Campground · Lassen Volcanic National Park
A remote, wooded base for Warner Valley's trail network.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lassen Volcanic Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lassen Volcanic National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Lassen Volcanic audio tourRecorded for this place
Warner Valley and Drakesbad“You're coming up on the Warner Valley trailhead, a starting point for meadow walks and hydrothermal hikes.”
Plays as you drive up to Warner Valley Campground in the Parkwolf Lassen Volcanic Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Warner Valley Campground is a remote, wooded campground in Lassen's southeastern Warner Valley, among conifers at the base of Flatiron Ridge. Choose it for a night near hikes into this corner of the park, including routes toward Boiling Springs Lake and Devil's Kitchen, rather than for resort comforts or quick access to the park's main visitor areas.
The campground is about 17 miles north of Chester by gravel road. The approach is steep and rutted, and RVs and trailers are not recommended. There is no cell service or internet here, so download directions and bring what you need before leaving coverage.
Campsites sit along small spurs and two loops. Each has a picnic table, fire grate, bear-resistant food locker and vehicle parking. Seasonal vault toilets and potable water are available; check current service before relying on either. There are no hookups, showers or campground store. Most sites are flat, but there are no designated ADA campsites; restrooms are listed as wheelchair-accessible. Drakesbad Guest Ranch is about half a mile away and offers a separate dining room by reservation.
Wildlife
103 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
44 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
348 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
17 sightingsSandhill CraneMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
47 sightingsGreat Blue HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
12 sightingsGreat EgretMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lassen Volcanic. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyBoiling Springs Lake Trail3 mi · 2 hr · 0.2 mi awayAn easy three-mile walk to steaming water and lakeside mudpots.
ModerateDrake Lake Trail5 mi · 3.5 hr · 0.2 mi awaySteep switchbacks climb from a meadow to a quiet forest lake.
ModerateTerminal Geyser Trail5.8 mi · 2.8 hr · 0.2 mi awayA forest climb ends at a steam plume in Willow Creek’s canyon.
ChallengingKings Creek Loop from Warner Valley10.5 mi · 8 hr · 0.2 mi awayA hard loop over Flatiron Ridge, Kings Creek Falls and Bench Lake.
EasyDream Lake Basin Trail1.5 mi · 45 min · 0.2 mi awayA former lake basin threaded by springs and meadow plants.
ModerateDevils Kitchen Trail4.2 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.3 mi awayA meadow walk to a bubbling, steam-filled volcanic basin.
ModerateLittle Willow Lake to Terminal Geyser Trail3.2 mi · 2.3 hr · 2.4 mi awayA lakeside fen leads to a steam vent in the woods.
ChallengingPacific Crest Trail through Lassen Volcanic19.1 mi · 10 hr · 2.4 mi awayA true PCT crossing strings together remote lakes and forest.
Picnic area · 0.1 mi awayWarner Valley Day Use AreaA trailhead picnic stop for Lassen's hydrothermal corner.
Lodging · 0.5 mi awayDrakesbad Guest RanchA remote Warner Valley base for meals, lodging, and nearby hikes
Sight · 0.5 mi awayBoiling Springs LakeA warm, milky lake ringed by steam and bubbling mudpots.Sight · 1.8 mi awayTerminal GeyserA creekside steam vent at the end of a long hike.Sight · 2.1 mi awayDevils KitchenBubbling pools and steam after a longer Warner Valley hike.
Sight · 2.7 mi awayKings Creek FallsThe creekside stone steps are half the payoff.
Campground · 3.7 mi awaySummit Lake South CampgroundA short lake walk and dark skies define this tent campground.
Sight · 3.7 mi awayHorseshoe LakeA trout lake people have fished since 1936Parkwolf’s Lassen Volcanic ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
