Merrill Campground
Merrill Campground is located in the Eagle Lake Recreation Area of the Lassen National Forest. This recreation area has five campgrounds, three designated day use areas and a marina on the south shore of Eagle Lake. All of these recreation facilities are connected by a 5.2 mile paved hiking/bike trail. The Osprey Overlook, another day use area in the recreation area, can be hiked or driven to for a scenic view of the southern end of Eagle Lake and the surrounding forest basin. The Lassen National Forest offers a variety of lakes, streams and wilderness areas for recreational opportunities.
More like this: electric hookups in California · full hookups in California · reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 115 |
| Standard, no hookups | 51 |
| group standard electric | 2 |
| Host/management | 134 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 83 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
168 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Electric | Back-in | 74 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 002 | Electric | Back-in | 79 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 003 | Electric | Back-in | 69 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 004 | Electric | Back-in | 83 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 005 | Electric | Back-in | 71 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 006 | Electric | Back-in | 68 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 007 | Electric | Back-in | 62 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 008 | Electric | Back-in | 75 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 009 | Electric | Back-in | 61 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 010 | Electric | Back-in | 70 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / Yes | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 178 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 011, 016, 025, 026 and 4 more are listed accessible |
Merrill Campground is a unique US Forest Service facility. Totally rebuilt in the early 2000s, it is the prototypical RV park in a Forest Service campground. With 57 full hook-up sites, 64 partial hook-up sites and 51 standard, no hook-up sites, Merrill offers whatever type of site you prefer. Partial hook-up sites have water and electric, no sewer. All electric hook-up sites have a 50, a 30 and two 20 amp outlets provided. All site camping/parking spurs are at least 45 feet, but most are 55 to 75 feet in length, and are essentially double wide. Each site is equipped with a table and a campfire ring with grill. The campground has flush toilets, potable water points, grey water dumps, limited WIFI and firewood is available for purchase. An RV Dump Station Facility is conveniently located just outside the campground with a $5 dump fee. Forty-five sites, #15-#42 and #57-#75, are designated walk-in sites, the other 125 are reservation sites. The paved bike path runs through the campground. The Eagle Lake Marina store with gas, propane, fishing and camping supplies, shower and laundry facilities and boat launch are located 2.5 miles from the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Lassen National Forest |
| Fees | 10.00 |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Susanville, California, take Highway 36 west for 2 miles to County Road A-1. Turn north and continue 14 miles to the Eagle Lake Recreation Area. Continue past Gallatin Road, the first highway you will come to in the lake basin, and follow the signs to Merrill Campground. Located on County Road A-1.
| Coordinates | 40.5481° N, 120.8120° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedCy26 Elrd Understory Drake Unit 6 8 &10 Rx
22 mi from the campground
- PrescribedCy26 Elrd Underburn Drake Unit 7 & 9 Rx
23 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 ↗ | 0.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Reliable RV ↗ | 14.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Winter Camping at Merrill Campground, Eagle Lake
Worth a stop
The Lassen National Forest has many other recreational opportunities and the Lassen Volcanic National Park is an easy day’s drive to and from Eagle Lake Recreational Area.
- 1.6 miChristie Day Use ↗Day use
- 1.7 miEagle Lake Marina Jetty ↗Boat launch
- 1.7 miGallatin Marina ↗Boat launch
- 2.3 miGallatin Beach ↗Swimming
- 10.6 miDevil's Corral Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.4 miSusanville Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Show all 7Hide
- 13.3 miCrater Day Use ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miHidden Change Interp. Trail0.4 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 1.5 miEagle Tie ↗0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miChristie Day ↗0.06 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miGallatin ↗0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miGallatin Way ↗under 0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miEagle Lake South Shore ↗4.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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
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
On the National Register nearby
- Lassen County Court HouseBuilding · Susanville · 12 mi
- Roop's FortBuilding · Susanville · 12.1 mi
- Susanville Railroad DepotBuilding · Susanville · 12.4 mi
Natural features
Eagle Lake is located where the Sierras meet the Cascades at the southwestern end of the lake, and the Modoc Plateau of the Great Basin at the northeastern end. This unique location offers diverse landscapes, geology, wildlife and vegetation. Merrill Campground is located in a mature conifer forest of pines and firs on the southern shoreline of Eagle Lake, at an elevation of 5,100 feet.
Recreation
Fishing for the Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout, a California Heritage Trout, is the primary recreational activity on Eagle Lake, but the 3rd largest natural lake in California (22,000 acres), provides for plenty of room for swimming, kayaking, skiing and all other boating activities by motor or sail. There are no 2-cycle restrictions for outboard boat motors or PWCs.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Merrill Campground?
Sites at Merrill Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Merrill Campground?
10.00
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Merrill Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Merrill Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Merrill Campground have?
302 sites, including 115 standard sites with power, 51 standard sites without power, and 2 group standard electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Merrill Campground?
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
Does Merrill Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Merrill Campground?
The campground has flush toilets, potable water points, grey water dumps, limited WIFI and firewood is available for purchase.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Merrill Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Merrill Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Merrill Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Merrill Campground?
Sites 011, 016, 025, and 026 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 8 sites in all. 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 there to do at Merrill Campground?
Fishing for the Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout, a California Heritage Trout, is the primary recreational activity on Eagle Lake, but the 3rd largest natural lake in California (22,000 acres), provides for plenty of room for swimming, kayaking, skiing and all other boating activities by motor or sail. The
Source: Recreation