Hole-in-the-Ground Campground

Hole-in-the-Ground Campground is nested in the bottom of a valley next to Mill Creek in Lassen National Forest. Though it is slightly off the beaten path, this campground makes a great spot to stay while visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park. Anyone wishing for a weekend getaway will also find serenity at this campground as it lies several miles down a dirt road through uninhabited national forest. All campsites within the campground are within 100 feet of Mill Creek, making the creek very accessible. Half of the sites are only a few steps from the creek. 

There are a few unofficial hiking trails that leave from the campsite. One begins at the entrance to the campground, and another begins at the very end. The latter leads to a small swimming hole known locally as the Jasper Mines. The former travels along the creek and through rocky washed-out areas of the creek. There is plenty of opportunity for exploration from anywhere in the campground or along the trails.

Mill Creek is one of the last remaining waterways in California to support spring run Chinook and winter steelhead. Of the 100 major watersheds in the Sierra Nevada, Mill Creek was found to have the highest level of biotic integrity in a 1996 ecosystem study. The natural preservation of Mill Creek is likely attributed to the lack of damns and roadways built nearby. The Ishi Native Americans were common near Mill Creek before Europeans attacked them and drove the Ishi away. Remnants of the Ishi can sometimes be found in the area.