Tent camping near Redwoods, California offers several options ranging from established campgrounds to more remote dispersed sites. North Battle Creek Campground and McCumber Reservoir Campground provide tent-specific sites within reasonable driving distance of Lassen Volcanic National Park, with McCumber Reservoir situated approximately 15 minutes from the park entrance. Christie Hill Basecamp offers a more primitive dispersed camping experience just 4 miles outside the southern entrance to Lassen National Park.
Most tent sites in the region feature fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary significantly between established and dispersed areas. Hat Creek Dispersed camping area requires a short drive over rough terrain before opening to expansive meadows suitable for tent camping. Christie Hill Basecamp requires careful navigation for low-clearance vehicles, with recent logging activities affecting site availability. Many established campgrounds offer vault toilets and trash collection, while dispersed areas generally require pack-in, pack-out practices. One visitor noted, "This was a great campground, managed by PG&E. It's pretty small, which made it much more quiet than other campgrounds." Water availability is inconsistent across locations, with some sites offering drinking water while others require campers to bring their own supply.
Tent campers frequently appreciate the relative seclusion available at these locations compared to larger developed campgrounds. The walk-in sites at North Battle Creek Reservoir provide direct lake access but require transporting gear from the parking area to the campsite. A camper shared that "the campground is approximately 30 minutes off of Hwy. 44 on dirt forest service roads" but the roads were in good condition. Tent sites in this region often serve as excellent bases for exploring nearby hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and stargazing. Sites near water bodies like Hat Creek offer fishing opportunities, while those at higher elevations provide cooler temperatures during summer months. Forest cover varies by location, with some sites offering significant shade from redwoods and manzanita, while others may have been affected by past wildfires.
"The best part about this campground is the proximity to Lassen NP! It is about a 15 min drive to the entrance & Manazanita Lake."
"There are two sets on campsites, drive-up and walk-in."
"last time we visited the water was out of service at the drive in camp spots. to get to the lake access sites you have to get permission to drive past the gate. dogs cost $2 each night. a few of the signs"
"Some decently shaded areas as well."
"I really love this small campground, especially this year when the lake is full. There's only 10-12 sites, bathrooms are clean. very quiet."
"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."
"No water or outhouse. If you have a low clearance vehicles, pick your pins carefully."
$20 / night
"Bear boxes. Pit toilets at entry, 200 meters from Campsite 9. River view but access a challenge through brush or steep grade."
"There's nice hiking around, clean bathrooms. There's a lot of tree cover, so bad for solar or satellite. Road to get there is dirt road, but we'll maintained."
"Take creek trail. Bathrooms, garbage, water available at main campground. 1 bar lte AT&T."
"It’s quiet and if it just rained there is the sound of waterfalls around there. If the spots are filled up, there is another flat area to camp without a table."
$24 - $44 / night
TravelerAs of May 2019, the camp was closed to the public due to safety hazards. Otherwise, it's an ok site. Bear boxes, composting toilet, trash bins, picnic table, and a fire ring. There's a trail that leads down to the creek.
ScoutThis site has only 4 camping sites, all for tents only. There is a small stream running on the boarder making for perfect white noise to fall asleep to. We were camping in mid-October and the only ones here. There’s a fire ban in place so we couldn’t have a fire, but there’s a nice size fire ring for anytime the ban is lifted. Picnic tables and lantern hooks, along with bear lockers make it safe and cozy. We loved camping here with our two pups.
GuideThe campground is basic with vault toilets and water spigots. Bear box, fire pit and picnic table provided. Some of the sites are very close to one another. Very dry and dusty in the summer time. Good location as far as getting to other points of interest in the park. Stayed in E loop for tents only which was nice because there was no noise from RVs and generators.
GuideVery glad I got the site I did(SC10). The shoreline sites allow you your own little spot on the lake, although some seemed better then others. Site was sloped and uneven but did have a couple flat spots for tents. Not a ton of shade but what little shade it did have was next to tent flats. Table, fire and bear box were in full sun all day which makes afternoon food prep on a hot day a bit brutal. You do get some noise from the 299 at night. The walk in and out to the parking is a bit steep and further then other sites but it does mean you get a little more privacy. I was there to kayak fish for the weekend and the site was perfect for that. My guess is the place becomes a madhouse in the summertime and the non shoreline sites are pretty close together. I personally wouldn’t stay in a non shoreline site here, but that’s me. The lake is beautiful and there’s a beach at the campground, though really hot in the summer. I would give site SC10 4-stars but the campground overall 3-stars.
ScoutGroup camps have plenty of room in a fairly shaded Pine tree environment. Campers are spaced adequatley apart. Have to get water from the faucet outside the rest rooms which have flush toilets. No showers and no electricity but the Lake was great for cooling off.
TravelerWe camped in Oak Bottom in October when the days were hot and the evenings were cool. Because it's the shoulder season, their were fewer people there, which allowed us to have more space... no one in adjacent sites. However, if you are there during the high season, you will be crammed on top of one another. The only reason to tolerate that would be the close access to water. Again, because we were there during the late season, the water was low enough that it took some strategizing to get down there to get our SUPs in the water. Once we were in, it was perfect... cold and plenty deep. Oak Bottom is a tent only site, which is also a positive in my book. No generators or other vehicle sounds. The others in our area were also very quiet... no annoying music or loud voices during quiet hours. But, of course, that can't be guaranteed and I'm sure is different when the sites are filled since they are so VERY close together. Overall, I would recommend camping at Oak Bottom. If you're going during the busy season and you can afford it, reserve two spots!
RangerThe camp ground was beautiful. Pretty close to the water, however, this year summer 2021 the water is very low. The camp ground offers bathrooms, bear boxes, very nice fire rings and clean water. There is no camp host so bring your own wood. The fee is $25 a night. The trash cans were over flowed and there was bags of trash outside of the garbage. Please don’t do this)-:
Weird vibes: when we pulled up there was only one other truck there. They were two people yelling at each other pretty loud so that was kinda awkward but, nothing crazy. Then we set up our tent and other car came to the spot next to ours and checked the bear box and was walking around the spot. They moved parked at another spot and did the same thing. I’m not sure if they left something or what was going on but, they just walked around to each site checking the bear box’s??
Not sure if I would return unless more people were there because I felt uncomfortable leaving my tent and things there unattended.
RangerWe only stayed here for an overnight on our way North, but it was a great campground. The fee was $16.00 a night. We pulled in about 9:00 PM and there were probably at least 10-12 sites occupied. We found site 46 to be perfect. There are no hookups, but each site has a picnic table, fire ring and grill. There is drinking water available through out the campground and vault toilets, which were pretty clean/well kept. Generators are allowed from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. There are also multiple dumpsters and recycling bins. Our T-Mobile cell service was super spotty and pretty much non-existent. The creek is beautiful and very accessible!
TravelerThe first morning we were there my dog found and ate some weed that someone had carelessly and irresponsibility discarded on the ground and she became extremely ill and had to be rushed to the emergency vet for treatment. Practicing leave no trace is so important for the safety of all animals and the preservation of our wild lands.
The road in took about an hour and a half and I would not recommend attempting it without 4WD and high clearance. There is one stream crossing but it is minor.
Tent camping near Redwoods, California provides opportunities for both lakeside relaxation and forest exploration in elevations ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 feet. The region experiences summer temperatures averaging 75-90°F during daytime and 45-55°F at night. Most dispersed camping areas require vehicles to navigate unpaved forest roads, with conditions varying seasonally due to weather impacts.
Fishing at Hat Creek: The waters at Hat Creek Dispersed camping area offer excellent fishing opportunities just a short drive from your campsite. One camper notes, "I've been going to this spot for 30 years and it's great, clean, peaceful, and great fishing."
Creek exploration at Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground: With sites situated directly alongside flowing water, this campground provides easy creek access for wading and splashing. A visitor shared, "Loved listening to the creek while falling asleep, lots of shade and the staff was friendly."
Stargazing at secluded sites: The distance from major cities creates exceptional night sky viewing conditions. Campers report minimal light pollution, especially at higher elevation sites away from developed areas.
Privacy between sites: At North Battle Creek Campground, campers appreciate the thoughtful site arrangement. As one visitor mentioned, "The campground itself is nice with sites being reasonably spread out."
Water sounds for sleeping: Several campgrounds offer creek-adjacent sites providing natural white noise. A Peltier Bridge camper wrote, "Right next to a creek/river so great water sounds all night."
Cooler temperatures: Higher elevation campgrounds offer natural relief from summer heat. Many sites situated above 3,000 feet maintain comfortable temperatures even during July and August when valley temperatures soar.
Variety of site options: Different accessibility levels accommodate various camping styles. For example, North Battle Creek offers both drive-up and walk-in sites, with one visitor noting, "The walk-in sites can be a bit of a hike away from the parking area, so if you do plan to camp there, do bring a wagon, cart, or backpack to carry your gear in and out."
Road conditions vary significantly: Access to the best tent camping near Redwoods, California often requires navigating unpaved roads. At Hat Creek Dispersed, a camper advises, "Road is rough only to top then levels out."
Limited cell service: Most campgrounds have spotty or no reception. Hat Creek Dispersed camping area reportedly gets "1 bar LTE AT&T" according to one review.
Fire restrictions change seasonally: Always check current fire regulations before your trip, as many areas prohibit open flames during dry periods.
Pit toilets are standard: While established campgrounds provide toilet facilities, they're typically unheated vault toilets without running water.
Shallow water access: For families with young children, Jones Valley Inlet Shoreline Campground provides lake access, though one camper notes "when the water is low it may be a trek to the water."
Bear safety precautions: Several campgrounds provide bear boxes for food storage. A camper at Peltier Bridge mentioned the availability of "bear boxes" at campsites.
Choose sites away from boat traffic: For quieter family camping experiences, avoid campgrounds with heavy boat traffic during summer months.
Pack water containers: Many dispersed camping areas require bringing your own water supply. Plan for approximately 1 gallon per person per day, with additional water for cooking and cleaning.
Limited RV options for tent-focused areas: Only certain campgrounds accommodate both RVs and tents. At Christie Hill Basecamp, a camper cautions, "If you have a low clearance vehicles, pick your pins carefully."
Arrive early for best sites: The most level sites fill quickly during peak season. One Christie Hill visitor shared, "I only had to drive a little ways in to find a nice spot with a fire pit and space for my camper."
Access challenges: Some roads narrow significantly approaching tent camping areas. For Christie Hill, a camper reports, "Gravel road in. We had a Ford van that had no problem driving over the dirt and gravel road."
Consider site proximity to bathrooms: At established campgrounds with facilities, sites nearest to toilets experience more foot traffic. At Peltier Bridge, one camper noted toilet facilities were "a little bit of a walk" from certain campsites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Redwoods, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Redwoods, CA is McCumber Reservoir Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Redwoods, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 48 tent camping locations near Redwoods, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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