Manzanita Lake Campground
The Quick Take
Manzanita Lake is the flagship campground at Lassen Volcanic, and it earns that status honestly. Parked right next to its namesake lake near the northwest entrance, this is the park's largest campground and typically the first to open and last to close each season -- a real advantage given Lassen's notoriously short summers. You get a solid camp store, potable water, and a dump station, but don't expect flush toilets, showers, or a single bar of cell service. That last part is either a dealbreaker or a selling point depending on your relationship with your inbox. The lake itself is the real draw: calm water for kayaking, decent trout fishing, and a shoreline trail that catches Lassen Peak reflections on still mornings. This is the campground for people who want lake access and convenience without driving deep into the park -- ideal for families, first-timers, and anyone towing a rig up to forty feet.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 179 sites are reservable.
Book at Lassen Volcanic LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. Maximum length: 40 feet. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
9 ADA-accessible campsites. Accessible cabins include a ramp, wheel-chair accessible picnic table, and rigid ground surface outside the cabin. The Manzanita Lake Camper Store offers an accessible shower stall with a bench seat and hand rails. Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Pro Tips
Sites in the 150-170 range sit closest to the lake with shorter walks to the water. Book these first when reservations open -- they go fast, especially for July weekends. If those are taken, loops in the low 100s offer more tree cover and better privacy between sites.
The Manzanita Lake Trail is a flat, easy loop right from camp that's perfect for a pre-coffee morning walk. For something more ambitious, the Manzanita Creek Trail connects to a network heading toward Lassen Peak -- you can bag a serious hike without ever moving your car.
No showers means you'll want biodegradable soap and a solar shower bag. Nights drop into the forties even in July at this elevation, so pack layers regardless of the forecast. The camp store stocks firewood and ice but markups are standard national park pricing -- load up in Redding if you're coming from the south.
Photos
NPS Photo
NPS Photo
NPS MapGetting There
Directions
Manzanita Lake Campground is located one mile east of the Manzanita Lake Entrance. A one-mile-long spur road on the south side of the park highway dead-ends at the campground.
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