Warner Valley Campground

California's Best Camping

Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA
Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA

Warner Valley Campground

Lassen Volcanic National Park


Warner Valley Campground

Warner Valley Campground is hidden away 17 miles north of Chester in Lassen National Park. Views of Lassen Peak along the way make it a pretty drive. The rough entry road, however, is unsuitable for RVs or trailers. The campground is in the south-central part of the park. Visitors to the Warner Valley enjoy hiking through meadows and exploring hydrothermals such as 125 degree Boiling Springs Lake.

Warner Valley Campground makes a good stopping place for those hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and for anglers interested in trying their luck in the creek, but it has little to make it stand out as destination in itself. Nevertheless, it has picnic tables, fire pits, and bear boxes - enough to satisfy weary hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail. (Use the PCT button to find information about the Pacific Crest Trail at Warner Valley Campground.)

Warner Valley campground is now being managed by Snow Mountain LLC for Lassen Park. Snow Mountain also handles reservations for nearby Drakesbad Guest Ranch and for cabins at Manzanita Lake.

Drakesbad Guest Ranch offers day visitors horseback riding, massage, and dining.

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Warner Valley Campground Basics
Warner Valley Campground Location: 17 miles north of Chester, Lassen NP
Elevation: 5,650 feet
Nearby Big City: 88 miles east of Red Bluff
Number of Sites: 17
Camping Season: Early June through mid-October, depending on weather
Max. People per Site: 6 (including children), max. 3 tents
Vehicles per Site: 2
Pets: On leash, always attended
Operated by Snow Mountain, LLC. for Lassen Volcanic National Park
Campground Office: (530) 595-6121

Reservations
No Reservations: Eight campsites may be reserved; the remainder are first come, first served.
Wheelchair accessible sites: None designated
Fees: $16 per night, $12 after mid-October
Reservations: Warner Valley Campground Reservations
Check-in, check-out: 1:00 PM, Noon

Warner Valley Campground Amenities
Campsites: Picnic table, food locker, fire ring, tap water
Campground: Vault toilets
Showers and Laundry: No
Dump station: Closest in Chester
Attractions near Warner Valley Campground:
  • Hike the trail to Corral Meadows, Drake Lake, or Devil's Kitchen.
  • Other good hikes include trails to Terminal Geyser and Boiling Springs Lake.
  • Visit Drakesbad Guest Ranch.




Warner Valley, Lassen Volcanic National Park

Warner Valley and Lassen Peak



Pacific Crest Trail Information

Nearby Drakesbad Guest Ranch welcomes Pacific Crest Trail hikers, offering them coin-operated laundry and shower facilities as well as accepting resupply packages.

Trail Miles Northbound from Warner Valley Campground

  • Swan Lake - 6.9 miles
  • Twin Lakes - 7.5 miles + 0.5 mile from trail
  • Badger Flat spring trail junction - 13.4 miles
  • Hat Creek - 19.6 miles
  • Canada Border - 1,302.4 miles

Trail Miles Southbound from Warner Valley Campground

  • Boundary Spring - 3.8 miles
  • Domingo Spring trail junction - 8.7 miles, spring is + 0.3 mile
  • North Fork Feather River bridge - 9.4 miles
  • Mexico Border - 1,347.6 miles

Nearest Town

Chester - 17 miles south on Chester-Warner Valley Rd.
  Post Office, lodging, restaurants, grocery, showers, laundry, Plumas Transit Systems

Always confirm mileages and directions with a reliable PCT source such as the Pacific Crest Trail Association's The Pacific Crest Trail: Exploring America's Wilderness Trail.



General Camping Information for Lassen Volcanic National Park

Opening and closing dates of campgrounds are only estimates, usually dependent on snow conditions. Not all campsites can accommodate trailers or RVs of all lengths. Check carefully on the website when you make your reservation to be sure your vehicle will fit your campsite.

Accessible Sites

Designated Accessible sites are usually reserved for people with disabilities who have a vehicle displaying an accessible parking placard or license plate. For visitors who are temporarily disabled or do not have their permanent accessible parking placard with them, pick up a temporary placard at the entrance station or a visitor center.

    Check Lassen Volcanic National Park - Warner Valley Campground for any campground updates.

Warner Valley Campground, Lassen Volcanic National Park

Warner Valley Campground


Lassen Volcanic National Park
Attractions and Activities

Campers at Warner Valley Campground are more than an hour's drive away from the main attractions of the park.

  • Drive over to beautiful Juniper Lake for the day.
  • Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center has great exhibits about the park's volcanic activity. The Visitor Center includes a nice gift shop and a cafe.
  • Relax along the shores of beautiful Manzanita Lake. Try fishing and non-motorized boating.
  • Make the exhilarating 5-mile hike to the summit of Lassen Peak.
  • Take advantage of in Ranger-led Programs, including nature walks, campfire programs, Starry Night ranger-led programs, astronomy programs, Lassen Dark Sky Festival, August 2-3, 2019, and snowshoe hikes.
  • Drive around to Butte Lake and walk the 1.6-mile Cinder Cone Interpretive Trail or hike to the summit of Prospect Peak (3.1 miles one-way).
  • Make the Auto Tour of the park, stopping at sites such as Sulfur Works, Bumpass Hell Overlook, Devastated Area, and Chaos Crags.
  • Drop in to the Loomis Museum, which features historic photos of Lassen's last eruption.

Key Warner Valley Campground Regulations

  1. Campfires are only allowed in provided fire rings.
  2. Gather only dead and down wood as firewood.
  3. Keep all food and similar items in bear-proof lockers.
  4. Generators may only be operated from 8 AM to 10 AM, Noon to 2 PM, and 5 PM to 7 PM.
  5. Quiet Hours are from 10 PM to 6 AM.