Connectivity
- VerizonLTESome coverageVerified by 2 campers · Sep 22, 2026
- AT&T5GGood coverageVerified by 2 campers · Oct 18, 2026
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Merrill Campground
Lassen National Forest, California
About this 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.
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.
Merrill Campground is located in the Eagle Lake Recreation Area of the Lassen National Forest.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 40.548119° N
- Longitude
- 120.812006° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Drive-in
- Boat-in
- Walk-inCommunity report
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
- Group sites
- CabinsCommunity report
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Showers
- Drinking water
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- ADA access
- Picnic table
- Alcohol allowedCommunity report
- Firewood availableCommunity report
- Phone serviceCommunity report
- Trash serviceCommunity report
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Sanitary dump
- Water hookups
- Electric hookups
- 50 amp hookups
- Full hookups
- Pull-through sites
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 178 ft
- Back-in sitesCommunity report
- Sewer hookupsCommunity report
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
Overview
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. The forest offers miles of trails that are used for hiking, mountain biking, off-highway vehicle riding and in the winter months, snowmobiling.
Facilities
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.
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.
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.
Nearby Attractions
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.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Swimming SiteSwimming
- Camping
- Biking
Amenities and facility features
- Flush toilets
- Showers
- Potable water
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
- Dump station
- Accessible Flush Toilets
- Accessible Sites
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Management
134 sites- Reservation type
- Non Site-Specific, Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 8
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 75 ft
- Check-in
- 1:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Standard Electric
115 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 8
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 83 ft
- Check-in
- 1:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- 8 flagged accessible
Standard Non-Electric
51 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 8
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 67 ft
- Check-in
- 1:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Group Standard Electric
2 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 16
- Maximum vehicles
- 4
- Maximum vehicle length
- 178 ft
- Check-in
- 1:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Reservation cutoff
- 4 days before arrival
- Maximum published occupancy
- 16 people per site
- Maximum published vehicles
- 4 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 1:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Food storage
- Merrill Campground's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Lassen National Forest.
- Fire and stove use
- Merrill Campground's official facility record states: Each site is equipped with a table and a campfire ring with grill.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Oct 31, 2026
- Next release
- Nov 15, 2026, 7:00 AM PST
- Next book-through date
- May 15, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Oct 18, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2026 – Sep 7, 2026 | Group Standard Electric | $80 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2026 – Sep 7, 2026 | Management | $45 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2026 – Sep 7, 2026 | Standard Electric | $60 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2026 – Sep 7, 2026 | Standard Electric | $50 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2026 – Sep 7, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $35 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 8, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026 | Group Standard Electric | $80 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 8, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026 | Management | $50 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 8, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026 | Standard Electric | $50 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 8, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026 | Standard Electric | $60 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 8, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $35 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2027 – Sep 6, 2027 | Group Standard Electric | $80 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2027 – Sep 6, 2027 | Management | $45 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2027 – Sep 6, 2027 | Standard Electric | $60 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2027 – Sep 6, 2027 | Standard Electric | $50 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2027 – Sep 6, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $35 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2027 – Oct 31, 2027 | Group Standard Electric | $80 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2027 – Oct 31, 2027 | Management | $50 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2027 – Oct 31, 2027 | Standard Electric | $50 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2027 – Oct 31, 2027 | Standard Electric | $60 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 7, 2027 – Oct 31, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $35 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2028 – Sep 4, 2028 | Group Standard Electric | $80 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2028 – Sep 4, 2028 | Management | $45 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2028 – Sep 4, 2028 | Standard Electric | $60 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2028 – Sep 4, 2028 | Standard Electric | $50 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonMay 15, 2028 – Sep 4, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $35 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 5, 2028 – Oct 31, 2028 | Group Standard Electric | $80 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 5, 2028 – Oct 31, 2028 | Management | $50 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 5, 2028 – Oct 31, 2028 | Standard Electric | $50 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 5, 2028 – Oct 31, 2028 | Standard Electric | $60 | — | — |
| First-come, First-served SeasonSep 5, 2028 – Oct 31, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $35 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- Off-road vehicle use is prohibited within the campground
- Please Note: One RV with tow vehicle per single site or one vehicle per tent site. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged a per night fee and collected at the campground.
- Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed.
- Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
- Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
- Click here for more information on the Lassen National Forest
Getting there & contact
Official directions
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.