Gurnsey Creek runs two group loops that can handle anything from a family reunion to a youth camp gathering. Set in mixed conifers at 4,700 feet, it's a reservation-only operation positioned between Chester's lake country and the volcanic weirdness of Lassen National Park.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- $14
- 📋Reservations
- First-Come, First-Served
- 🏔️Elevation
- 4,700 ft
- 📍GPS
- 40.30889, -121.42667
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- Yes
- 📞Phone
- 530-258-2141
- 🗺️Address
- CA
Amenities
The Camp
The campground sits in tall evergreens along Gurnsey Creek, just off Highway 36. Two group loops divide the action: Loop 1 holds 56 people across seven sites (31-37) for $56 nightly, while Loop 2 spreads 112 people over 13 sites (38-51) at $112. Each site comes with the basics — fire ring, picnic table, parking spur — but no hookups.
A water-filling station waits at the entrance, with drinking water and vault toilets scattered throughout. Parking runs tight within the campground, so coordinate arrival times if you're bringing multiple vehicles.
What to Know
These are reservation-only group sites, period. No showing up and hoping for space. The mixed conifer forest at 4,700 feet means you'll dodge the valley heat while staying below the elevation where weather turns unpredictable.
Being positioned along a highway corridor means road noise, but also easy access — important when you're coordinating a large group's arrival from different directions.
Nearby
Chester and Lake Almanor sit 14 miles east, bringing boating, water skiing, and lake fishing to the mix. The real draw lies 14 miles north: Lassen Volcanic National Park's southwest entrance, where fumaroles hiss and mud pots bubble in an active geothermal landscape.
Rainbow trout fishing works the local waters, and hiking trails branch out from the area, though you'll want to scout specific routes based on your group's abilities and the season.