USDA Forest Service · California
Almanor
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 55
- Hookups
- 2 with water, 21 no hookups
- Season
- May 27 to September 13
- Max RV length
- 70 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 4,498 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile good · AT&T good · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Lassen National Forest
- Nearest town
- CHESTER
- Address
- LASSEN NATIONAL FOREST, ALMANOR, CHESTER, CA, 96020
- Phone
- 530-258-2141
- Activities
- Amphitheater, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Swimming, Water Skiing, Wildlife Viewing
54 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Almanor Campground is a large family-friendly facility for individuals and large groups alike. It provides direct access to beautiful Lake Almanor and a variety of recreational opportunities in the area.
Recreation
The 28,000-acre lake provides ample boating, swimming, water skiing and sailing opportunities. A boat ramp can be found next to the north campground. The adjacent beach is mostly rocky, but contains some sand.
Fishing in the lake or nearby streams, is a popular activity. Anglers will find a variety of trout, bass, salmon and catfish, among other species.
The Lake Almanor Recreation Trail can be accessed from within the campground. The trail winds through the forest, providing spectacular views of the lake, nearby Dyer Mountain and Lassen Peak. The trail stretches approximately 11 miles along the west shore of the lake. It is a non-motorized trail, open to all non-motorized activity.
Facilities
The campground offers numerous single-family campsites, as well as a group site. Campsites are available for tent and RV camping, however, no hookups are provided. Many sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Limited parking is available at the campground. An amphitheater is located on-site.
Natural Features
The campground sits on the west shore of Lake Almanor at an elevation of 4,540 feet. A scenic mixed conifer forest covers the area. Parts of the campground are shaded, while other sections have grassy meadows that often contain wildflowers.
Nearby Attractions
The campground is located 12 miles outside of the town of Chester, California.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 28° | 13° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 42° | 27° | 8° | 60° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 43° | 30° | 12° | 77° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 51° | 33° | 19° | 67° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 66° | 43° | 32° | 78° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 77° | 52° | 38° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 61° | 47° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 86° | 60° | 51° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 79° | 53° | 43° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 68° | 42° | 29° | 80° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 49° | 34° | 18° | 66° | 8 of 10 |
| December | 41° | 27° | 16° | 60° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Legacy Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Rocky Point · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Soldier Meadows Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi
- Bogard Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi
- High Bridge Campground · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.