Recreation


Sledders at Eskimo Hill snow play area

Discover an Area by Activity

Select an activity to find an area to visit.

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

Hiking Camping OHV Riding Fishing Hunting Icon

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Current Recreation Conditions

Area Name Status Area Conditions
Alder Creek Campground Closed Closed Closed for the season.
Almanor Beach Closed Closed
Almanor Campground Closed Closed Almanor South Closed 9/22/2023. Until further notice, Almanor South will be closed for health and safety concerns. Please avoid entering, while we work to remove hazard trees throughout the campground and surrounding area. Hazard trees are trees that presents a hazard to people and property due to conditions that include deterioration or physical damage to the root system, trunk, stem or limbs, and the direction and lean of the tree. Visitor safety is very important to us. We appreciate your patience with this delayed opening as we work to mitigate these hazards. Almanor North closes 10/28/2024. Almanor North is generally open from late-May through early October. 
Almanor RV Dump Station Closed Closed
Ashpan Closed Closed Closed for the season. (Restroom opens December 6, 2024.)
Aspen Grove Closed Closed .
Battle Creek Campground Closed Closed Closed for the season.
Big Pine Campground Closed Closed
Black Rock Campground Closed Closed When not under closure order: Generally, the dispersed area and trailhead is open to the public as access permits. The area is not maintained, use at your discretion. Trash service is not provided, please pack out your trash.
Bogard Campground Open Open Generally, opens in Spring after snow melt & closes in Fall/Winter with the snow.
Bogard Visitor Center Closed Closed .
Bridge Campground Closed Closed
Bridge Day Use Picnic Area Closed Closed
Bunchgrass Trailhead Open Open This trailhead is not maintained. Conditions may change rapidly. Be prepared for inclement weather. Road access to TH closed to wheeled vehicles December 26 - March 31.
Butte Creek Open Open Generally, opens in Spring after snow melt & closes in Fall/Winter with the snow.
Butte Meadows Campground Closed Closed Winterizing and will close for the season 10/30/24.
Canyon Dam Boat Launch Open Open Open year round with minimal services provided. Pack out your trash.
Caribou Lake Trailhead Unreachable Unreachable 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 Closed Closed Regular season starts April 2025. North Loop Temp Closed.
Cherry Hill Campground Closed Closed
Christie Campground Closed Closed
Christie Day Use Open Open
Colby Meadows Winter Recreation Area None None Open to non-winter public use
Cold Springs Open Open This dispersed area is generally always open to the public. The area is not currently maintained, use at your discretion.
Crater Lake Open Open
Deer Creek Falls Open Open This dispersed area is generally always open to the public. The area is not maintained, use at your discretion.
Deer Creek Trailhead North Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed This dispersed area is generally always open to the public. The area is not maintained, use at your discretion.
Domingo Springs Campground Closed Closed
Dusty Campground Closed Closed Closed for the season starting October.
Eagle Campground Open Open
Echo Lake Campground Closed Closed Likely closed for multiple season due to fire damage. Unsafe to occupy due to hazardous trees.
Elam Campground Closed Closed Closed for the season.
Elam Creek Picnic Area Open Open Elam Picnic Area will close during snowfall and inclement weather.
Eskimo Hill Closed Closed Closed for the season. (Restroom opens December 6, 2024.)
Fredonyer Parking Area Snowpark Open Open The restroom is open and being serviced and maintained.
Gallatin Beach Closed Closed
Gallatin Marina Open Open
Goumaz Open Open
Gurnsey Creek Campground Closed Closed Winterizing and will close for the season 10/28/24.
Hat Creek Campground Closed Closed
Hat Creek Group Camp Closed Closed Regular season starts April 2025. To make 2025 reservations go to: recreation.gov.
Hat Creek Rim Overlook Closed Closed
Hay Meadows Trailhead Unreachable Unreachable
Heart Lake Recreation Trail Closed Closed Logs and debris on trail
High Bridge Campground Closed Closed Likely closed for multiple season due to fire damage. Unsafe to occupy due to hazardous trees.
Hole-in-the-Ground Campground Closed Closed
Honn Campground Closed Closed
Ishi Wilderness Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed The area is not currently maintained, use at your discretion.
Legacy Campground Closed Closed Winterizing and will close for the season 11/01/24.
Locherman Canyon Closed 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 Closed McCarthy Point Lookout will close on October 3, 2022.
Merrill Campground Closed Closed
Mill Creek Trailhead/Black Rock Campground Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed This dispersed area is generally open to the public Spring through Fall. The area is not maintained, use at your discretion.
Moak Trailhead Temporarily Closed Temporarily Closed This dispersed area is generally always open to the public. The area is not maintained, use at your discretion.
Mud Lake Trailhead Closed Closed The Mud Lake Trail Head for the Pacific Crest Trail is open for the season.
Old Station Day Use Picnic Closed Closed
Old Station Visitor Information Center Closed Closed Closed for season. Seasonal opening April 2025.
Panoramic Point Closed Closed
Potato Patch Campground Closed Closed Winterizing and will close for the season 10/28/24.
Rocky Campground Closed Closed
Rocky Knoll Campground Closed Closed
Roxie Peconom Campground Open Open
Silver Bowl Campground Closed Closed Water is not available at this time pending pump repairs. Price reduced to $6 per night.
Soldier Meadows Campground Closed Closed
Spatter Cones Nature Trail Closed Closed
Subway Cave Closed Closed Visitor donations can be made at the Old Station visitor center.
Swain Mountain Snowmobile Park Open Open
Thousand Lakes Wilderness Open Open 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, and when it is open it is use at your discretion. 
Warner Creek Campground Closed Closed
West Eagle Campground Closed Closed

Recreation Areas