Campgrounds in the Big Valley Ranger District

The Big Valley District is located in the Southwest portion of the National Forest and the district office is located in the small town of Adin.

The winters are cold with moderate to low amounts of snow. Summers are cool to warm with some hot days. Usually, the night time temperatures are cool. Temperatures range from 100F to 900F. The humidity is low and the air dry. The elevation is approximately 4200 feet.

There are four campgrounds located in the Big Valley District: Ash Creek, Upper Rush Creek, Lower Rush Creek and Willow Creek campgrounds. If you find the campgrounds too confining, dispersed camping might suit you. There are various areas available for this kind of camping. Remember to bring your own drinking water.

Ash Creek
Located 7 miles east of Adin on the way to Madeline. The road is not paved from Adin to the camp site. There is no water available. Be sure to bring drinking water for your use. There are pit toilets available. The campground is located along Ash Creek. No fee charged at this campground.

Upper Rush Creek
Located 9 miles northeast of Adin on Highway 299 to Alturas. This campground has 13 sites available. They are surrounded by mixed conifers providing welcome shade for the hot summer days. Rush Creek runs along the edge of the campground providing a relaxing atmosphere. Drinking water is available at this area and there are pit toilets. The road is not recommended for vehicles pulling trailers. The fee for this campground is $5.00 per night.

Lower Rush Creek
Located 7.5 miles northeast of Adin on Highway 299 to Alturas. It is the first campground you come to. Upper Rush Creek is about 1.5 miles on up the dirt road. Lower Rush Creek does not offer as much shade as Upper Rush Creek, but the creek runs through the campground providing a peaceful setting. Drinking water is available at this campground and there are also pit toilets. The fee for this campground is $5.00 per night.

Willow Creek
Located 14 miles south of Adin on Highway 139 to Susanville. Willow Creek campground is paved and is located along Willow Creek. This campground is situated in a small canyon so there is shade in the late afternoon hours. Drinking water is available and there are pit toilets at this campground. Willow Creek also provides a very nice picnic and rest stop area next to the campground. The fee for this campground is $6.00 per night.

Campgrounds in the Warner Mountain Ranger District

Warner Mountain Ranger District campgrounds are generally open from Memorial Day through mid-October. Check with the ranger district for specific times. There are no hook-ups available at any of the campgrounds. A limit of 14 days is set on all campgrounds. Dispersed camping at Lassen Creek is limited to 21 days.

Cave Lake
Seven miles east of New Pine Creek on Highgrade Road. Access very steep: trailers not advised. 6 sites, maximum length 15 feet; tables, fire pits, vault toilets, and piped water. Small lake offers trout fishing. Boat ramp for small boats, all motors prohibited on lake including electric. Supplies at New Pine Creek, OR or Ft. Bidwell, CA. Elevation 6,600 feet.

Lily Lake
6.5 miles east of New Pine Creek on Highgrade Road. Access very steep; trailers advised. Lily Lake is primarily a picnic site, campers should camp at nearby Cave Lake. 6 sites, maximum length 15 feet. Tables, charcoal grills, vault toilets and piped water. Small lake offers trout fishing. All motors prohibited on lake, including electric. Elevation 6,600 feet.

Plum Valley
3.5 miles southeast of Davis Creek. Access steep; trailers not advised. 15 spaces, maximum length 15 feet; tables, fire pits, vault toilets. Supplies at Davis Creek. Elevation 5,600 feet.

Stough Reservoir
6 miles west of Cedarville on Highway 299, then 1 mile north on Stough access road. Accessible to small trailers; 8 sites, maximum length 22 feet; tables, charcoal grills, vault toilets and piped water. Supplies at Cedarville or Alturas. Elevation 6,200 feet.

Cedar Pass
On State Highway 299, 8 miles west of Cedarville. Access good; accessible to small trailers. 17 sites, maximum length 22 feet; tables, fire pits, and vault toilets. No water. Supplies at Cedarville or Alturas. Elevation 5,600 feet.

Soup Springs
9 miles east of Likely on County Road 64, then 5 miles north on West Warner Road, then 6 miles east on Soup Loop Road. Access good; small trailers okay. 14 sites, maximum length 22 feet, tables fire pits; vault toilets and piped water. Near trailhead to South Warner Wilderness. Supplies at Likely. Elevation 6,800 feet.

Mill Creek Falls
9 miles east of Likely on County Road 64, then 2.5 miles northeast on West Warner Road, then 2 miles east on Mill Creek access road. Paved road, accessible to small trailers. 19 sites, maximum length 22 feet; tables, fire pits, vault toilets, and piped water. Daily fee $5.00 per site. Mill Creek Falls and Clear Lake are short hikes into South Warner Wilderness. Supplies at Likely or Alturas. Elevation 5,700 feet.

Emerson
One mile south of Eagleville on County Road 1, then 3 miles southwest on Emerson access road. Access fair but steep; trailers not recommended. 4 singes; tables. fire pits, vault toilets. Trailhead to South Warner Wilderness. Supplies at Eagleville. Elevation 6,000 feet.

Patterson
3 miles south of Eagleville on County Road 1, then 10 miles southwest on South Warner Road. Alternate Route: 9 miles east of Likely on County Road 64, then 16 miles southeast on South Warner Road. Access from Likely good; route from Eagleville very steep. 5 sites, maximum length 20 feet: tables, charcoal grills, vault toilets, and piped water. Trailhead to South Warner Wilderness. Supplies at Likely or Eagleville. Elevation 7,200 feet.

Blue Lake
9 miles east of Likely on County Road 64, then 7 miles southeast on South Warner Road, then 2 miles south on Blue Lake Road. Access good; accessible to motor homes and trailers. 48 sites, maximum length 22 feet. Tables, fire pits, vault toilets, and piped water. Daily fee $6.00 per site. 160 acre lake offers boating, trout fishing, and swimming. 1.5 mile Blue Lake National Recreation Trail circles lake. Handicap accessible facilities are available at the boat ramp area. Supplies at Likely. Elevation 6,000 feet.

Pepperdine
13 miles east of Alturas on County Road 56 to the Modoc National Forest Boundary, then another 6 miles on Forest Road 42N31 (Parker Creek Road), then south on the Pepperdine access road. Access good; accessible to small motor homes and trailers. 5 sites, maximum length 22 feet. Tables, fire pits, vault toilets and piped water. Trailhead to South Warner Wilderness Corrals with stock watering facilities available to the public. Supplies at Alturas or Cedarville. Elevation 6,680 feet.

Lassen Creek
Dispersed camping: no campsites or facilities other than vault toilet. 11 miles northeast of Davis Creek on Lassen Creek Road. Access good, accessible to trailers. Spring water. Elevation 5,300.