Recreation

Recreation is one of the premier opportunities for visitors to the Lassen National Forest. From springtime wildflower hikes to snowmobiling miles of freshly groomed trails in the winter, there is something for everyone! So go explore, camp, hike, kayak, fish, or just sit beneath the towering pines on a sunny afternoon and relax... the Lassen National Forest welcomes you!

Here are some of our favorite places on the Lassen National Forest. We hope that you enjoy them as much as we do! Please note that pets must always be restrained or on a leash while in developed recreation sites, and that pets (except guide dogs) are not allowed in swimming areas.

Popular Recreation Activities

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Recreation Conditions Report

Area Name	Status	Area Conditions
Alder Creek Campground	Closed	Tentatively closed for 2022.
Almanor Beach	Closed	.
Almanor Campground	Open
Almanor RV Dump Station	Open	.
Ashpan	Closed	Ashpan Groomed Snowmobile System is closed for the season.
Aspen Grove	Open	.
Battle Creek Campground	Closed	Assessing the hazardous trees to determine if it is feasible to open the campground.
Big Pine Campground	Open	Big Pine Campground is open for the summer season.
Black Rock Campground	Open	This dispersed area and trailhead is generally always open to the public. The area is not maintained, use at your discretion.
Bogard Campground	Open	.
Bogard Visitor Center	Closed	.
Bridge Campground	Open	Bridge Campground opens Wednesday, April 26 for the summer season.
Bridge Day Use Picnic Area	Closed	Bridge Day Use Picnic Area is closed until further notice.
Bunchgrass Trailhead	Unreachable	Conditions may change rapidly. Be prepared for inclement weather. Road access to TH closed to wheeled vehicles December 26 - March 31.
Butte Creek	Closed	This campground still has large snow drifts. With warming weather snow is melting, but it is not accessible yet.
Butte Meadows Campground	Closed	Butte Meadows will close October 3, 2022. Until water testing is completed, a boil order is in place.
Canyon Dam Boat Launch	None	Open year round with minimal service available.
Caribou Lake Trailhead	Open	This trailhead is generally always open to the public. The area is not currently maintained, use at your discretion. Please pack in/pack out.
Cave Campground	Open	Cave Campground opens Wednesday, April 26 for the summer season.
Cherry Hill Campground	Closed	Currently working on clearing area. Cherry Hill will close on October 3, 2022.
Christie Campground	Open
Christie Day Use	Open
Colby Meadows Winter Recreation Area	None	Open to non-winter public use
Cold Springs	Open	This dispersed area is generally always open to the public. The area is not currently maintained, use at your discretion.
Crater Lake	Closed	Snow is currently preventing access to this area.
Deer Creek Falls	Open	This dispersed area is generally always open to the public. The area is not maintained, use at your discretion.
Deer Creek Trailhead North	Open	This dispersed area is generally always open to the public. The area is not maintained, use at your discretion.
Domingo Springs Campground	Closed	Domingo Springs will close on October 3, 2022.
Dusty Campground	Open
Eagle Campground	Open
Echo Lake Campground	Closed	Likely closed for multiple season due to fire damage. Unsafe to occupy due to hazardous trees.
Elam Campground	Open
Elam Creek Picnic Area	Open	Elam Picnic Area will close during snowfall and inclement weather.
Eskimo Hill	Closed	Eskimo Hill is closed for the season.
Fredonyer Parking Area Snowpark	Open	The restroom is open and being serviced and maintained.
Gallatin Beach	Open
Gallatin Marina	Open
Goumaz	Open
Gurnsey Creek Campground	Closed	This developed recreation site is currently closed until further notice.
Hat Creek Campground	Open	Hat Creek Campground opens Wednesday, April 26 for the summer season.
Hat Creek Group Camp	Open	Hat Creek Group Campground opens Wednesday, April 26 for the summer season. To make 2023 reservations go to: recreation.gov.
Hat Creek Rim Overlook	Open
Hay Meadows Trailhead	Closed	Trailhead currently closed. Note: Horse coral has been destroyed. Estimated replacement unknown.
Heart Lake Recreation Trail	Closed	Logs and debris on trail
High Bridge Campground	Closed	Likely closed for multiple season due to fire damage. Unsafe to occupy due to hazardous trees.
Hole-in-the-Ground Campground	Open	No services. Pack in/pack out.
Honn Campground	Open
Ishi Wilderness	None	The area is not currently maintained, use at your discretion.
Legacy Campground	Open	Dry camping only. No water available.
Locherman Canyon	Closed	The Locherman Canyon restroom facility has been damaged by gunshots. Anyone with information regarding the person(s) responsible for the damage may call the Almanor Ranger District at 530.258.2141. Locherman Canyon is closed for the winter.
McCarthy Point Lookout	Closed	McCarthy Point Lookout will close on October 3, 2022.
Merrill Campground	Open
Mill Creek Trailhead/Black Rock Campground	Open	This dispersed area is generally open to the public Spring through Fall. The area is not maintained, use at your discretion.
Moak Trailhead	Open	This dispersed area is generally always open to the public. The area is not maintained, use at your discretion.
Mud Lake Trailhead	Open	The Mud Lake Trail Head for the Pacific Crest Trail is open for the season.
Old Station Day Use Picnic	Open
Old Station Visitor Information Center	Open	The Old Station Visitor Information Center is open for the 2023 summer season.
Panoramic Point	Open
Potato Patch Campground	Open	Potato Patch will close on October 10, 2022.
Rocky Campground	Open	Rocky Campground is open for the summer season.
Rocky Knoll Campground	Closed	Tentatively closed for 2022.
Roxie Peconom Campground	Open
Silver Bowl Campground	Open	No Services. Pack-In/Pack-Out.
Soldier Meadows Campground	Open	No services. Pack-In/Pack-Out.
Spatter Cones Nature Trail	Open
Subway Cave	Open	Subway Cave is Open. Visitor donations can be made at the Old Station visitor center.
Thousand Lakes Wilderness	Unreachable	Thousand Lakes Wilderness is generally open June to October depending when roads become driveable after snow has melted in the spring and in the fall when roads are not driveable due to snow and ice. The area is not currently maintained, use at your discretion.
Warner Creek Campground	Closed	Unsafe to occupy due to hazardous trees.
West Eagle Campground	Open

Spotlights

Legacy Campground

Current Conditions: Dry camping only. No water available.

Legacy is a developed campground near Lake Almanor with 14 sites; maximum of 8 people is allowed per single site; 16 people maximum are allowed per double site. Water and electrical hookups are provided at each site, two sets of hook ups are provided at double site 11. An RV pay per use dump station is located next to the campground.

Ashpan

Ashpan is closed for the season.

Snowmobile staging area for the Ashpan Groomed Snowmobile System.

Bridge Day Use Picnic Area

Bridge Day Use Picnic Area is closed until further notice.

Bridge Day Use Area sits along the bubbling waters of Hat Creek. Picnic tables and barbeques are available. Great fishing opportunities.

Old Station Visitor Information Center

The Old Station Visitor Information Center is the hub of the Hat Creek Recreation Area.

Here you can view interpretive displays including a living trout exhibit (seasonal) and delightful gardens. It is a pleasant stop to get answers to your forest questions and help to plan your trip to the Hat Creek region. Maps, wood cutting permits, Christmas tree permits (Nov- Dec) nature books and interpretive items are available for purchase.

Old Station Discovery Gardens: Join us for a stroll through the world of plants and learn how they relate to you and your national forests. The garden is an opportunity to bring nature to our door and witness ecology at work. The gardens are nestled at the base of the Cascade Mountain Range, in the Hat Creek Valley.

Call the Hat Creek Ranger District Office, 530-336-5521 for assistance.

Eskimo Hill

Winter sports area/snow sledding hill.