Butte Lake Campground

Overall a good experience. I stayed here on a trip to primarily see lassen national park. To reach the bulk of lassen park from the campground it is a long drive. The main road to the campground is currently super bumpy for 6 miles straight. It's pretty much a massive rumble strip. This may change over time. I camped here in the fall, and it is completely dry campground. No running water and only pit toilets. Everything was shut down so you have to be prepared to bring water for everything in. Not a super big deal but something to think about. The campground is beautiful. Be careful the spot you choose if you are tent camping as many spots are on an incline. Several great hikes around the campsite. Due to the lack of services, many campers near us were unprepared and we all helped each oth

If you don’t like rough washboard gravel roads, don’t come. It’s nearly 7 miles of that. If having zero phone reception in the middle of nowhere makes you crazy, don’t bother. If you enjoy a campground among gigantic Ponderosa and Jeffrey Pines, you won’t find any better. If you like having access to the Platonic Ideal of a cinder cone, definitely come. If you enjoy looking at a huge lava flow dropping into a beautiful lake, there is virtually nothing else like it. And if you like trailheads leading into nearly deserted parts of a national park, this place is gold.

Butte Lake Campground has approximately 100 sites, set among the pines, each with a fire ring and a table. The are many well-maintained restrooms, and the lake, while not visible from most campsites, is mere steps away. The campground is off hwy 44, down a well-maintained 6 mile gravel road (not a problem for RV's). Butte Lake campground is a nice choice if you want something quieter than the more popular, and crowded, Manzanita Lake campground (we went mid-week in September and it was less than half full). The Cinder Cone Trailhead starts at the bottom of this campground, as does the shorter but scenic Bathtub Lake loop.

(writing this review in a tire shop) Be aware the road leading to the campsite is a 6 mile dirt and unpaved rocky road. The road is very rough and dirty which got me a flat tire unfortunately... The campsite itself is very nice to be honest. Super close to the cinder cone trail and quiet. The washroom is clean although no lighting. In general I would highly recommend if you don't mind the road condition.

National Park campground. Must reserve on line. No first come first serve as we found out the hard way. Road to lake and campground is rough washboard gravel road Campsites are nice but very open. Lots of amazing trails.