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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Activities powered by Viator. Prices and availability come from each provider and are confirmed when you book with them.

  1. Home
  2. California
  3. Lightning Tree

Camping at Lightning Tree near Blairsden

Public campground · Blairsden · 39 campsites

A forested campground near trout fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. Most campsites have no hookups, and RV fit varies by site.

About this campground

The campground is located within the larger Lake Davis Recreation Area, whose 32 miles of shoreline provide multiple boat launches and shore-access fishing spots. Anglers will commonly find rainbow and brown trout, bass and catfish; a public boat ramp is nearby for small boats and trailers.

4.0 on Recreation.gov · 46 reviewsBook on Recreation.gov
View all 2 photos

At a glance

  • RV sites up to 45 ft

    Length limits vary by campsite.

  • No hookups
  • Pets welcome
  • Vault toilets
OverviewCampsitesAmenities & locationReviewsPlan your stay

0 available sites

0 open of 39 sites
No sites offered for these dates.

We checked every night of your stay on Recreation.gov: no site is open for all 2 nights. Some sites are open on some nights.

Flexible dates

View the next available two-night stay.

Looking for the next open dates…
Fixed dates

Compare nearby campgrounds open for these dates. Your camping setup, rig size, hookups and dates stay applied.

Nearby campgrounds open for these dates
Check Recreation.gov directly ↗
View full availability calendar · night-by-night from Recreation.gov

Check dates on Recreation.gov.

SiteFr
13
Sa
14
Price
007
standard nonelectric
––$38
036
standard nonelectric
––$38
020
standard nonelectric
––$38
028
standard nonelectric
––$38
033
standard nonelectric
––$38
018
standard nonelectric
––$38
038
standard nonelectric
––$38
025
standard nonelectric
––$38
035
standard nonelectric
––$38
026
standard nonelectric
––$38
003
standard nonelectric

✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released

No site is open for every night of your stay

You book directly on Recreation.gov. Rates and availability can change until reserved. Campground page on Recreation.gov ↗

No sites offered for these dates
Book on Recreation.gov

Amenities & location

  • Campfire Rings
  • Drinking Water Peak Season
  • Firewood
  • Paved Parking
  • Paved Roads
  • Picnic Tables
  • Vault Toilets
Check-in
2:00 PM
Checkout
12:00 PM
Pets
Allowed (per listing)

Hookups (individual campsites): 39 no-hookup individual sites.

Location

PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST - BECKWOURTH RANGER DISTRICT
Open in Google Maps ↗

Lightning Tree: questions answered

What is the maximum RV length at Lightning Tree?
Longest RV site listed: 45 ft (5 of 16 RV sites list a length) (per the listing)
Does Lightning Tree have RV hookups?
39 no-hookup individual sites (per the listing)
How do I reserve a site at Lightning Tree?
Reservable on Recreation.gov (per the listing)
Are pets allowed at Lightning Tree?
Allowed (per the listing)
Sources and details

At a glance

Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.

Max rig length
Listing Longest RV site listed: 45 ft (5 of 16 RV sites list a length)
Hookups & power
Listing 39 no-hookup individual sites
Pull-through / back-in
Listing 1 pull-through, 39 back-in
Road & site access
Listing 11 paved, 29 gravel site driveways
Pets
Listing Allowed
Cell signal
Listing Visitor-reported signal on Recreation.gov (higher is better): Verizon 2 (18 reports), AT&T 2 (11 reports), T-Mobile 3 (7 reports)
Water
Listing Drinking water listed
Shade
Listing 2 of 3 sites that report shade are listed as shaded
Booking
Listing Reservable on Recreation.gov
Price
Listing Lowest listed rate $34/night (live price once you pick dates)
Getting there
Listing PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST - BECKWOURTH RANGER DISTRICT (map in Location below)
Generators · Quiet hours · Starlink / satellite · Stay limits
Not listed — check with campground

Reviews

Themes from recent written reviews on Recreation.gov. Quotes are verbatim.

Friendly hosts and staff · 2 reviews

“Wonderful views, and the host (Steven) was incredible!”

Andrew O · Sep 2025

Selected reviews

Verbatim from guest reviews on Recreation.gov ↗ (46 reviews, ★ 4.0). Not written or edited by us.

“Wonderful views, and the host (Steven) was incredible!”

Andrew O 5 · Sep 2025 · Recreation.gov

“Steve the camp host is amazing and so friendly. This is our new favorite place to camp.”

George N 5 · Aug 2025 · Recreation.gov

“Great beautiful location. Not too crowed, so was quiet and a great get away. ”

John C 4 · Aug 2025 · Recreation.gov
Nearby

Campgrounds to compare

Prefer a roof?

Prefer a roof over your head

All glamping →
  • Golden Pine Campground, Paxton, Ca26.9 mi · Paxton
  • Coppercreek Camp28.3 mi · Greenville

Explore nearby

  • Campgrounds near Blairsden
  • RV rentals near Blairsden
  • Glamping & cabins near Blairsden
  • RV rentals in California
  • Glamping in California

Guides for this trip

  • How much does it cost to rent an RV?
  • Camping with dogs
–
–
$38
031
standard nonelectric
––$38
023
standard nonelectric
––$38
010
standard nonelectric
––$38
024
standard nonelectric
––$38
016
standard nonelectric
––$38
004
standard nonelectric
––$38
002
standard nonelectric
––$38
019
standard nonelectric
––$38
011
standard nonelectric
––$38
034
standard nonelectric
––$38
021
standard nonelectric
––$38
012
standard nonelectric
––$38
008
standard nonelectric
––$38
037
standard nonelectric
––$38
029
standard nonelectric
––$38
040
standard nonelectric
––$38
032
standard nonelectric
––$38
009
standard nonelectric
––$38
014
standard nonelectric
––$38
006
standard nonelectric
––$38
039
standard nonelectric
––$38
015
standard nonelectric
––$38
013
standard nonelectric
––$38
017
standard nonelectric
––$71
005
standard nonelectric
––$71
001
standard nonelectric
––$71
027
standard nonelectric
––$71
030
standard nonelectric
––$71
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights1 site open for every night

Our Escape

12 mi from Lightning Tree (straight-line)
Sites from $45/night
$90 total for Nov 13–15 · before taxes & fees
Rates & availability from Hipcamp · you book on their site
View Campsites
No sites offered for these dates

Grasshopper Flat

3 mi from Lightning Tree (straight-line) 4.0 · 112 Recreation.gov reviews
Tent sites · RV sites
Recreation.gov isn't offering sites Nov 13–15
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · you book on their site
View Campsites
No sites offered for these dates

Grizzly

3.3 mi from Lightning Tree (straight-line) 4.0 · 69 Recreation.gov reviews
Tent sites · RV sites
Recreation.gov isn't offering sites Nov 13–15
Rates & availability from Recreation.gov · you book on their site
View Campsites
Compare site types

39 individual reservable campsites from Recreation.gov, checked Nov 7. Rates are the listed nightly rates.

Standard sites (tent or RV)

Tent, van or small RV, no power

39 sites · $38, $71/night

Loops: AREA LIGHTNING TREE (39)

0 open Nov 13–Nov 15

Trip idea

Ideas for your stay

An idea to start from, built from this campground's listing and real tours nearby. Times, openings and prices change, so check each before you go.

  1. Day 1 · Arrive and settle in

    • Check in and set up camp.
    • fish for trout (per the campground listing)
  2. Day 2 · Get out and explore

    • Reno Ghost Tour: Ruin, Revenge, & Reckoning Reno area · 1 hr · from $32/person
    • Experience Raptors and Falconry in Reno Reno area · 1 hr · from $115/person
  3. Optional full-day extension

    Longer tours — plan travel time before and after.

    • Lake Tahoe Half-Day Morning Guided Tour from Reno | Small Group Reno area · 5 hr · from $240/person
Ways to stay

Bring a tent or have an RV waiting

  • Tent camping here: 39 sites take tents. See open sites ↑

Need an RV for your stay?

Rentals that may deliver here and whose listed length fits sites up to 45 ft. Delivery may be available — confirm fees and dates with the owner before you book.

Go Yonder! 2022 Thor Magnitude GA31
Go Yonder! 2022 Thor Magnitude GA31

Class C motorhome · 31 ft · sleeps 10 · 71 mi from campground

$250/night listed · Outdoorsy · Delivery may be available

View rental
2021 Forest River Cherokee Grey Wolf 26DBH
2021 Forest River Cherokee Grey Wolf 26DBH

Travel trailer · 31 ft · sleeps 6 · 98 mi from campground

$130/night listed · Outdoorsy · Delivery may be available

View rental
BunkHouse "The Daffy Mansion"
BunkHouse "The Daffy Mansion"

Travel trailer · 36 ft · sleeps 7 · 124 mi from campground

$155/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available

View rental
Things to do

Activities near Lightning Tree

Bookable tours nearby

Paid experiences on Viator. Distances are from this campground when the tour lists its own start point.

Reno Ghost Tour: Ruin, Revenge, & Reckoning
Reno Ghost Tour: Ruin, Revenge, & Reckoning

Reno area · 1 hr · from $32/person

Experience Raptors and Falconry in Reno
Experience Raptors and Falconry in Reno

Reno area · 1 hr · from $115/person

Lake Tahoe Half-Day Morning Guided Tour from Reno | Small Group
Lake Tahoe Half-Day Morning Guided Tour from Reno | Small Group

Reno area · 5 hr · from $240/person

See 6 more bookable tours
Reno's Magique at The Nugget Ticket Show
Reno's Magique at The Nugget Ticket Show

Reno area · 1.5 hr · from $55/person

Best time to go

Seasons, rates and how booked it gets

  • Peak season May 23–Aug 31: RV & Tent $38–$71 per night
  • Off-peak Sep 1–Sep 28: RV & Tent $38–$71 per night
Plan your stay

How far ahead to book Lightning Tree

For May weekends, book about 117 days ahead. Three in four May Friday and Saturday arrivals were booked later than that, and half were booked 62 days or less before arrival. Past timing is guidance, not a guarantee of what is open now.

See booking patterns
Arrival monthFri/Sat arrivals: half booked at leastA quarter at leastOther days: half booked at leastA quarter at least
May62 days ahead117 days ahead71 days ahead115 days ahead
June50 days ahead111 days ahead35 days ahead113 days ahead
July56 days ahead110 days ahead45 days ahead109 days ahead
August26 days ahead56 days ahead34 days ahead60 days ahead
September25 days ahead49 days ahead27 days ahead44 days ahead

Months with fewer than 30 reservations of that kind are left blank. Sites where nearly every booking was made the day of arrival (pay on arrival) are left out. Closed seasons, windows not yet released for booking, and currently unavailable nights are separate from this history.

Based on Recreation.gov reservations, FY2015–2025 (2,412 reservations in the years scored). Counts reservations made, not nights actually camped: cancellations aren't in the data, and nights a site was closed count as not booked. FY2020–21 (COVID) are left out of the scores.

1 Hour Distillery Tour and Tasting Flight
1 Hour Distillery Tour and Tasting Flight

Reno area · 1 hr · from $25/person

Virginia City Wild West Half-Day Tour From Reno | Small Group
Virginia City Wild West Half-Day Tour From Reno | Small Group

Reno area · 4.5 hr · from $200/person

Virginia City and Lake Tahoe Full Day Small Group Tour from Reno
Virginia City and Lake Tahoe Full Day Small Group Tour from Reno

Reno area · 6.5 hr · from $400/person

From Reno Arch to Truckee River: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
From Reno Arch to Truckee River: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

Reno area · 45 min–1 hr · from $8/person

Downtown Historical Walking Tour Discover Reno's Rich History
Downtown Historical Walking Tour Discover Reno's Rich History

Reno area · 2 hr · from $49/person