Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Lassen National Forest adventure.
Crossroads of California offers year-round recreation in volcanic, alpine, and wilderness terrain.
Situated at the crossroads of northern California where the Sierra Nevada, Cascades, and Great Basin meet, Lassen National Forest, which surrounds Lassen Volcanic National Park, spans 1.2 million acres of diverse landscape that include volcanic peaks and ridges, alpine lakes, rolling plateaus, and thickly forested wilderness. Popular activities include hiking, biking, off roading, boating, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. More than 30 developed campgrounds offer diverse overnight options for tent and RV campers, while solitude seekers can take advantage of semi-developed and dispersed camping sites or head into the backcountry, including the Ishi, Thousand Lakes, and Caribou wilderness areas.
Summer is the most popular time for visitors at the forest, and popular campgrounds can book up in advance. Visit in the spring and early summer for wildflowers and for the best conditions in the Ishi Wilderness. Much of the area is covered in snow in the winter, which may affect access, though ideal for activities such as cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, and snowmobiling. Cold spring and fall rains in the Caribou Wilderness can also cause hypothermia concerns.