Lava Lake Campground

We have now visited Lava Lake two years in a row for camping, only to be "smoked-out" of our camping experience, cutting our stay by 1/2. This year, we'd planned on being at the campground for 10 days to be able to explore the surrounding area with lots of time to spare. Instead, after spending 4 days for a family reunion (distanced, masked, etc)...the smoke became so intense we could not see the opposite shoreline of the lake. We cut our trip short, staying only 4 or 5 of the planned 10 days.

Lava Lake is a beautiful campground with large sites even for tents. The hiking is beautiful. We liked that we could also hike to Little Lava Lake.

Well I have one small complaint about our trip. The roads are very narrow and parking for the boat ramp is way too tight. While leaving the campsite I damaged my motorhome. The site markers are directly in the Space entrances. They need to be moved over. I had to swing wide to get out of the parking space because of tree locations and could not see the steel site marker post that damaged my RV. Maybe use something other than Steel or move them over to adjust for all the tree congestion. Thank you

Well I have one small complaint about our trip. The roads are very narrow and parking for the boat ramp is way too tight. While leaving the campsite I damaged my motorhome. The site markers are directly in the Space entrances. They need to be moved over. I had to swing wide to get out of the parking space because of tree locations and could not see the steel site marker post that damaged my RV. Maybe use something other than Steel or move them over to adjust for all the tree congestion. Thank you

Toilet on circle with sites 30 - 31etc., was full to the base rim of the toilet we were told. The building was taped off from usage. After a camper called the forest service office and complained, they were told they would get someone there asap to pump it out. About a week from the complaint to a septic service company coming to pump the vault out. There was know notice posted other than caution tape on the outer structure. Upon arrival and setup to the day we left, the camp host didn't connect with us at all. The Lady host cleaned the toilets (they were clean), but the gentlemen host just rode around the camp ground in the golf cart checking and updating the sites reservation tags. We've gone to Lava Lake camping for 15+ years and it's picnic table and sites are literally falling apart. If you use a table you just might get yourself a sliver or two, they are in bad need of replacement. Trees have been cut down and left to rot were the fell. I'm sorry to say the Forest Service is not doing a very good job of overseeing at least this camp grounds conditions and or doing the proper up keep that the once beautiful Lava Lake Camp Ground once was. I would be wonderful if the Camp was back into the Forest Service control and not run by private companies that have very little concern for our camp grounds but love the Mighty Bucks they are paid to so called run them.

Toilet on circle with sites 30 - 31etc., was full to the base rim of the toilet we were told. The building was taped off from usage. After a camper called the forest service office and complained, they were told they would get someone there asap to pump it out. About a week from the complaint to a septic service company coming to pump the vault out. There was know notice posted other than caution tape on the outer structure. Upon arrival and setup to the day we left, the camp host didn't connect with us at all. The Lady host cleaned the toilets (they were clean), but the gentlemen host just rode around the camp ground in the golf cart checking and updating the sites reservation tags. We've gone to Lava Lake camping for 15+ years and it's picnic table and sites are literally falling apart. If you use a table you just might get yourself a sliver or two, they are in bad need of replacement. Trees have been cut down and left to rot were the fell. I'm sorry to say the Forest Service is not doing a very good job of overseeing at least this camp grounds conditions and or doing the proper up keep that the once beautiful Lava Lake Camp Ground once was. I would be wonderful if the Camp was back into the Forest Service control and not run by private companies that have very little concern for our camp grounds but love the Mighty Bucks they are paid to so called run them.

Quiet and nice shaded campsite. Smokey from the forest fires the first night but then air cleared.

Quiet and nice shaded campsite. Smokey from the forest fires the first night but then air cleared.

The bathrooms at Lava Lake were very poor. In fact, the hosts had to close two of the bathrooms which made us walk quite a distance to be able to use the bathroom. All of the bathrooms should have been serviced last year. The host kept the bathrooms cleaned and stocked with toilet paper, but the flies were overwhelming, again because the pits needed to be cleaned out.

The bathrooms at Lava Lake were very poor. In fact, the hosts had to close two of the bathrooms which made us walk quite a distance to be able to use the bathroom. All of the bathrooms should have been serviced last year. The host kept the bathrooms cleaned and stocked with toilet paper, but the flies were overwhelming, again because the pits needed to be cleaned out.