Lost Creek Group Campground sits five miles south of Manzanita Lake on the park highway, and if you're organizing a group outing in Lassen Volcanic National Park, this is the dedicated spot for it. Unlike other campgrounds in the park that mix individual sites with group areas, Lost Creek is group-only - eight sites total, all reservation-required, and designed for parties between 10 and 25 people. The campground gives you direct access to Manzanita Lake, the Devastated Area, and Summit Lake without moving your whole crew. Before you book, there are a few things about how this place operates that are worth knowing.
For more, see Campsites at Summit Lake North Campground (2026 Guide), Campsites at Summit Lake South Campground (2026 Guide), and Campsites at Warner Valley Campground (2026 Guide). For more, see Campsites at Butte Lake Campground (2026 Guide) and Campsites at Southwest Campground - Winter/spring (2026 Guide). For more, see Lassen Volcanic National Park Guided Tour. For more, see Best Month to Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park and Best of Lassen Volcanic National Park: Best Airport for (2026). For more, see complete visitor guide, all campgrounds, hiking trails, lodging and accommodations, Campsites at Southwest Campground - Summer/fall (2026 Guide), and Campsites at Juniper Lake Campground (2026 Guide) (2026 guide).For the broader context on visiting this part of the park, the complete visitor guide covers the full picture. If you're weighing other options, the all campgrounds page helps with comparisons.
What You Get for $62 a Night
The fee structure at Lost Creek Group Campground is straightforward. A single group campsite costs $62.00 per night as of 2026. That covers a minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 25, plus up to 6 vehicles. If you're bringing one bus or RV, that counts as your six-vehicle allowance, so plan accordingly.
Each site comes with three picnic tables, three fire grates, and three metal food lockers. The three-of-everything setup makes sense - this campground was designed for multiple families or organized groups cooking and eating together, not for one large party monopolizing a single picnic table. The food lockers are critical here because bears are active in the area. Rangers will tell you that every scrap of food, every cooler, and anything with a scent needs to go in those lockers overnight or when you're away from camp.
Parking within your site is limited to the designated area. Overflow parking isn't really a thing at Lost Creek, so if your group shows up with more than six vehicles, you'll have problems. The park service recommends coordinating carpools before you arrive.
Seasonal Access - Shorter Windows Than You Think
This is where most visitors underestimate the lost creek group campground. The operating season here is not the full summer. The campground closes for winter from mid-September through mid-June. In 2026, the winter closure runs from September 17, 2025, through June 12, 2026. That's roughly mid-June before you can get in.
But there's another closure window that catches people off guard. Lost Creek Group Campground also closes for a mid-summer period from July 29 through August 6, 2026. The research data shows "Mid-summer Closure" during that week. The reason isn't specified in the data, but it's worth factoring into your planning. If you were aiming for a late July or early August trip, you'll need to book before July 29 or after August 6.
All facility hours at Lost Creek are subject to change based on weather, road status, or public safety concerns. The park updates the website as conditions shift. When you book, check the current alerts - the phone line for the park (530-595-6121) works intermittently, so emailing lavo_fees@nps.gov for camping questions is the more reliable route.
Current Conditions That Affect Your Trip
As of 2026, several active alerts in Lassen Volcanic National Park directly impact access to Lost Creek Group Campground.
The Lassen National Park Highway (Highway 89) is under seasonal closure due to winter snow accumulation. Through travel on the main park road is not possible. However, access from the northwest entrance at Manzanita Lake is open, and the Devastated Area is reachable from that side. Since Lost Creek is five miles south of Manzanita Lake on the park highway, you can reach it from the northwest entrance. The Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center is accessible from the southwest entrance, but you cannot drive through from one side to the other.
The roads to Juniper Lake and Warner Valley are closed for repairs with no estimated completion date. These roads sustained significant damage outside the park boundary. If your group had plans to visit those areas, those are off the table for now.
The Bumpass Hell Trail is under its annual seasonal closure due to snow. This trail typically stays closed through mid-July. It's not a damage issue - it's that the trail conditions become genuinely dangerous with snow coverage.
The Manzanita Lake Day Use Area (including the picnic area and boat launch) will be closed on Monday, May 4, 2026, for hazard tree removal. This is a single-day closure, but if your group arrival coincides with that date, you'll need to plan around it.
The lasting effects from the 2021 Dixie Fire continue to affect some facilities and areas. In reopened areas, hazards include fallen trees, loose or falling rock, undefined trails, and hidden stump holes. Signs are posted, but the park service emphasizes that visitors need to stay alert and obey all closure signs.
How to Reach Lost Creek
From the northwest entrance of the park, continue six miles south on the park highway. The campground entrance will be on your left or right depending on direction of travel. The physical address is Shingletown, CA 96088, though that's a general area designation rather than a specific street address you can punch into a GPS.
Cell service drops out at various points along the park highway. Do not rely on navigation apps once you're inside the park boundaries. Download your driving directions and campground maps before you leave the gateway communities.
The GPS coordinates (40.7965121, -121.9979194) are best used for pre-trip planning rather than real-time navigation in low-service areas.
Who This Campground Works For
Lost Creek Group Campground serves a specific purpose. It is for organized groups - scout troops, family reunions, church groups, or any gathering of 10 to 25 people. If your group is smaller than 10, you cannot book here. If it's larger than 25, you'd need to split into two sites or look elsewhere.
Each site's three fire grates mean your group can cook multiple meals simultaneously, which speeds things up when you're feeding a dozen-plus people. The three food lockers provide enough sealed storage for a multi-day stay. The three picnic tables give everyone a place to sit without stacking plates on laps.
The campground's location five miles south of Manzanita Lake puts you close to the lake for fishing, kayaking, and the easy interpretive trail around the lake. The Devastated Area - the section of the park that shows the volcanic landscape from the 1915 eruptions - is also nearby. Summit Lake, with its hiking trailheads, is accessible further south on the park highway.
What the Park Website Doesn't Mention
The official reservation system is the only way to secure a site at Lost Creek. Walk-ups are not accommodated. The campground is entirely reservation-only. If you show up without a reservation, you will be turned away.
Group campsites at Lost Creek do not have hookups for RVs. The parking area can accommodate one RV or bus, but there are no electrical, water, or sewer connections. This is dry camping with group-site amenities.
The three fire grates per site mean you can have multiple campfires going simultaneously, but always check current fire restrictions before lighting anything. During dry summer conditions, burn bans are possible.
Most visitors underestimate the mid-summer closure. The July 29 to August 6 window in 2026 is a real gap in availability. If your group's schedule is flexible, aim for late June through mid-July, or late August through early September (weather permitting).
Practical Takeaways
- Book through the NPS reservation system. Lost Creek is reservation-only with no walk-up availability.
- The $62 fee covers 10-25 people and up to 6 vehicles. Exceeding either limit is not allowed.
- The campground is closed from mid-September through mid-June, and also closed July 29-August 6, 2026.
- Access is from the northwest entrance only as of 2026 due to the seasonal park highway closure.
- Each site has three picnic tables, three fire grates, and three metal food lockers. Plan your cooking and food storage around that setup.
- Call 530-595-6121 or email lavo_fees@nps.gov for current information. The phone line works intermittently.
- Check the park alerts page before departure. Road closures, trail closures, and hazard conditions change.
Final Thoughts
Lost Creek Group Campground fills a specific niche in Lassen Volcanic National Park - it's the only campground designed exclusively for groups, and the three-of-everything layout tells you the NPS built this place with large parties in mind. The $62 rate is reasonable for what you get, and the location puts you within easy reach of the park's most visited northwest section. But the seasonal closures and current road conditions mean you cannot just show up whenever you want. Plan around the operating windows, confirm access from the northwest entrance, and your group will have a solid base camp for exploring this part of the park.