Summit Lake South Campground

Summit Lake South Campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California offers tent and small tent trailer camping near a lake. The campground is beautiful with large trees, flat campsites and easy access to the Lassen Volcanic Scenic Drive.

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.

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

Season: June to November, weather permitting

Number of Sites: 48

Location in the park: 12 miles south of Manzanita Lake, 17.5 miles north of Southwest Entrance.

Campsite cost: $22 / $15 when the water is turned off

Payments accepted:

Reservations: Yes, see below for more information

Latitude/Longitude: 40.3455° N, 121.6092° W

Elevation: 6695 feet

Accessible Sites: No, ADA site in Summit Lake North

Pets Allowed: Yes, pets must be on a 6ft leash, pets are not allowed on trails.Check here for more about pet regulations

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

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.

Don't miss our complete guide to Lassen Volcanic NP

Summit Lake South Campground Reservations

Are campground Reservations Available? Yes

Prior to 7/1, Loops A and E are first-come, first-served
Beginning 7/1, All campsites are reservable
Summit Lake South reservations (Loops C, D & E)
Reservations must be made at least four days in advance.

Phone Number? (877) 444-6777

TDD number - (877) 833-6777

Online? Recreation.gov

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? Sites that do not have a reservation placard may be used for first-come, first-served camping for a single night only; a reservation may begin the following day.

Summit Lake South Campground Amenities

Flush Toilets: No, Pit toilets

Payphone:

Is wifi available? No

Is cellular Phone Service Available? No

Is camp host available on site? Yes

Is firewood available for purchase? You can buy firewood at the Manzanita Lake store

Amenities at each campsite:

Firepit in the site? Yes

Picnic Table in the site? Yes

Bear Box in site/area? Yes

Potable Water? Yes

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 Summit Lake South Campground

RV Length: No trailer or RV sites in the south campground (small tent trailers okay)

Dump Station: Closest dump station at Manzanita Lake

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 Summit Lake South Campground

From Redding, California takes State Highway 44 east approximately 48 miles to the Manzanita Lake entrance of the park. The campground is 14 miles south of the entrance on the main park road.