassen or Mcloud from this central location.

I have camped at burney falls twice. My first time camping here I stayed in the little cabins they have. (Memorial Cabin Area) That was pretty awesome it’s just a small cabin that has a bed, all cooking and hanging out is done outside the cabin. It has a little porch was pretty cute. The downside to this campground is that it’s pretty obvious that visitors feed the squirrels. The squirrels were more than accustomed to coming right up to us. I put groceries on the picnic table and was unloading the car and squirrels literally ran to the table to attack. I was more than annoyed by this because I don’t interact with wildlife, for their safety to the public who may harm them. My second time staying I tent camped and the first night it rained. (Pioneer Campground) This was no huge deal to me because from what I’ve learned about the outdoors is you’ll never get the weather you expect haha. The next couple days weather started clearing up but was still cloudy. We hiked down to the water fall which is so breath taking and then hiked out to the lake. They have a souvenir shop, firewood and restrooms right on the campground. There’s a small town about 15-20 minute drive to shingle town that normally has little outside events.

Its ideal if you’re coming from California and headed to Oregon. A couple hours away from Crater Lake.

Has tents and cabin lodging. Flushable toilets with showers. Small store with limited items located in campground. 2 min from Burney falls or small beach on nearby lake. Campground is about 20-30 I’m away from Burney city where there is gas and a Safeway.

• 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.

Nice state park and so much to see and do in the area. Burney Falls is gorgeous. The only thing I didn’t like was the dirt..lol. This area is made from diatomaceous earth and every step you take,a little poof of dust rises up. I must have washed my feet 2 dozen times in one day. If you have pets, be carefull if they come into your tent or RV, you’ll have dust everywhere.

Large campground, back sites back into wooded away so sites are unofficially almost 2x as big, some new bathrooms & showers, smoothly paved roads, moderate strenuous hiking access to nearby lake, mini cabins, tent or RV camping, the Falls are spectacular but water is VERY cold. Fairly steep hike down to Falls, not very handicap friendly but there are a few overlooks, nice camp store where you can get cell service. Really loved camping here for 5 days. Lace tubes about 20min drive. Don't miss!

I camped here two nights with a large group of friends the first weekend of last October and it was beautiful, but freezing!! The campground had pit toilets, sturdy picnic tables and large fire rings. We took up 3 sites towards the front of the campground and had plenty of room for our numerous tents. The campground was right next to a beautiful lake which seemed very popular with the many fisherman staying there that weekend. While everything was well maintained and clean I must warn that it was pretty cold for late summer/early fall camping with lows well in the 20s. I definitely recommend bringing appropriate gear and checking the weather before heading out. The campground is close to many awesome volcanic sites such as glass mountain and Mt Hoffman. It is not that far from Lava Beds National Monument which is another great thing to check out. Overall this seemed like a peaceful forested campground with lake access and many cool outdoor recreational opportunities. Just beware of the weather!

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.

There is also a north campground called northshore on Lake Britton.  This is a review of the very small but great Dusty Campground. on the south eastern side of the lake.  I am a tent camper so reviewed from that perspective. Not sure trailers could get down there.

It is very small - less than 10 sites, but each is right on the lake.  Lake Britton is great - seldom crowded during the week.  You can fish, boat, kayak etc.  But be aware that for "swimming" late in the summer and early fall it "mucks" up with algae so is really not for swimming then.

These sites are on the lake under oaks and pines. The campground is run by PG & E. The water comes from their Pit River complex and is regulated.  There is a large dam at one end of the lake.

There  are vault toilets. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. There is no water.

You are real close to McArther Burney Falls State Park.

If you are into fall colors this is the place.

Be aware - no rservations - first come first served.

This is undoubtedly the quietest campground we have ever visited.  Not just because there were few campers, but its location so far from any highway or city.  I would also like to give kudos to the the fire crews who saved this area from the fire last year.  The visitor center and campground are an island of green in the middle of a charcoal land. 

I would categorize it as a tent and teardrop campground.  There are some sites where larger RVs can park, maybe around 25', but most campground spaces will only hold the car.  They have a lot parallel RV parking and that requires you sign up for two spaces, one for your trailer, the other for your car.  The lower campground, A, is more open, great if you have solar.  The upper campground, B, has more spaces and some for larger RVs.  

The drinking water faucets are irregularly dispersed and few.  You cannot hook up to them to fill your RV, so be sure to bring some 5 gallon containers to haul water to your RV.  There are flush toilets and sinks with cold water, no showers.  Bring all your supplies, as the nearest town is about a 40 minute drive.  There are very solid metal fire rings and picnic tables.  The closest dump station is in Tule Lake, but is excellent, with water and good drain positioning - and its free.

We had excellent Verizon service and were able to surf the internet, load and download pictures without using any booster.  I was also pleased to get a staff member directly when I called for information.  There is a lot to see at this park and I highly recommend it.

PS The helmet they sell ($8) saved my head many a time during cave exploring.

First time I stayed in a campground with heated bathrooms which was great because we pulled into camp during a storm. I do not snow camp so that was a blessing. Next day was beautiful. Even though it is a National Park the rangers allowed us to collect dead and down wood for the fire. They do not sell firewood in the park. Views were spectacular and so much to do and see. Definitely coming back to finish exploring the park.