Gurnsey Creek
Gurnsey Creek Campground is located in the mountains of northern California. It offers access to a variety of nearby recreational opportunities, including hiking, fishing and picnicking.
The group sites take reservations. Single sites are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in California · reservable in California · big rigs in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 2 |
| Host/management | 52 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
2 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS1 | GURN | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Full | 56 / 7 |
| GS2 | RAIN | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Full | 112 / 14 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 99 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Accessibility | Site XXX is listed accessible |
Gurnsey Group is located within Gurnsey Creek Campground. This unique site offers 2 reservable "loops". GS Loop # 1 is $56/night, includes 7 individual campsites (Site #s 31-37) and can accommodate 56 people. GS Loop #2 is $112/night, includes 13 sites (Site 38-51) and accommodates up to 112 people. Each site has its own fire ring, picnic table, and parking spur. Gurnsey Creek is a gorgeous campground sitting in a forest of tall evergreens near Highway 36. Drinking water and restrooms are available. No utility hookups are provided. A water-filling station is located at the campground entrance. Parking is limited within the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Lassen National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations for the group sites can be made at by visiting Recreation.gov. Reservations must be made 4 days ahead of arrival and can be made up to 12 months in advance. |
| Fees | $14 per site per night for standard sites. $56-112 depending on the amount of people and dates for the group sites. |
| Rules | Fee must be paid upon arrival and prior to each night of camping, Fee regulations are strictly enforced. Quiet hours are 10pm to 6am. Campfires allowed only in provided fire rings. 2 vehicles (including RVs/Boats/Etc.) and 8 persons allowed in each campsite. Pets must remain on a leash or confined at all times. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From the town of Chester, follow Highway 36 west for about 14 miles. Gurnsey Creek Campground is located on the right side of the highway, about 2 miles past the Highway 32 turnoff.
| Nearest town | Chester, California |
| Coordinates | 40.3089° N, 121.4267° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- These group sites are available by reservation only.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedCy26 Elrd Underburn Drake Unit 7 & 9 Rx
30 mi from the campground
- PrescribedCy26 Elrd Understory Drake Unit 6 8 &10 Rx
30 mi from the campground
- PrescribedShf Rx
48 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 17.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Reliable RV ↗ | 43 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ | 44 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Gurnsey Creek Camping Trip
Worth a stop
The campground is located 14 miles west of the town of Chester and Lake Almanor, where boating, fishing, sailing and water skiing are popular activities. The southwest entrance to Lassen Volcanic National Park is about 14 miles north. The park is known for its active hissing fumaroles and boiling mud pots that continually shape and alter the landscape.
- 5.5 miBrokenshire Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 14.1 miAlmanor Picnic ↗Day use
- 14.6 miAlmanor Beach ↗Swimming
- 14.6 miAlmanor Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 2.5 miWillow Spring Dispersedunder 0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.7 miSpencer Meadow ↗6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Lassen National Forest.
- inLassen National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,488,712 acres
- 6.5 miLassen Volcanic Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 79,061 acres
- 13.5 miCaribou Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 20,839 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Warner Valley Ranger StationBuilding · Chester · 9.4 mi
- Park Headquarters, Lassen Volcanic National ParkBuilding · Mineral · 9.9 mi
- Horseshoe Lake Ranger StationBuilding · Chester · 12.4 mi
Natural features
The campground is nestled in a mixed conifer forest in the Lassen National Forest at an elevation of 4,700 feet. It is located next to Gurnsey Creek.
Recreation
The area provides access to plentiful hiking trails, picnic spots and rainbow trout fishing.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Gurnsey Creek?
For some sites. The group sites take reservations. Single sites are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Gurnsey Creek?
$14 per site per night for standard sites. $56-112 depending on the amount of people and dates for the group sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Gurnsey Creek?
Check-in 0:00 AM, checkout 0:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Gurnsey Creek open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Gurnsey Creek have?
54 sites, including 2 group sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Gurnsey Creek?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there accessible sites at Gurnsey Creek?
Site XXX is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is the nearest town to Gurnsey Creek?
Chester, California. The campground is located 14 miles west of the town of Chester and Lake Almanor, where boating, fishing, sailing and water skiing are popular activities.
Source: Getting there
What if Gurnsey Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Elam Campground (4.3 mi, first-come), Domingo Springs Campground (5.6 mi, first-come), and High Bridge Campground (6.6 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby