nearest town: Orland CA
part of: Army Corps of Engineers - Black Butte Lake
A Army Corps of Engineers Campground in the Central Valley region.
Number of visits: 5
GPS: 39.8115,-122.3667
Bathroom: yes • Water: yes
Due west of Chico, about 12 miles on the west side of I-5 is Black Butte Lake. There are two ACE campgrounds. This one is the main one, with a nature preserve and large recreation area. Open all year, on a point of land jutting into the lake, quite scenic. This campground is closer to the lake.
The other end of the loop is pretty full tonight. My little corner is happily still deserted.
There was some kind of cross-country event down at the boat parking. Nice to hear all the excited people.
Rained off and on. The clouds were quite dramatic!
Reservation system is weird. It said all my favorite spots were taken, but I am the only person in the campground.
Anyway, site 2 isn't as cool as sites 1 or 3, but it gives me better shade this time of day. And later if no one comes I can still hang out at the cool sites anyway! :)
I hated the reservation required thing, but now I'm kinda into it! I pulled off the road 30 miles away and picked my way through all the menus, type in my Senior number, validated my credit card, and nailed down good ole site #1, four weeks and a day from the last time I stayed here!
The hillsides covered with flowers are gone, but it's a little warmer and I took a great hike!
Back again in the spring three years later!
They now require a reservation. I was talking to the dude in his little go cart, and he was not allowed to take my money. I had to call it in. They do not charge a fee though.
Now that I've switched to Spectrum (which uses Verison) I do get better reception or here in the sticks sometimes. This place is much better than with ATT, Solano Lake was not.
Site 1 is even cooler than site 3, because one whole side is nature.
North of 20 and west of I-5 in the Valley is not on the way to anywhere so I never go there. But thought I would give this place a try, and it's quite nice!
Very, very pretty here in a wet spring, lotsa wildflowers on the way in. The check-in gate just opened for business today. I'll bet this place is busy in the summer.