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Lassen/Merrill

Overview

Merrill Campground provides a tranquil retreat nestled within the Lassen National Forest on the scenic shores of Eagle Lake. This seasonal destination serves as a primary gateway to one of California's most unique high-altitude ecosystems. Known for its serene atmosphere and towering pine canopy, the park offers a classic camping experience that balances the rugged beauty of the wilderness with essential comforts for modern RV travelers seeking a true mountain escape.

Location & Surroundings

Situated approximately 20 miles north of Susanville, California, the park sits at an elevation of 5,100 feet along the south shore of Eagle Lake. The surrounding landscape features a transition from high-desert shrublands to dense stands of Jeffrey pine and fir trees. The area is renowned for its remarkably clear night skies and sweeping views of the water, providing a deep sense of seclusion while remaining easily accessible from Highway 139.

Amenities & Park Features

The facility stands out among forest service campgrounds by offering paved camping pads that can accommodate a variety of RV lengths and setups. Unlike more primitive forest sites, several loops provide access to water and electrical hookups, allowing for a more comfortable stay. The park includes clean restrooms with flush toilets, sturdy picnic tables, and fire rings at every site. A nearby dump station and easy access to the marina ensure a convenient stay for those planning extended trips.

Nearby Attractions & Things to Do

Fishing is the primary draw for many visitors, as the area is home to the world-famous Eagle Lake Trout, a species known for its impressive size and fighting spirit. Boating, paddleboarding, and kayaking are popular activities, with a boat launch located just a short distance from the campground. For those who prefer land-based adventures, the Eagle Lake Shoreline Trail offers miles of hiking and biking with stunning lake vistas and frequent wildlife sightings.

Who This Park Is Best For

This destination is an ideal choice for dedicated anglers looking to spend long days on the water and families who appreciate a traditional forest camping vibe. It appeals specifically to RVers who want to trade busy commercial parks for a quiet, nature-focused environment without giving up basic utilities. If you enjoy crisp mountain air, morning birdsong, and the smell of pine needles, Merrill Campground is a perfect fit for your northern California travel style.

Amenities

- Recreational Facilities

• Lake
• Swimming
• Fishing
• Boat Marina
• Body Of Water (Eagle Lake)
• Kayaking/Canoeing
• Watersports

- Policies

• Pets Welcome
• Day Max Stay (14)
• Tent Camping Allowed

- Other Amenities & Services

• Restrooms

- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)

• Fishing
• Hiking
• Kayaking/Canoeing
• Boating
• Marina
• Road Biking Trails
• Watersports

- Facility

• Type (National Forest)
• Partial Handicap Access

- On-Site Rentals

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- Sites

• Spaces Available (172)
• Max Length (45)
• Gravel Sites (172)
• Full Hookups (57)
• Water (64)
• Electric (64)
• No Hookups (51)
• Back-ins (10 x 45)
• Fire Rings

User Reviews

Leanne Dombkowski

September 19, 2025

The campground is awesome nice big spots with full partial and non hookups.The road in is not good for rvs, it's very bumpy. Very nice scenery and the bike trail is good.

Linda Danialy

August 18, 2025

Nice campground with full hookups, laundry, and store. Great camp hosts. A bit out of the way off highway 395 but well worth the drive.

Bev Best

July 26, 2025

LOVE this campground! HUGE spaces. Handicap spaces available. Book 6 months out.. Family friendly. Dog friendly (must be leashed), kid friendly. Hiking, and biking trails take you off-site. The restrooms are cleaned several times a day. Faucet water is spring fed from the lake. Lake is clean - once you get away from the shoreline! Fishing is ok. lots of golden mantles running around. (They look like chipmunks.) A few pull-through sites, several tent sites, and RV sites accommodating 45' RVs. Full hookup and partial hookups sites, as well as dry camping sites available. There are also a few first-come, first-served sites, if you want to gamble without a reservation. The marina is about a mile away. Drive over on Eagke Lake Road, or take one of the hiking trails on your bike to get there. Pay showers and washers and dryers are available there. There's a small store at the marina. The store sells Eagle Lake merch, some fishing supplies, and limited groceries. You can also purchase your fishing license. Camp hosts are top-notch, very friendly, and accommodating. Wood bundles are available for purchase from the camp hosts for $10.00 (in 2025). Quiet time is 10pm to 7am. You'll see park rangers, fire, and sheriff cruising through the campground on any given day. We feel safe there. PS: Quick heads up - Amazon and Post Office no longer deliver to the campground...

Rudy von Ravensberg

July 20, 2025

Pretty good campground. Clean, large spaces, generally quiet. Bathrooms were very clean. Kinda muddy down near the lake and a 5 min walk. Great for kids and biking, as well as paddle boarding. Watch out for Bigfoot!

Tony M

May 08, 2025

This whole "prototypical" concept is neat, I kinda hope it takes off. The tiered loops idea with the full hook-up sites at the top, and the non-hook-up sites at the bottom makes it easy to keep track as you are looking to make reservations. Would be a benefit if you come for a first come, first served site as well. The sites aren't as spacious as Christie, but they're sufficient. All of the driveways are in great shape and actually built with RVs in mind, so no awkward back-in with a tree blocking you here. I love how much more quiet this campground is with no generators allowed! Easy access to the bike path is always a plus too, every time we stay we ride our bikes to the Marina and get popsicles/ice cream, it's kind of a tradition.

Brian Hovander

February 13, 2025

A few years ago, we were told to evacuate from our prior campground at Warner Valley in Lassen National Park due to the approaching Dixie fire. We escaped in the early evening before the whole town of Chester was next evacuated (a good thing). We then went directly (4 days early) to our next campground which was Merrill Campground. The many fires in California caused cancellations of many sites in this campground because campers could not get here from most directions. This was a wonderful campground (with full hookups) but sadly the one day we wanted to use the air conditioning it was found to have gone out. If the area wasn't so remote we would love to camp here for a couple of weeks every year. It is the best federal campground I have ever had the privilege of enjoying. As you enter the campground, the left half is first-come first-serve. The right side is reservable and grouped by utility availability. The sites closest to the lake had no hookups. The sites furthest from the lake had full hookups (and so forth). I took pictures of all the reservable sites and am posting them below so you can see what the shade is like around noon at each site. Don't forget bicycles if you have them because there is a great paved bike trail along the lake going thru this campground. I hope the attached photos help you decide which of the great campsites should be reserved and will please you the most. Some are well shaded, and others might be loved by those who want to use solar panels instead of the electrical power sites that are farthest from the lake.

Richard S

November 30, 2023

Fantastic campground. Beautiful surroundings and lots of things to do. Eagle Lake is beautiful, and there is a really nice paved trail that runs alongside the lake that leaves right from the campgrounds. Facilities are clean, but lacking shower facilities. Sites are very large and spread out, so you are not right on top of your neighbors. Clean and well kept.

Peggy Austin

September 07, 2023

Great campground. There's a lot of space for the sites. The lake was a lot bigger than I expected. The camp hosts were very nice, and the people working in the store were full of information and fun to talk to.

Tara

June 07, 2023

Great campground designed specifically for big RVs. Great mix of dry & hookup sites, as well as a large number of first come/first serve. Large dump across the road. Plenty of sunny sites with great lake views for dry camping with solar. Well managed campground. Roads in from both directions are pretty bumpy from deep road expansion seams. Very dog friendly. Dogs everywhere. Lots of clean restrooms, water spigots, and gray water dumps scattered thru campground.

Deanna Handegard

October 07, 2021

We love this camp ground and the full hook ups. Along with the beautiful trout in the lake🎣🎣🎣

Map for Lassen/Merrill

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