Lakes Basin sits on the bones of an old mountain lodge, with stone steps from the 1912 Lakes Center Lodge still leading down to Gray Eagle Creek. At 6,445 feet among firs and aspens, it's a base camp for the Gold Lakes Basin trail network and one of the better-positioned campgrounds for reaching the Pacific Crest Trail.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Group
- 💵Fee per Night
- $36
- 📋Reservations
- Reservation Required
- 🏔️Elevation
- 6,400 ft
- 📍GPS
- 39.66667, -120.65778
- 🌤️Best Seasons
- summer, fall
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
- 📞Phone
- CAMPGROUND/CAMPSITE STATUS CALL (530) 832-1076
- 🗺️Address
- CA
Amenities
The Camp
The single loop sits where Lakes Center Lodge operated until the late 1970s, and you can still find remnants of the original stonework scattered around the sites. Gray Eagle Creek runs past camp, with Mt. Elwell rising to the west. The 10 family sites range from tight tent-only spots (site 10 and 22 handle just one vehicle) to longer pulls that fit RVs up to 42 feet. Site 6A/6B is a double-family setup accommodating four vehicles. Most sites get at least partial shade, with sites 10, 13, and 15 fully shaded under the canopy.
The group site (site 1) is tent-only and handles larger parties by reservation. Standard amenities cover the basics: vault toilets, potable water, fire rings with grills, and picnic tables at each site.
The Trails
Over 30 miles of maintained trails branch out from the area, putting you within reach of more than 20 glacial lakes. The 1-mile Grassy Lakes Trail starts right from camp. The trail network connects to the Pacific Crest Trail, so through-hikers and section hikers pass through regularly.
Gold Lake, with its boat ramp, sits nearby for trolling brown and rainbow trout plus Mackinaws. The Sierra Buttes loom over the southern end of the basin, complete with a fire lookout if you want the full panoramic payoff.
What to Know
Reservations are required. The glacial terrain means most recreation happens between late spring and fall, when snow clears from the higher elevations. Plumas Eureka State Park sits 18 miles away for a mining history side trip, and Frazier Falls offers a paved 1-mile trail to waterfall views—best in spring when snowmelt is running hard.