Butte Lake Campground

Butte Lake Campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park is located off a dirt road near a gorgeous lake. This campground is near hiking trails, picnic tables, and great forested areas.

Park Alerts
The Main park road and the Bumpass Hell Trail close seasonally due to the amount of snowfall the area receives each year. Make sure to click here for current park closures.
Continued park closures from the 2021 Dixie Fire
* The Dixie fire impacted approximately 68% of Lassen Volcanic National Park
* Numerous park facilities, structures, and trails were destroyed/damaged.
* Emergence closures continue, some with no timeline for repairs, including:
1. Juniper Lake Road, including the campground
2. Southwest walk-in Campground
3. Warner Valley Road beyond trailhead parking, including the campground and Drakesbad Guest Ranch.

Temporary visitor use limits specific to the use of livestock are in place at the following locations:
1. Pacific Crest Trail from Coral Meadows North to the junction with the Horseoe Lake Trail (Grassy Swale)
2. Pacific Crest Trail South from the Warner Valley Trailhead to Boiling Springs Lake.
3. Trails originating from the Warner Valley Trailhead leading to Devils Kitchen, Drakes Lake, and Dream Lake.
4. Drakesbad Guest Ranch developed area.
5. Warner Valley Road as marked by barricades and signage at the point just North of Warner Valley Campground.
Entering closed areas or accessing damaged facilities prohibited and may result in a citation.

The Butte Lake campground in Lassen Volcanic features pretty shaded sites that are mostly flat. There are quite a few chipmunks in the campground so make sure you have plastic containers for your food and supplies.

The campground is surrounded by Ponderosa Pine trees which offer amazing shade but also drop a lot of pine cones.

Don't miss our full Lassen Volcanic National Park Camping Guide!

Season: 6/5 - 10/20

Number of Sites: 101 individual sites, 6 group sites

Location in the park: Northeast Corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park

Campsite cost:

Individual Sites: $22 ($15 when water is off)
Group sites: $62 ($35 when water is off)

Payments accepted: Cash or check

Reservations: Yes, Sites in loop B are reservable

Latitude/Longitude: 40.5646° N, 121.3030° W

Elevation: 6,100 feet

Accessible Sites: A6

Pets Allowed: Pets require a 6-ft. leash, may not be left unattended, and are not allowed on trails.

Check out all of the epic things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Butte Lake Campground Reservations

Are campground Reservations Available? Yes for B loop campground

Phone Number? 1-877-444-6777

Online?

How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? Reservations may be made a maximum of 6 months and a minimum of 4 days of your arrival date

First Come, First Served? Yes for A Loop

Butte Lake Campground Campground Amenities

Flush Toilets: Pit toilets

Payphone: No

Is wifi available? No

Is cellular Phone Service Available? No

Is camp host available on site? Yes

Is firewood available for purchase?

Amenities at each campsite:

Firepit in the site? Yes

Picnic Table in the site? Yes

Bear Box in site/area? Yes

Potable Water? Limited water, make sure to bring water jugs

Don't forget to pack

Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water.

We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips. Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors.

Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.

Bring your water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.

Sunglasses - I always bring sunglasses with me. I personally love Goodr sunglasses because they are lightweight, durable, and have awesome National Park Designs from several National Parks like Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Hawaii Volcanoes, Acadia, Denali, and more!

Click here to get your National Parks Edition of Goodr Sunglasses!

Binoculars/Spotting Scope - These will help spot birds and wildlife and make them easier to identify. We tend to see waterfowl in the distance, and they are always just a bit too far to identify them without binoculars.

RV Camping at Butte Lake Campground

There is no electricity/water/sewer site hook-ups at this campground.

Maximum RV Length: 35 feet A-Loop
45 feet B-Loop

Maximum Trailer Length: 35 feet A-Loop
45 feet B-Loop

Dump Station: No

Generators: Generators may be used only from 8 am to 10 am; 12 pm to 2 pm; and 5 pm to 7 pm.

Hookups: There are no electricity, water or sewer hookups

For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!

Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando

How to get to Butte Lake Campground

From Redding, California drive 63 miles east on State Highway 44 to Old Station. From the intersection of 44 and State Highway 89, continue east on 44 for 11 miles. Watch for the sign to Butte Lake Campground. Turn right and continue for six miles on a rough gravel road.

Butte Lake Campground Regulations

The maximum number of people in a campsite: 6

The number of cars per campsite: 2 licensed vehicles and 3 tents per camp pad

Checkout time: 12 noon

Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Maximum Stay: limited to 14 days

Butte Lake Campground Map

Lassen Volcanic National Park Entrance Fee

Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.

Park Entrance Pass - $30.00 Per private vehicle (April 16 through November 30) (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - $10.00 Per private vehicle (December 1 through April 15) (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle/snowmobile - $25.00 Per motorcycle (April 16 through November 30) (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $10.00 Per motorcycle (December 1 through April 15) (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Per-Person Entrance Pass - $15.00 Visitors (April 16 through November 30) 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.

Per-Person Entrance Pass - $10.00 (December 1 through April 15) Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.

Annual Park Entrance Pass - $55.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.

$0.00 Education/Academic Group

$25.00 for commercial sedan with 1-6 seats

$50.00 for commercial van with 7-15 seats

$60.00 for commercial mini-bus with 16-25 seats

$150.00 for commercial motor coach with 26+ seats

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

2024 America The Beautiful National Park Pass

Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.