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Dispersed camping in the vicinity of Redwoods, California primarily centers around Lassen National Forest and nearby Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. Several free primitive sites are located along forest service roads, with notable options including North Manzanita Dispersed Camping, Big Pine Dispersed Camping, Hat Creek Dispersed, and Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed. These areas typically provide minimal to no amenities, following true dispersed camping principles where visitors must be self-sufficient and practice Leave No Trace ethics.
Access routes to these camping areas vary considerably in quality and difficulty. Many forest roads require careful navigation, with some areas like Christie Hill Basecamp and sections of North Manzanita requiring higher clearance vehicles. Camping duration is generally limited to 14 days within a 365-day period on public lands, as noted in reviews of Perry Riffle Trailhead. Most sites prohibit or strictly regulate campfires depending on seasonal fire danger, with fire permits required at certain locations such as Christie Hill Basecamp. One camper noted, "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." Water availability is minimal, with only Hat Creek Dispersed offering drinking water among the reviewed sites.
The dispersed camping experience near Redwoods provides opportunities for solitude and nature immersion. Many sites are situated along creeks or in forested settings, offering scenic camping environments. The proximity to Lassen Volcanic National Park makes several sites convenient basecamps for park exploration. As one visitor to Butte Creek described, "This site is beautiful - just off the main road, fairly flat, immediately adjacent to the creek, and very quiet + almost no traffic." Weather conditions and mosquitoes can affect comfort levels, particularly in spring and summer months. Cell service is typically unavailable at most sites, though some locations with open views may support satellite internet connections. The volcanic soil in areas like Butte Creek can present challenges for heavier vehicles, potentially requiring 4WD capability.
"Being right off the main road and so close to Lassen, this spot almost felt too good to be true."
"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."
"Best dispersed camping near Lassen. Area is clean w/ amazing creek side sites, fire pits, and plenty of space between."
"Easy dirt road in my sedan. Some logging I think(?) at around 4am or something actually. But slept easily enough. Best to go farther in for a better experience"
"Easy access via paved road. Very bucolic area. Lots of trails. Sacramento River is within walking distance. Pit toilet, no water or other services."
"This is just a gravel parking lot, but it's quiet, peaceful, and about a 2 min walk from the river. Several horse and hiking trails start from here. There's a pit toilet, garbage, and recycling."
"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."
"As one reviewer wrote, just a short run of slightly rough road to get to expansive meadows of boondocking."
"Car camping----->Vanlife----->Skoolie life (present day). Must be the Shasta energy, I love this place, and I have to return."
"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."
"This was a great find - plenty of parking and very clean pit toilets."
"This site is nothing special but it’s the only BLM I could find in the area. We stopped on the way up to Shasta. You don’t need ground clearance or 4wd to get there."
"No amenities of any kind."
"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."
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.
RangerThe 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
RangerWe arrived late after dark and found the area to be quite far off the beaten path. It was another overnight stop for us while traveling through the area.
We located the designated spot, but the signage was confusing. There were numerous signs stating “No Camping” and “Day Use Only,” even though there were established fire pits present. It was difficult to tell whether the specific area we were in allowed overnight stays while the surrounding area did not.
The river was nice, and the area itself is pretty. However, the road leading to the site is rough and best suited for 4x4 vehicles. There is also a fairly steep downhill section to reach the parking area.
One positive was the solitude. We didn’t see a single vehicle pass by during our entire stay, so it was very peaceful and quiet throughout the night.
I’m giving this location one star, not because of the scenery, but because of the confusing camping regulations. If the camping situation had been clearly marked, I would probably rate it two or three stars. Stay at your own risk and verify the rules for yourself before spending the night.
There are no hookups, no water, and no amenities. At least from the spot where we stayed, there wasn’t even a maintained trail down to the river.
RangerBeing right off the main road and so close to Lassen, this spot almost felt too good to be true. Sure enough, there were established fire pits, although I’m fairly certain there is a burn ban for much of the year. I didn’t want to risk it, so I skipped even using a Solo Stove.
This is a decent overnight spot, but not really a destination in itself. We spent the day exploring the nearby Manzanita Lake picnic area and driving the scenic road through Lassen, including the Bumpass Mountain area, before returning after dark to spend the night.
The campsite itself isn’t anything particularly special, but it serves its purpose well as a quick and easy overnight stop. The sites are tucked back among the pines and feel reasonably secluded.
In dry conditions, I think most two-wheel-drive vehicles would be fine getting here. The gravel road has some fairly deep ruts in places, but the campsites are located very close to the road, so there isn’t much driving required once you arrive.
Starlink worked surprisingly well, even with the surrounding pine trees.
There are no amenities here—no water, toilets, trash service, or hookups—but Lassen National Park is just a short drive away if you need facilities during the day.
Overall, it’s a convenient and quiet overnight stop for anyone exploring the Lassen area.
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!
Primitive camping near Redwoods, California occurs primarily on U.S. Forest Service and BLM lands surrounding Lassen National Forest. The region's volcanic soil composition creates unique camping conditions, with elevation ranges from 3,000 to 5,500 feet affecting nighttime temperatures even in summer months. Campers should prepare for temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night, particularly at higher elevation sites.
Fishing opportunities: The creeks around Big Pine Dispersed Camping offer excellent trout fishing. "Caught a bunch of trout in the creek and had an absolute blast," reports Christine M., who found it "perfect for kids and dogs" with "big spots" for camping right next to the water.
Hiking trails: Several dispersed camping areas provide direct access to trail systems. At Perry Riffle Trailhead, "several horse and hiking trails start from here," according to Ibeya A., who noted it was "quiet, peaceful, and about a 2 min walk from the river."
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings offer opportunities to spot local wildlife. One camper at Perry Riffle mentioned, "Saw/heard great horned owl, fox, then cows in the morning," demonstrating the diverse wildlife present in these camping areas.
Creek-side sites: Campers consistently rate creek-side camping spots highly. At Butte Creek, Nick C. found a spot that was "beautiful - just off the main road, fairly flat, immediately adjacent to the creek, and very quiet + almost no traffic." The sound of flowing water enhances the camping experience.
Seclusion from crowds: Many dispersed sites offer privacy not found in developed campgrounds. At Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed, Kevinae B. reported, "It was super secluded and quiet. No one else drove by at all during the two days we stayed."
Proximity to national parks: Several camping areas serve as convenient basecamps for exploring nearby national parks. Whitney B. noted that Butte Creek offers a "20 minute drive to the cinder cone trail head in Lassen National Park," making it a strategic location for park visitors.
Road conditions: Access roads vary significantly in quality. At Christie Hill Basecamp, Robert N. advises, "If you have a low clearance vehicles, pick your pins carefully," indicating the importance of vehicle clearance on forest roads.
Seasonal considerations: Fire restrictions change seasonally and must be checked before arrival. Salvatore F. warned about fire safety at North Manzanita, noting "make sure you sweep at least a 20' fire ring down to dirt around the rock pit before you make a fire" due to the "thick layer of pine needles" covering the ground.
Pest awareness: Ticks and mosquitoes can be problematic in certain areas. At Cline Gulch, Hillary S. reported that despite finding "a perfect spot right by the river," both she and her dog "got bitten by ticks - and we woke to find 8 other dead ticks in our bed," causing them to leave earlier than planned.
Creek access for children: Sites with safe water access are ideal for families. At North Manzanita Dispersed Camping, "about 100 yards further, you could walk up the road and grab some water from the stream," making it convenient for families needing water access, according to Paul T.
Wildlife safety precautions: Inform children about potential wildlife encounters. Elaine S. noted at North Manzanita that "bear activity was reported in the area before we arrived, so keep that in mind. Make sure to bring your bug spray!"
Seasonal berry picking: Some areas offer natural foraging opportunities. At Big Pine, one camper mentioned finding "black raspberries along the creek," providing a fun activity for children when in season.
Site selection for larger vehicles: Many dispersed areas can accommodate larger RVs with careful site selection. Stephanie I. reported at Big Pine Dispersed Camping that "we found a could spots that our 38ft fifth wheel could fit, and many spots for smaller rigs."
Limited turnaround areas: Some forest roads have restricted turnaround space. At Cline Gulch, Laura M. warns that larger rigs should "avoid this area due to the number of low hanging tree branches" and notes that one site has "a circular 'driveway' was tight and had very little space."
Ground conditions: The volcanic soil in some areas can create challenges. At Butte Creek, Nick C. advises, "I wouldn't recommend a heavy trailer rig or RV without 4x4 do anything but back back straight into this site. We bogged down a bit while turning around and needed to use our 4wd."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Redwoods, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Redwoods, CA is 31N17N - North Manzanita Dispersed Camping with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Redwoods, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 dispersed camping locations near Redwoods, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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