Warner Valley Campground
The Quick Take
Warner Valley is Lassen's back door — a tiny, primitive campground tucked at the base of a steep, forested mountainside that most visitors never find. With fewer than twenty sites scattered among conifers, this is about as quiet as car camping gets in the park. The trade-off is real: you're driving a long gravel road from Chester, there are no flush toilets or showers, and RVs will have a miserable time getting in. But what you get in return is proximity to Drakesbad Guest Ranch, the park's legendary hot spring creek, and some of Lassen's best backcountry-adjacent hiking without carrying a forty-pound pack. The budget-friendly fee sweetens the deal. Choose Warner Valley if you want a wilderness feel with the safety net of potable water and a bear box at your site.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 17 sites are reservable.
Book at Lassen Volcanic LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
Accessible restrooms available. There are no ADA sites. Most sites are flat and are accessible by wheelchairs. Restrooms are wheelchair-accessible. Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Pro Tips
Warner Valley is managed by Snow Mountain, LLC through a separate reservation system — do not look for it on Recreation.gov. Book directly through lassenlodging.com, and check their opening dates early since the season is short and snow-dependent.
The trailhead to Boiling Springs Lake and Devils Kitchen is a short walk from camp. These are two of Lassen's most dramatic hydrothermal features, and you'll likely have them nearly to yourself compared to the Bumpass Hell crowds on the main road.
Pack everything you need from Chester — there is no camp store, no firewood sales, and zero cell service. Bring a camp stove as a backup since fire restrictions are common in late summer, and store all food in the provided bear lockers without exception.
Photos
NPS MapGetting There
Directions
The campground is located one mile north of Warner Valley Ranger Station via gravel road and 17 miles north of Chester. The roads to the Warner Valley and Juniper Lake areas are partly gravel and are not recommended for trailers. From CA-36 in Chester, turn onto Feather River Road (on the east side of the bridge). Continue a half mile and veer left onto CR-312. Continue 4 miles and veer right to stay on CR-312. Follow signs to Drakesbad. Continue 12.5 miles to Warner Valley Campground and Day Use Area.
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