Amazing camping! We reserved a campsite for four days and it was absolutely majestic. The kids had…read morea blast and the adults were able to fully relax. There is no phone service which took us some time to accept but it was the biggest blessing to actually disconnect. The creek was beautiful, full of butterflies and lady bugs. We feel so lucky to have experienced this place and are planning a full family trip back soon! Everyone working there was so friendly and helpful.

Very well maintained, comfortable, relaxing, safe, and FUN! Such a special place. By far the best…read morecamping! Nice bathroom/showers! So peaceful. We had a great time. Highly recommend!

We stayed Thursday through Sunday this summer. The campsite was clean and well-maintained by staff…read more The bear boxes were quite large and accommodating. (New larger size) Worth noting, the campsites themselves were quite large and accommodating.

Great campground, clean bathrooms near campsites, trash service came every day, wash area for…read moredishes, water pump near, bear box clean, camp store convenient - would camp again. Showers were eh on cleanliness and curtains feel a bit sheer. Don't forget your shower shoes. You have to pay $5 for the code for each gender bathroom, but you can use it unlimited during your stay. Also, had a medical emergency where someone from my camp fainted multiple times/cut his hand open - went to emt for help and they said "we'll be there in a few minutes," lacked urgency, when they finally arrived they didn't know how to take VITALS, and wasted 10 minutes of our time when he suggested the nearest hospital, 1 hour away, in Redding after explaining there's "not much he can do."

Very nice place. But if you eat at the lodge be prepared to wait a very long time for your food . I…read moreshowed up at 8:05 and it's 9:30 and I still don't have my food . So it's starting to feel like if you show up for breakfast you will leave at lunch

Great location, nice rooms, good food, and nice people! Couldn't ask for anything better if you're…read morevisiting Lassen NP.

Beautiful scenery with huge campsites and a large, pristine lake right next to the campground…read more Portable water and flush toilets. Close to Cinder Cone volcano hike, along with other hikes and bike rides. Area is very remote: closest ice/beer/wood/food is over 15 miles away (6 on an unpaved gravel road) at the Old Station gas station. Come prepared with enough food for kids and family! If you don't (like me!), there's a Safeway in Burney about 30 miles away.

This campground is really out of the way and an hour from the main attractions at lassen. Having…read moresaid that it's a cool place to camp and get away from the weekend lassen crowd. The campsites are nice and clean and level, although some of them are spaced too close to each other. Flush toilets weren't working (no water in campsite) as of August 2017, but there were a couple of vault toilets around. Camping is pretty cheap at 20$ a site and the nearby Butte lakes is really beautiful. My favorite though was the hike to cinder cone which starts from this campground - spectacular views and one of the coolest hikes I've ever done. I won't come back to this campground since there is nothing else really to do here - but spending a night here to hike cinder cone was totally worth it.

One of the handful of lakes around Lassen Volcanic National Park…read more This lake is small and for non-motorized watercraft only (no boat launch), making it a perfect lake to enjoy leisurely kayaking, canoeing, and swimming. Campgrounds surround the lake and a popular hiking trail goes along the backside of it. Bathrooms, picnic tables, and limited parking are nearby. Happy Paddling!

Summit lake is more like a pond. We drove to the campground on the sites are awkwardly close…read moretogether and "intimate". Decided not to stay. Opt instead for the KOA in Shingletown.

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Lassen Volcanic National Park was one of the biggest surprises. The drive into the park was beautiful, and despite evidence of recent wildfires in parts of the forest, the landscape is recovering and remains absolutely stunning. Nature has an incredible ability to heal, and seeing young trees growing alongside older burned areas was a reminder of how volcanic landscapes are constantly changing. Lassen is one of the few places in the world where you can experience all four types of volcanoes: shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome. That alone makes it geologically fascinating, but what really impressed us was how much variety the park offers. One moment we were standing beside steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pots that reminded us of a smaller, quieter version of Yellowstone. The smell of sulfur, the hissing steam, and the boiling earth beneath your feet make you appreciate that this landscape is still very much alive. The next moment we were hiking around peaceful alpine lakes with spectacular reflections of Lassen Peak mirrored in the crystal clear water. Manzanita Lake was especially beautiful, and seeing the volcano reflected on its calm surface was one of the highlights of our visit. We also loved exploring quieter trails to places like Lily Pond, where we could hike for long stretches while seeing only one or two other people. There is something special about having so much natural beauty almost entirely to yourself. For those who enjoy being on the water, the lakes are perfect for kayaking or simply sitting quietly and taking in the scenery. The combination of volcanic landscapes, mountain forests, meadows, lakes, and wildlife makes every part of the park feel different. We stayed in the nearby town of Chester, which turned out to be a charming little base for exploring the park. It has several good restaurants, friendly people, and everything we needed after long days of hiking. Lassen Volcanic National Park may not receive the attention of some of California's more famous parks, but it absolutely deserves it. It combines dramatic volcanic features with peaceful alpine beauty in a way that feels both exciting and calming at the same time. If you enjoy hiking, geology, photography, or simply discovering places that are a little less crowded, Lassen Volcanic National Park is a hidden gem that should be on every national park lover's list.

We had an amazing trip here! Arrived in a Yhursday and enjoyed exploring about 1/2 of the park,…read moremostly the western half.

really lovely, clear blue-green lake to look at, walk around and/or have a picnic. on the day we…read morevisited, the weather was perfect....mid-upper 70s, sunny, breezy, and we saw visitors doing all 3 and just enjoying this little gem in lassen nat'l park. hubby and i took the time to admire this lake, snap a few pics, then walk around the lake, mainly b/c i was curious how long it would take to walk around and how many miles it was....answer? 24 minutes and 0.79 miles! normally, i'd be able to walk this distance in under 20 minutes, but given how bumpy the walking path was, it took a bit longer and i had to slowly step over a few of the rocky passages. there's plenty of spots for people to sit and sunbathe or have a snack. there are also a few picnic benches higher up from the lake, and we saw a family bring their camping stove and cook lunch there. lots of free parking all along the rim of the lake as well as separate men's & women's restrooms and trash/recycling receptacles. i'll definitely plan on a longer visit the next time i'm here and perhaps bring my portable stove to make myself a feast and enjoy this lovely lake!

Lake Helen is a simple quick-stop feature as you venture along the 30 mile Lassen Volcanic Parkway…read more The reason why I'd like to mention Lake Helen is because of how beautiful and COLORFUL I found this place to be! Wow....I was pretty stunned by the mixture of the still melting snow with what seemed like turquoise blue waters....and this was the status when I visited back in the middle of July! There's really not much to Lake Helen other than stopping, getting out of your car and taking scenic photographs of the area with this stunning lake as the focal point. During my visit to Lassen National Park, it was one of the first few attractions I came upon as I navigated the parkway from the main, southwest entrance all the way up towards the Manzanita Lake Camping Area. In estimation....I'd say it was located about 5 - 10 miles going along Lassen Parkway. It can't be missed from the road. I saw plenty of cars parked with visitors playing by the snow and capturing photos of this picturesque surrounding. I certainly took a few moments to appreciate the landscape. Although Lassen NP has a rugged and brownish exterior from the high elevations and chilly winter setting,....this Lake Helen was a wonderful reprieve from the mostly out of bloom and dull terrain I found the park to be. Although there's not much to Lake Helen other than observing the wonderful blue coloring of the waters mixed with the snowy ice melting....it was still quite a fascinating revelation to witness such an unheralded and strikingly colorful roadside attraction.

I change nothing about my review of 2020, I only wish to respond to a more recent review: please,…read moredo not add or make improvements to the Wi-Fi and internet. It would be a massive mistake. One of the best things about Drakesbad is NOT being connected to such things. I believe that the one party who wished such was also unhappy with how long it took to get to the main entrance to the park from Drakesbad. That's the point. The idea is to get away, slow down, and disconnect. I wouldn't want to go to meals and see nothing but a sea of zombies hunched over their cellphones. Plus, most national parks are huge and it takes hours to go from one "point of interest" to another. If you're touristing like that, maybe Drakesbad isn't for you. I've stayed in lodges in Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Death Valley. Drakesbad still beats them for overall experience; as close to an original off the grid, free from the maddening crowds, experience as you can find.

Drakesbad Guest Ranch - Beautiful setting, but still room for improvement…read more Drakesbad Guest Ranch is set in a truly spectacular location, but a few operational issues prevent it from being the exceptional experience it could be. We booked a two-night stay in one of the Annex 2 cabins. About a week before arrival, I attempted to extend our reservation by an additional night. I called multiple times and left messages but never received a return call. I also sent an email and never received a response. As a result, the extra night was never added. When I arrived, I brought it up in person and was told by the property manager that I would need to return at 3:00 p.m. to see if anything was available. He explained that their communication system had been experiencing issues and that calls and emails sometimes do not come through because of limited connectivity and spotty internet service. Unfortunately, this was my first impression. Needless to say, the additional night was never added. This communication issue really needs to be addressed. If guests need to modify, confirm, or cancel reservations, they should be able to reach someone reliably. The ranch itself is located in a remote meadow valley within Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is surrounded by forest recovering from the devastating 2021 Dixie Fire. Burned trees still cover many of the hillsides, but the landscape is showing remarkable signs of recovery. The meadow is filled with tall green grass, colorful wildflowers, and deer grazing throughout the fields. Despite the fire's scars, the setting remains stunning. Upon arrival, I was surprised to find no clearly marked reception desk or office. There are no signs directing guests where to check in, so you may need to find an employee for assistance. The property manager personally checks guests in using a laptop and escorts them to their room or cabin. There is also no information provided in the rooms. No guest guide or information sheet was available, so be sure to ask questions about meals, amenities, and property operations. Since there is no cell service, I asked about Wi-Fi. The ranch uses Starlink, but during our stay the signal was only reliably available outdoors and not inside the cabins. Given today's connectivity expectations, a mesh network or Wi-Fi extenders would significantly improve the guest experience. That said, being mostly off the grid was actually refreshing. Guests should also know that the Annex cabins do not have electric lighting. Small solar-powered lanterns are provided and offer just enough light to get around after dark. In addition, power to the ranch is shut off nightly from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., so plan accordingly and charge devices during the day. The Annex cabins appear relatively new and are in good condition. My only design criticism is the deck railing. It sits almost exactly at eye level when seated, partially blocking what should be one of the cabin's best features--the VIEW. One of the highlights of our stay was the dining experience. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, and the staff were consistently friendly, welcoming, and attentive. The food exceeded expectations, and it sounded like the kitchen was happy to accommodate dietary restrictions. They also offered a nice selection of beers from local breweries, which was especially enjoyable after a long day of hiking. Unfortunately, horseback riding was unavailable during our visit. From what we were told, reservations appear to depend heavily on a single staff member. If that individual is unavailable, horseback rides may not be offered, which was disappointing. One important clarification for prospective guests: despite what some older information may suggest, Drakesbad no longer has a hot spring pool. The pool was damaged during the Dixie Fire and later destroyed by flooding. Today, all that remains is a pipe flowing hot spring water into a nearby creek. The surrounding hiking trails, including Devil's Kitchen, Boiling Springs Lake, and Terminal Geyser, were excellent and provided some of the best experiences of the trip. A few sections were heavily overgrown with thorny vegetation, so hiking pants are recommended. In some places the trail became difficult to follow because of vegetation encroachment. During the summer months, you'll also encounter hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, which adds a unique element to the experience. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and but probably not return. The setting is undeniably beautiful, the staff are friendly, and the food is surprisingly good. However, improvements to communication, guest information, signage, Wi-Fi coverage, and activity coordination would elevate Drakesbad Guest Ranch from a pleasant stay to a truly exceptional destination.

Such a beautiful campsite. Close to the lake and very serene. A bit crowded but still a great way…read moreto enjoy the park. The bathrooms were so clean! We stayed a few nights and they were always spotless and full of toilet paper. It was nice to have so many stalls and have access to flush toilets and running water! Thank you Ranger Randi for keeping them so clean! We were so grateful for her attentiveness and wonderful personality! Such a joy to have her stop by the campground!

Clean and spacious campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It's great to camp here to hike…read moreanywhere in Lassen. General thing are there, including bear box, table, the rest room, trash box. It's right near the Summit lake and really pretty. Quiet as well.

LWR is very nice and has professional guides that were good at avoiding obstacles and letting us…read morehave fun. We did the Upper Klamath River from Boyle Powerhouse to Copco Lake on August 27 that was pretty much continuous Class 4+ rapids for two hours. Here is my GoPro footage from the trip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE7tsTazN4. One thing to note is that there is a decent amount of driving, first to get to the city of Mt Shasta (in your car) and then to get to the put-in (in their van) and vis versa. We did pick up people in the small town of Keno in Oregon so it might be better to do this river segment if you're staying in Klamath Falls/Medford rather than somewhere in NorCal. The van's AC wasn't working too well on the way back so that could be improved.

Tom was awesome and provided a safe and fun experience. He's filled with lots of knowledge and…read morehistory of the rivers. I highly recommend this fun trip for all!