Camping Regulations

Some campgrounds may have camp hosts, others may not. Either way, you are expected to know and follow all camping regulations during your stay.

NPS photo

These regulations are derived from CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) and the Superintendent’s Compendium (park-specific determinations per CFR).

Note: Camping in campgrounds is typically referred to as frontcountry camping in both CFR and the compendium.

Camping Rates

• Campsite fees vary by campground and may be reduced when services are limited (like dry-camping conditions in fall).
• Senior / Access pass holders receive a 50% off discounted camping rate.
• Camping fees are in addition to park entrance fees.

 

 

Pets

Pets are allowed in campgrounds. They must always be leashed (leash must be maximum 6 feet long) and must not be left unattended. Please see our Pets page for more information and regulations.

Check in/out Times

Check-in time in 1pm.

Checkout time is 12pm.

Length of Stay

You may only stay in park campgrounds a maximum of 14 days per year, per campground.

At Summit Lake and Juniper Lake campgrounds, length of stay is limited to 7 days per year.

Quiet Hours & Generators

• Quiet Hours: 10pm – 6am
• Generators may only be used during the following hours:
  • 8am – 10am
  • 12pm – 2pm
  • 5pm – 7pm
• Do not continuously run generators and please keep use to a minimum.
• Generators are not allowed in tent-only areas.

Site Capacity

The following numbers are the maximum allowed people, tents, and vehicles that may occupy a site.

Standard Sites

People: 6

Tents: 3

Vehicles: 2 (Motorhomes, tow vehicles, any trailer, cars, and trucks each count as one vehicle.)

Group Sites

People: 25 for Lost Creek and Butte Lake campgrounds; 15 for Juniper Lake and Manzanita Lake campgrounds (required to have a minimum of 10 people for all group sites)

Vehicles: 6 vehicles for Lost Creek, and Butte Lake campgrounds; 4 vehicles for Manzanita Lake campground; 2 vehicles for Juniper Lake campground. (Motorhomes, tow vehicles, any trailer, cars, and trucks each count as one vehicle.)

Vehicles & Parking

• Vehicles must stay on paved / gravel areas.
• Additional parking is only allowed in designated overflow parking lots.
• Campground speed limit is 10 miles per hour unless otherwise posted.
• Most campground roads are one-way only. Please abide by all directional signs when navigating through campgrounds (and the park in general).

Food Storage

• Food, toiletries, and scented items (including coolers) must be properly stored when items are not being transported, consumed or prepared for consumption, or when items are unattended (greater than six feet away from an awake person).
• Proper Storage Containers:
  • fully-enclosed, hard-sided vehicle
  • park-provided food/bear lockers
    • park-provided food/bear lockers may be shared by multiple sites. Do not lock park-provided food/bear lockers.
  • IBC certified products

Sanitation & Trash

• Wash dishes at your campsite, not in restrooms or water spigots.
• Please do not wash clothes, hair, or bathe at water spigots or sinks. (Showers and coin-operated laundry machines may be available at the Manzanita Lake Camper Store. Use of the showers must be paid for at the store during open hours)
• Strained dishwater must be disposed of in the grates located in front of each restroom or industrial sinks.
• Dispose of food particles in trash bins, not in sink drains or grates.
• Gray water from RVs / trailers must be contained and may be disposed of at the Manzanita Lake dump station.
• Dispose of all trash and recyclables in provided trash/recycling bins.

Tent-Only Campgrounds / Loops

Designated Tent-Only Areas:

• Southwest Walk-in Campground (Southwest Walk-in parking lot is open to RVs and Trailers)
• Manzanita Lake campground, Loop D
• Summit Lake South campground, Loop E

Tent-Only Area-specific Regulations

• Generators are not allowed in tent-only areas.
• Vehicles that have bathroom facilities, kitchen facilities, or is intended for sleeping are not allowed in tent-only camping areas. Tent trailers are treated as recreational vehicles.

First-Come, First-Served Campsites

Most campsites require a reservation via recreation.gov. You can only claim vacant sites at these campgrounds with a reservation through recreation.gov (Reservations require an internet connection or phone service, which is typically unavailable at all park campgrounds. Park employees, camp hosts, or concessions staff cannot make reservations for you.)

Campgrounds with first-come, first-served sites:

• Juniper Lake campground standard sites
• Warner Valley campground standard sites
• Southwest Walk-In campground

Claiming a First-Come, First-Served Site

• You must pay for your site within 30 minutes of occupying it.
• Campsites may not be saved or pre-paid for another party.

Dispersed Camping / Boondocking

• Camping is only allowed within established campground or in the backcountry with a permit
• Sleeping in your vehicle (often called “boondocking”) or camping along park roads, at overlooks, in day use areas, or in parking lots is not allowed.
• Dispersed camping may be allowed in nearby Lassen National Forest

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Questions about Campground Regulations? e-mail us

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