National Park Service · California
Butte Lake
National Park Service · California, United States · in Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Sites
- 81
- Hookups
- 79 no hookups
- Season
- May 29 to October 12
- Max RV length
- 45 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Dump station
- No
- Laundry
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,129 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Nearest town
- MINERAL
- Address
- LASSEN VOLCANIC NP PO BOX 100, MINERAL, CA, 96063
- Phone
- 530 595-6121
- Activities
- Amphitheater, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Picnic Tables, Ranger Station, Swimming
80 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Butte Lake Campground (elevation 6,100 feet) is located in the northeastern section of Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California. It is fairly remote and within walking distance of Butte Lake, which is popular for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming. Several hiking and backpacking trails are located nearby. The facility is 45 minutes from the main park road.
Recreation
Outdoor enthusiasts stay at Butte Lake Campground for its many recreation opportunities. The lake is popular for trout fishing, as well as non-motorized boating. Within the facility, hikers and backpackers will find the trailhead for the Cinder Cone Trail, one of the most popular trails in the park that ascends a nearby volcanic dome. The Painted Dunes, Snag Lake and Bathtub Lake areas are also nearby.
Facilities
This facility is more remote than other campgrounds within the park. Campers must travel on a six-mile gravel road to access the facility. For more information visit Campgrounds of Lassen Volcanic.
A non-motorized boat launch is convenient for kayaks and canoes. Flush toilets and running water are turned on during summer; vault toilets are available outside of the peak season.
Natural Features
The campground has a pleasant atmosphere dominated by Ponderosa pines. It sits on soft volcanic soils, and several ponds dot the landscape. Butte Lake has a large black lava flow running into it, creating rocky shores and interesting views for visitors in kayaks and canoes to explore.
The national park is known for its volcanic history, as well as its diversity of plants and animals. It contains 300 active volcanic domes and many hydrothermal features, such as mud pots and steam vents. Lassen Peak is the southernmost active volcano in the Cascades, and the second most recent volcano to erupt in the lower 48 of the United States before Mount Saint Helens.
Lassen National Park boasts over 700 species of flowering plants and 250 species of vertebrates, including birds, mammals, reptiles and fish. The park is at the junction of the Cascade Mountains, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Basin, thus providing many unique habitats.
Nearby Attractions
Visitors can explore Subway Cave, an underground lava tube, in the adjacent Lassen National Forest from late April through November. Free tours are offered every weekend during summer.
Subway Cave, Lassen National Forest
Fees
Campsite: $22. Rate per campsite.
Campsite (water off): $15. Single campsite when water is not available (early and late season).
Group Campsite: $62. Campsite for a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 25 people and up to six licensed vehicles or one bus/RV.
Group (water off): $35. Group campsite when water is unavailable (early and late season).
Stock corral: $37. The Butte Lake stock corral is located north of the campground via a short access road and is available by reservation only.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 24° | 7° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 38° | 23° | 3° | 52° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 25° | 6° | 71° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 46° | 27° | 14° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 60° | 38° | 25° | 73° | 7 of 11 |
| June | 70° | 46° | 31° | 87° | 2 of 11 |
| July | 83° | 56° | 42° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 81° | 56° | 47° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 73° | 48° | 38° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 63° | 39° | 24° | 74° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 46° | 31° | 10° | 63° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 37° | 24° | 9° | 58° | 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
- Butte Lake Group · National Park Service · 0 mi · 6 sites
- Butte Lake Stock Corral · National Park Service · 0 mi · 1 sites
- Butte Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Summit Lake Stock Corral · National Park Service · 8 mi · 1 sites
- Juniper Lake Group · National Park Service · 8 mi · 2 sites
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-06-29. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.