Dispersed camping opportunities surround Susanville, California, situated at the intersection of the Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, and Great Basin Desert at 4,186 feet elevation. CA-139 Pull Off Area permits roadside camping with pets but lacks basic facilities, requiring campers to bring all necessary supplies. Several established campgrounds in the area maintain pet-friendly policies while offering various amenity levels.
What to do
Fishing access points: Eagle Campground offers proximity to Eagle Lake's prime fishing spots. According to a camper, "Great place for groups" with "open space and you don't feel like you are right on top of your neighbor." Another visitor noted it's "Close to the lake. Close to the road. Peaceful."
Mountain biking trails: Goumaz Campground connects directly to the Bizz Johnson trail, a 25-mile path following an old railroad grade. A visitor explains: "This is a hiking, biking, horseback friendly trail that travels along an old Rail Road right of way from Westwood all the way to Susanville for a nice, mostly level path."
Water recreation: Antelope Lake Recreation Area provides multiple water activities beyond swimming. A reviewer shares: "The lake is nestled in the mountains. The scenery, fishing and water sports are superb! They also have group camping right on the water!" Another camper adds: "Water is warm enough to swim June-August. Great fishing!"
What campers like
Spacious sites: Merrill Campground features generously sized camping spots. One reviewer noted: "The campground is very well maintained and the sites are exceptionally large." Another mentioned: "There was decent distance between campsites, and lots of fishermen and firefighters were using the campground."
Wildlife viewing: Eagle Lake offers opportunities to observe various bird species. A camper reports: "The lake is appropriately named as we saw bald eagles daily." The campground provides "lots of open space" making wildlife spotting easier.
Disconnect opportunities: Lone Rock Campground provides a true break from technology. A visitor states: "This is an amazing campground. There is no cell reception so great to disconnect." Another adds: "Enjoyed a peaceful few days. Nice big campsites. Quiet and remote."
What you should know
Limited facilities at dispersed sites: Antelope Mountain Dispersed Camp offers primitive camping without amenities. A camper notes: "Not a bad place to spend a night or two primitive camping." Another shares: "We only found one good area and it already had 2 people at it. It had level sites and nice tall trees."
Seasonal considerations: Merrill Campground operates from May 15 to October 31 with varying conditions throughout the season. A visitor warns: "The bad - Tons of mosquitoes!" while praising the "Great campsite in a nice remote area to take in nature, go hiking, bike riding, and fishing for trout!"
Access challenges: CA-139 Pull Off Area requires appropriate vehicles. A reviewer cautions: "The roads to the spots are a little rutted, no low profile vehicles, but it's easy to access." They add: "Traffic noise dies down around 10/11PM" and "We heard gunshots around 9PM that lasted for about an hour. Seems the people around here hunt at night."
Tips for camping with families
Educational opportunities: Lazzarini Farms offers pet-friendly cabin camping with farm experiences. A visitor explains: "I had a very enjoyable time looking out at the scenery. I had peace and quiet with no large buildings and being on a private road."
Swimming locations: Antelope Lake provides safe swimming areas for children during summer months. A camper shares: "This campground is a super fun place to spend a weekend with friends. Several group sites available." Another notes: "The lake is perfect for fishing, kayaking, and splashing around."
Bathroom facilities: Susanville RV Park maintains clean facilities with some access limitations. A visitor explains: "This park is very nice all concrete sites and manicured and watered grass areas. Picnic tables at all the sites. The one thing that was bothersome was they lock the showers and bathrooms from 7pm to 7am."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Days End RV Park offers full service sites with level parking. A camper reports: "Very clean, full hook ups, can accommodate big rigs. Weekly, monthly, overnight." Another notes the "Spotless RV site and hosts are super friendly" with "limited shade as the trees are still growing."
Size restrictions: Eagle Campground has limitations for larger vehicles. A visitor warns: "Eagle campground is older and sites are shorter so no large rigs." Despite this limitation, the campground maintains "Good location" that's "Close to the road. Close to the lake. Peaceful."
Service schedule: Merrill Campground provides various hookup options with seasonal availability. A reviewer explains: "We opted for the loop with water/electric hookups knowing there was easy access to a dump station across from the entrance to the campground." Another adds: "Full hookups $35, water and electric $30. Dry camp $20. On the south shore of Eagle Lake."
