Hole-in-the-Ground Campground

Nice peaceful spot right next to the creek. A few locals coming in and out but not bad at all.

In 1943. As a little girl along with my sister sandra, aunt Joyce also young my Grandmother took us along the road near the Mill creek caring all we could for an campground night as we did not have a car to carry all needed supplies. We stayed until Joyce yelled there is a bear in the near river. All I remember was the next thing my dearest gram packed us up for the return hike back to the road side cabin which my grandfather John Jones had built along with friends as a retreat from small town of Gridley, Ca where my family owned card room and candy store. After leaving Oakland Ca where my grandparents had met following the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. The family of 7 had Mill creek as a summer retreat. My dearest grandmother had to chop wood to cook our food in the old iron stove. She had a scrub board in the bathtub to clean all our dirty clothes, towels and bedding. Each night after.dinner.that she cooked on that old black precious stove we would hike one mile,past the Mill Creek store to get water which flowed along the road from a hill side pipe into a tiny stream that we all walked beside. After 79 years I still can remember the wonderful sweet cold water which made out trek each night so very magical. Oh thank you dearest Grandmother Hattie Jones gave all these fantastic memories you gave to the Jones family, who were the first in Mill Creek

Small campground along Mill Creek. Not a lot of campsites but can be full sometimes. Wood gathering is fine and there is often cut wood available in the campground. The fee is $12 per night but we have the Golden Age Passport (we are old) so we only pay half price. Vault toilets. They have fixed the pump and water so you can now pump water but we still bring our own as it was out of service for years. Love to go to sleep to the sound of the creek rushing past. At one time we fished with worms or it was crazy good fishing during the Salmon Fly hatch and we ate the trout but fishing regs have changed so this is a catch and release area. Single barbless hook and artificial lure only. Oh, well. Gotta save the fish I guess. We still like camping here. If I had my way there would be a law that RV parks couldn't use the term "campground". Hole in the ground is an actual campground. Dirt, trees, creek, etc. This is what we like. If you want power hookups and RV spaces don't even try to go here as you will not only not like the campground you will most likely not get in or out. :)

The location is far off the beaten path. There are public restrooms although they are somewhat dirty due to their distant location. They have in ground firepits for campers and there is no entrance fee to camp. A small river runs along the side of the camp. It is truly a beautiful location.

Sweet little campground. Best for camping for a couple of days vs a longer stay. I’d also check out campgrounds in Lassen National Park or in Mill Creek. This is a stunning site and I’ve had picnics there.