Best Campgrounds near Old Station, CA

I’ve been coming to this campsite since I was a kid. I come back every year, and now that I’m 18, it’s still my favorite place in the world. Boating on the lake, sitting around the fire at night, the peace and quiet– it’s what makes me look forward to that special week every year. My friends say,“You’re obsessed with this place.” And it’s true. Interestingly, despite my love for nature, when I need to“de-stress,” I play Solar Smash– a game that gives you the power to destroy the entire planet! A perfect contrast, but extremely entertaining.

Easy access via paved road. Very bucolic area. Lots of trails. Sacramento River is within walking distance. Pit toilet, no water or other services.

Camping here in early April, we weren’t able to access anything past the pull off from the highway. The area has a good amount of space that we felt safe enough to put two tents down.

The good. Managers are there daily. Dumping trash and cleaning the pit toilet.

The bad. Managers are there daily being passive aggressive in reminding you they can kick you out, walking around looking in the same vehicles (even yours as you stand there) and writing down plate numbers. They like to remind you of the 14 day in 365 day limit for the region, not just here. They like to talk about their database and what will happen if you try to camp somewhere else and they love complaining about tent campers outside the parking lot. Also, no fires, ever.

That being said. Blm law enforcement they claim to have in their pocket reminds everyone that tent camping is allowed outside the parking lot.

It is clean though, the rivers is blah and turkey hunters might fire off next to you but walk the road. Plenty of trails, beautiful meadows, horseback riders seen regularly. Quiet at night usually to. If not tell the managers, they’ll get right on that lol.

I won’t go again but that’s not because of the CG.

Details: Law Enforcement does visit, they are nice Locals are a problem Be prepared for management complaints, not camper complaints Town is 20 minutes away Free stay with a weird 14 day regional rule, inquire with management

Men’s shower code is 9271 as of 10/10/24 for all you stinky campers (myself included)

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)

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.

This 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

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.

Flushing toilets, easy access, friendly host, gorgeous setting, level ground- can’t ask for any better at $8 a night (after interagency discount)!

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.

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.

I’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.

Great 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.

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.

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.

There'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.

Large 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.

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.