The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Old Station. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Old Station camping trip.
"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."
"Our parking spot is big enough for our travel trailer, right next to the creek. Clean, quiet, safe. No traffic. But No cell service."
"As one reviewer wrote, just a short run of slightly rough road to get to expansive meadows of boondocking."
"Take creek trail. Bathrooms, garbage, water available at main campground. 1 bar lte AT&T."
"There are several very good campsites along Butte Lake Road as you approach the national park boundary. Many of these are just off the road and experience a fair bit of dust from cars passing by."
"We arrived late, and pulled into the first spot we found just to be safe. Woke up this morning and it's beautiful, quiet and no one else near by."
"We found this spot based on advice of the rangers in LVNP. Overall a great place to camp if your looking for a free option to camp/boon dock very close to the park."
"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 main road to Bogard Campground had too much snow for us to be able to pass through, so we found this small clearing tucked away off of Forest Route 32N09 in Lassen Nat’l Forest to stay overnight instead"
"We met a very kind older woman who had been there a while & said that not many people know this place exists, so it doesn’t get very busy. The campsite was well kept."
"No water or outhouse. If you have a low clearance vehicles, pick your pins carefully."
"Just off the main highway. Gravel road in. We had a Ford van that had no problem driving over the dirt and gravel road. There are sites with fire rings and relatively flat ground."
"Lovely quiet remote dispersed camping spot. No services. On a very nice gravel road marked for winter cross country skiing. Saw a few others in the area."
LegendLovely quiet remote dispersed camping spot. No services. On a very nice gravel road marked for winter cross country skiing. Saw a few others in the area. Most camp spots are right on the edge of the road but lots of room and plenty of privacy. Leave no trace. Pack in, pack out.
GuideThe 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
GuideEasy access via paved road. Very bucolic area. Lots of trails. Sacramento River is within walking distance. Pit toilet, no water or other services.
ScoutAs one reviewer wrote, just a short run of slightly rough road to get to expansive meadows of boondocking.
TravelerWe found this spot based on advice of the rangers in LVNP. Overall a great place to camp if your looking for a free option to camp/boon dock very close to the park.
Right when you turn off 44, go up a small hill, maybe 100m, then there is a clearing on the west side of the road. There is a perpendicular dirt road at the clearing (running west/east) with several spots to park a van, trailer, or even smaller RV. We saw four distinct sites where people had made fire rings—however due to the number of pine trees the ground is covered in a thick layer of pine needles— make sure you sweep at least a 20’ fire ring down to dirt around the rock pit before you make a fire. You can also hear noticeable road noise from 44 in the front spots so not super secluded.
Many of the sites we checked (near the entrance and deeper into the woods) had bumble bees coming out of holes in the ground so be careful picking your site, particularly at night so you don’t wake up to an unpleasant surprise.
Going further south down the main road you can find many other more hidden camping spots deeper in the forest, but the road is rougher and only suited for a 4x4.
TravelerThis is a small flat area near the base of Christie Hill. The turn off of the Hwy 89 is at the McGowan SnoPark area (really just a logger's staging area). There are a handful of very rough roads one could pull off the road and camp in a tent on (or 4x4 van). For a larger RV or travel trailer, we found only one spot (40.390996,-121.540748) that was large enough to accommodate our 32 foot travel trailer. It is right along the road, but there is virtually no traffic here, so we found it acceptable.
I do not believe there are any good spots further down the road. A word of caution as well - the lake just beyond here (McGowan Lake) - is privately owned and gated. It is not available for camping.
ScoutSame 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!
TravelerWe only found one good area and it already had 2 people at it. It had level sites and nice tall trees. It also tucked in out of the wind. We some for other sites but they were windy, rough road to reach them, and not level so we moved on
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.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Old Station, California, where nature meets tranquility. This area offers a variety of spots for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle while enjoying the great outdoors.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Old Station, CA is Big Pine Dispersed Camping with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 24 dispersed camping locations near Old Station, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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