itOpened Guides · Lassen Volcanic National Park
How to actually get a site at Butte Lake — the verified facts, the release reality, and the cancellation route in.
Watch it with itOpened
Proof, from our own scanners: 84 confirmed openings across 22 campgrounds since Oct 29, 2026 — each one re-verified before logging. See the live cancellation index.
Watch Butte LakeFree to start. We never book, hold, or resell — you book it yourself, in your own account, at the normal price. Fees pay for monitoring; openings are first-come and cannot be guaranteed.
Overview Butte Lake Campground (elevation 6,100 feet) is located in the northeastern section of Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California. It is fairly remote and within walking distance of Butte Lake, which is popular for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming. Several hiking and backpacking trails are located nearby. The facility is 45 minutes from the main park road. Recreation Outdoor enthusiasts stay at Butte Lake Campground for its many recreation opportunities. The lake is popular for trout fishing, as well as non-motorized boating.
| Total sites | 81 |
|---|---|
| Site types | Standard, Tent only |
| Site mix (directory count) | Standard 77 · Tent only 2 |
| Area | Lassen Volcanic National Park |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| Nearest community | MINERAL, CA |
| Activities | Boating, Camping, Day Use Area, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming Site, Visitor Center |
| Directory phone | 530 595-6121 |
| Official listing | Recreation.gov campground page |
| Book through | Recreation.gov |
Butte Lake is reserved through Recreation.gov, on the release pattern stated in its official listing. In demand, reservable sites are claimed within minutes of each release — which is why the campground reads as sold out for most of the year, and why the realistic route in is rarely the release itself.
Sites booked months ahead get cancelled as trips fall through, and each cancellation returns its nights to the official calendar instantly — first-come, no waitlist, no announcement. itOpened scans the Recreation.gov calendar for Butte Lake around the clock; when a site matching your dates and vehicle opens, you get a text with a direct link, and you book it yourself, in your own account, at the normal price. We never book, hold, or resell. The mechanics are the same ones documented in how campsite cancellations actually work.
Watch more than one calendar. These nearby or same-area campgrounds take the same trip — and their cancellations are independent chances:
| Manzanita Lake | 180 sites · same area |
|---|---|
| Summit Lake South | 48 sites · same area |
| Summit Lake North | 46 sites · same area |
| Southwest Campground | 36 sites · same area |
| Manzanita Lake Camping Cabins (CA) | 22 sites · same area |
Full directory facts and sibling campgrounds: Butte Lake campground page · Lassen Volcanic National Park park page.
Watch it with itOpened
Proof, from our own scanners: 84 confirmed openings across 22 campgrounds since Oct 29, 2026 — each one re-verified before logging. See the live cancellation index.
Watch Butte LakeFree to start. We never book, hold, or resell — you book it yourself, in your own account, at the normal price. Fees pay for monitoring; openings are first-come and cannot be guaranteed.
Every figure in this article traces to one of the sources above. If a number isn't sourced, we don't print it.
Last updated 2026-10-30.