Lakes Basin Campground, Portola, CA

Lakes Basin Campground is located in the Beckwourth Ranger District, Plumas National Forest (1 hr 21 min west of Reno, NV) with an elevation of 6,748 feet. There are a total of 11 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid June to the beginning of September. 7 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 27 and 42 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Fees range from $36.00 to $80.00. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include biking, boating, ohv trails nearby, fishing, horseback riding, hiking trails, floating sports.

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Campsite Reviews (43)

4.0 out of 5

5 star		53%
4 star		12%
3 star		12%
2 star		2%
1 star		12%

@NancyP1507084 · Camped on Sep 4, 2024 at Campsite #10

The camp ground hosts are excellent, amazing and fantastic. My battery was dead, John had charged-up booster cables and helped me get going two mornings by coming over and giving me a jump. They are very conscientious and rake the sites like a Zen garden. Great place.

@AngelaDE04D141 · Camped on Sep 3, 2024 at Campsite #18

Clean and well organized camp ground close to hiking trails - Nice swimming hole.

@RobinL3D37B171 · Camped on Aug 29, 2024 at Campsite #22

The camp hosts were great! The campsite was raked and they had gathered wood from downed trees and left kindling and a few rounds for us

@KarenW6722333 · Camped on Aug 27, 2024 at Campsite #21

The campground was in great shape and the campground hosts were very friendly and helpful.

@JoanZE943E8A47 · Camped on Jul 10, 2024 at Campsite #20

I am a seasoned camper of 60 years. I wanted to appreciate and acknowledge the camp hosts. The campground was immaculate (even raked!) as were the bathrooms. The campground host was very helpful and allowed me to change sites due to a neighbor who was playing music (really...in a campground?). So, exceptional hosts!

@MaryleeGCF5F93 · Camped on Jun 28, 2024 at Campsite #13

The camp hosts were wonderful! Ive been camping for 50 years and this couple are in the top three best ever!!

@ErinO6192243 · Camped on Oct 1, 2023 at Campsite #13

Beautiful campground, well kept, kind people and rangers helpful

@MarilynF393F03 · Camped on Aug 2, 2023 at Campsite #21

When I arrived someone was in our site; they were planning on staying another night. I told them that I didn't want to just take another site as we had a lot of stuff to set up. They eventually left. We waited for an 1 and 1/2 hrs for them to leave. NO HOST. Some TP stacked in corner but gone every day. I had brought my own. Every day was without TP; Wed- Sun. Still wasn't there when we left at noon. I wanted to add another night and hoped that I didn't have to move my tent again as there weren't any updates on sites.

@BradD7854141 · Camped on Jul 31, 2023 at Campsite #20

21 years of going to LB and this was by far the worst. Site reservations were not updated, so campers in sites that were suppose to be empty but were actually reserved. Total confusion. NO CAMP HOST. NO FIREWOOD. FIRE PIT IN OUR CAMPSITE (21) WAS DISASSEMBLED / UNUSABLE. NO TOILET PAPER X 2 DAYS. We had reservation for five days. We left after two. We haven't decided if we are going back. What a shame to end this long tradition on such a sour note.

@WendyT4765884 · Camped on Jul 22, 2023 at Campsite #22

We loved our site, so close to the hikes to various lakes and flowers!

@StianRF002B888 · Camped on Jul 13, 2023 at Campsite #18

No camp host to resolve issues on site. No firewood for sale. No running water. Garbage dumpster was overflowing. People camping without paying / taking other people's reserved sites. Pretty terrible management this year.

@LYNNG7024398 · Camped on Jul 9, 2023 at Campsite #2

Camp host was not on site. There was no water. Garbage was a complete bear bait. The dumpster was mounded and spilling over on to the ground.

@MichaelD829846 · Camped on Jul 8, 2023 at Campsite #10

Lakes Basin is a beautiful campground with many amazing recreational opportunities. Wonderful area and we enjoyed our hikes and swims!

@SuzannahR70763 · Camped on Jul 7, 2023 at Campsite #6A6B

This is a beautiful campsite in a spectacular area with great hiking. Lots of wildflowers this trip in early July. The reason I did not give it a better rating is that there is no potable water and we were not advised of that. Evidently there has been no water at the site since last fall. This should have been made clear to anyone booking a site. Had to go into Graeagle to buy water and get our container filled up. Also to buy firewood as there was no camp host or firewood to buy at campsite. Some of the campsites were in bad shape with broken tables. I think from a severe winter and lack of good management at the campsite this year. Hopefully this will get sorted out as it has always been very well run before.

@rhodab2C114010 · Camped on Jul 5, 2023 at Campsite #13

Well to start off, there was no water at all. They have not turn the water on yet and for July 5. It should’ve been on and running by then I would think and the pit toilets hadn’t been cleaned out since the year before they were about a foot below the seat, which was pretty darn gross. So I think I should have my money back to tell you the truth except for my family being there it was a pretty bad experience especially for them that were camping in tents with no water. Thank you.

@DennisP9096753 · Camped on Sep 27, 2022 at Campsite #18

I love this place and visit here as often as possible. We have been coming here for 20 years. In the last 2 years the long time camp host retired. It is usually free this time of year, because they shut off the water, but I wanted to secure my spot, just in case. I reserved spot #18 for 4 nights, and when I got there a couple had definitely moved in. I was flexible and chose another spot. The new camp host was very apologetic and neither of us wanted to make someone move. But my site was in the shade, (but still beautiful!) and it got down to the mud 40’s. Just wanted you to know that there was definitely a communication problem. I’m guessing because the host was new that it was on their end. I plan on using rec.gov again and definitely staying again at Lakes Basin, but hoping my next reservation is for the site that I chose and paid for. Thank you!!

@TomP3330669 · Camped on Sep 25, 2022 at Campsite #2

Great location with hiking trails to several beautiful lakes. The Long Lake-Big Bear Lake Loop is a must do!

@DebraB3515095 · Camped on Sep 6, 2022 at Campsite #18

Lakes Basin Campground is an excellent location for hiking in that area. However facilities are minimal and spaces have little privacy. Water from spigots was rusty. Didn’t look at the outhouses as we had our own facilities. It was very quiet though.

@RhondaG9472721 · Camped on Aug 11, 2022 at Campsite #18

Lakes Basin has been our annual camping trip destination since 2012, with the exception of a couple of years. We love the area and love the campground. The camp hosts are always nice. This year, the camp host, Steve was super helpful. I was having trouble backing our trailer in (which usually is not an issue but for some reason this year, it wasn't happening!) and Steve came to the rescue and dropped it right into position! There are lots of places to hike, many trails leading from or not far from the campground. Sierra Buttes is a 5-10 minute drive. Check out Bassett's Station while you're there, at the Hwy 49 end of Gold Lake Road. Open end of May to end of October. Great breakfasts, great burgers, and other lunch goodies. We always make a point to have one of our meals at Bassett's while we're camping. Looking forward to next year!

@SuzannahR70763 · Camped on Aug 7, 2022 at Campsite #18

Great campsite with wonderful host. Excellent hiking trails from the campground and refreshing swimming in the stream.

@KamalaM1072340 · Camped on Jul 28, 2022 at Campsite #1

Our family booked the group site as it was the only site available for a last minute reservation. What a fantastic site!! Just loved our views, the mixed shade and sunshine. Lovely hikes to the lakes right from the campground and an easy drive into Bassett's if you need provisions. Dogs welcome and our pooch loved this campground. Nice and quiet and was a lovely complement to our first half of the week down the hill at Wild Plum (along a creek in the woods).

@DavidT5110185 · Camped on Jul 20, 2022 at Campsite #2

Great campground. We stayed in site #2 July 20-26. Site was reasonably level - only 1 "Lego" needed for 27 foot motorhome. Warm during the day, cool at night. Lots of nearby hikes. Our dog loved it too!

@BRIANC8885365 · Camped on Jul 16, 2022 at Campsite #4

Simply amazing

@EdwardB9523394 · Camped on Jul 10, 2022 at Campsite #4

Great area for hiking and fishing. Wild flowers were everywhere during our visit (early-mid July).

@JessicaS719 · Camped on Jul 22, 2021 at Campsite #18

Camp hosts were very welcoming. Website for booking was confusing - I meant to book for three days and inadvertently booked for only two nights, then had to pay an extra reservation fee to reserve the third night.

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