Dusty Campground: Your Rustic Getaway in Burney, CA

Dusty Campground Introduce

Welcome, fellow Californians, to your guide to Dusty Campground, a true hidden gem nestled in the heart of Northern California. If you're looking to unplug, embrace the outdoors, and create lasting memories, this rustic campground near Burney, CA, offers a unique and authentic experience away from the hustle and bustle. Forget the crowded, amenity-packed resorts; Dusty Campground provides a back-to-basics approach to camping, allowing you to truly connect with nature and enjoy the simple pleasures of the wild. It’s an ideal spot for those who appreciate spacious sites, direct lake access, and a friendly, low-key atmosphere.

Dusty Campground is located in Burney, California, within the 96013 USA zip code. Its address is simply Burney, CA 96013, USA, which speaks to its secluded yet accessible nature. Getting there is straightforward, even for sedans, making it a viable option for a wide range of vehicles. While it offers a sense of remote wilderness, it’s not so far off the beaten path that it becomes an ordeal to reach. This makes it an excellent choice for a weekend escape or a longer vacation for locals across California, particularly those in Northern California looking for a convenient yet immersive outdoor adventure. Its proximity to natural attractions in the region further enhances its appeal as a central point for exploration. The drive itself sets the tone for your natural retreat, leading you away from urban sprawl and into the serene landscapes that define this beautiful part of the state.

When it comes to services, Dusty Campground focuses on providing the essentials for a genuine camping experience, emphasizing nature over extensive amenities. Here’s what you can expect:

Restroom Facilities: The campground features "hole in the ground" style bathrooms. While they are basic, they are diligently cleaned and stocked twice daily by the dedicated camp hosts, ensuring a reasonably maintained facility despite their rustic nature. It's important to be prepared for the distinct aroma that can accompany these types of facilities, especially in warmer weather.
Trash Collection: Unlike many campgrounds with scattered dumpsters, at Dusty Campground, you leave your trash by the bathroom areas. The camp hosts regularly collect it during their checks, preventing overflowing receptacles and maintaining the cleanliness of the sites. This system, while different, works effectively to keep the campground tidy.
Camp Host Support: Friendly and accommodating camp hosts are a significant asset here. They are frequently present, providing assistance, maintaining facilities, and ensuring a pleasant environment for campers. Their presence is noticeable enough to be helpful but not intrusive, striking a perfect balance for a relaxed atmosphere.
Spacious Campsites: The campsites themselves are generously sized, offering ample room for pitching tents, parking vehicles, and setting up your outdoor living space. This contributes significantly to the sense of privacy and comfort during your stay.
Fire Rings: Each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, essential for cooking and enjoying a campfire under the stars. Campers should remember to bring all other necessary equipment like tables and chairs, as these are not provided.
No Running Water: It's crucial to note that Dusty Campground does not have running water available at the campsites or in the restrooms. Campers must bring their own water for drinking, cooking, and washing.
No Cell Service: Prepare for a digital detox! There is absolutely no cell service at Dusty Campground, allowing for a truly unplugged experience. This is ideal for those looking to escape notifications and fully immerse themselves in nature.
Payment System: Payment is handled on an honor system; you'll need exact change to leave in an envelope at the entrance to the campground. This highlights the trust-based and laid-back nature of the operations.
No Firewood Sales: Campers must bring their own firewood as it is not sold on-site and there isn't wood available for collection in the area.

Dusty Campground offers several distinct features and highlights that set it apart and make it a memorable destination for California campers:

Direct Lake Access: A major draw of Dusty Campground is its direct access to the lake. There are small beach areas near every two campsites, providing convenient entry to the water. This makes it an ideal location for a variety of water activities.
Ideal for Water Activities: The lake provides a perfect setting for kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, and fishing. The water remains cool enough to be refreshing even on hot days, offering a welcome respite from the California sun. The calm, glassy water, often devoid of significant breezes, makes it particularly suitable for non-motorized watercraft.
Dog-Friendly Environment: For many Californians, a camping trip isn't complete without their furry companions. Dusty Campground is notably dog-friendly, with camp hosts who are understanding and allow dogs off-leash to play in the water, adding to the enjoyment for pet owners.
Spacious and Private Campsites: With only around 8 campsites in total, and each being very large, campers enjoy a good degree of privacy. You'll often only see your neighbors when heading to the restrooms, ensuring a quiet and personal experience.
Convenient for Larger Vehicles: The campground features a very large turnaround spot at the end, making it exceptionally convenient for big trailers and RVs to maneuver and exit, despite the rustic nature of the access road.
Rustic and Natural Atmosphere: This is a place where you truly embrace the raw beauty of nature. While it means dealing with dust and basic facilities, it also means less light pollution, more stars, and an authentic wilderness feel.
Challenges to Be Aware Of: It's important to be prepared for some natural elements. Mosquitoes can be overwhelming, even with repellents, and rattlesnakes have been sighted, especially in grassy areas near the water. While the camp hosts do their best to manage, these are inherent risks of a natural environment. The "dusty" name is also very accurate, with fine dirt getting everywhere, especially with vehicle traffic.

For those planning their visit or needing to get in touch, here is the contact information for Dusty Campground:

Address: Burney, CA 96013, USA

Phone: (530) 335-2777

Mobile Phone: +1 530-335-2777

Dusty Campground is an exceptionally suitable destination for Californians seeking a genuine, rustic outdoor experience. For locals, especially those residing in Northern California or willing to travel for an authentic escape, this campground offers a unique opportunity to disconnect from urban life and reconnect with nature. Its proximity allows for relatively easy access, making it feasible for weekend trips or longer vacations without extensive travel time. While it presents certain challenges like dust, mosquitoes, and basic amenities, these are often part of the allure for seasoned campers looking for something beyond typical developed campgrounds. The spacious sites provide a sense of solitude rarely found in more crowded parks, and the direct lake access is a huge draw for water enthusiasts. The dog-friendly policy is a significant advantage for pet owners, allowing the whole family to enjoy the outdoors. Ultimately, if you're a Californian who values quiet, privacy, a deep connection with nature, and a truly unplugged experience, Dusty Campground offers an authentic and memorable retreat, perfect for creating cherished outdoor memories close to home. It's a place where the wild calls, and you can answer, experiencing California's natural beauty in its purest form.

Dusty Campground Photos

Dusty Campground Location

Dusty Campground

California Shasta County Burney

Burney, CA 96013, USA

Dusty Campground Reviews

Be prepared for the overwhelming swarms of mosquitoes!!! No matter how much DEET you apply or precautionary measures you take, they are savage and will eat you alive! Everyone in our 8 party group left with at least twenty or more bites and are absolutely miserable! 😫 It’s nothing the camp hosts can control but worth knowing before you go! Another safety issue you should know about are the rattlesnakes! We were not expecting to see them there however did! Two rattle snakes were caught and killed in the high grassy area right near the water, where the small kids and dogs were playing. One was very large and mature, the other just a baby who hadn’t developed its rattler yet. That being said — the camp hosts were great! Very friendly and easy going! Came by often enough but not hovering. They cleaned and stocked the bathrooms twice a day every day. They also took out the trashes so we never had to deal with over flowing trash receptacles. Unfortunately this campground is in-fact very dusty! That very fine dirty dust that gets EVERYWHERE! Think of the Playa dust haha There isn’t any running water, the bathrooms are the hole in the ground kind and no matter how clean, still stink pretty bad, especially in the heat of the day! The campsites are big, spacious, lots of parking and room to pitch your tents! However they only come with fire rings so bring everything else (tables/chairs) you might need! This campsite doesn’t have dumpsters located through out, so you’ll have to leave your trash by the bathroom and the kind camp hosts come by and grab it during their checks. I believe there are only 8 campsites and they fill up quick, leaving a decent amount of traffic all hours of the day/night kicking up dust as they drive by frustrated on their ways out. There is a very large turn around spot at the end making it convenient for big trailers and RV’s to still be able to turn around and leave. Due to the size of the campsites and minimal number over all, you receive decent privacy, often only seeing your neighbors on the way to the bathroom. The lake appears to be high. This was our first time so we don’t have much to go off of. There are small areas of beach near every two campsites that you’ll end up sharing. It’s no biggie though, everyone we encountered was very pleasant to be around. The water was cool. Not too cold yet still cool enough to keep us comfortable during the heat of the day (I think it got to 100). It’s the ideal lake for kayaking/paddle boarding/swimming/ fishing/ etc. The entire time we were there we only barely felt a breeze (we were hoping for one!) leaving the lake like glass! There were a few boats with wake-boarders/ tubers and jet skis but mostly just passing through on their way somewhere else. In the morning there will be decent amount of moss/debris on the water but as the day goes on it goes away and you can wade in to swim. It’s a very dog friendly place, by that I mean the camp host didn’t mind us letting our dogs off leash to play in the water with us. There is absolutely no cell service and in order to pay you’ll need exact change as you’ll need to leave it in an envelope at the beginning of the road/campground. The host isn’t selling wood and there isn’t any around to collect so bring your own! Overall the area is pretty. The campgrounds are easily accessible by sedan cars. The sites are large and the camp hosts were very pleasant! Unfortunately, I don’t think we will be back. We are too traumatized by all of our bites! 😅
Jul 05, 2023 · Amanda Pulley
Was just there again this past weekend. 5/15-5/18 2025. Still a great spot with good people running it. If you don't like bugs, poison plant and dangerous animals. Go to a KOA IN TOWN.
May 19, 2025 · Scott Ethrigde
Such a nice quiet well maintained campground. Easy access to Lake Britton, clean pit toilets. Also no Water.The lake is beautiful. A bit of algae but a lot of bass trout crappie and bluegill to be caught.Saw many boaters. skiers, jet skiers, kayaks, SUP paddlers and canoes. Plenty of room for everyone.Also within 2 miles of Brittany falls.Would recommend this to anyone.
Jul 18, 2020 · Steve Chadwell
It was a good time close to the waters. I do recommend you bring astro turf because there's alot of dust and bring a canopy other than that great experience
Jun 22, 2025 · Adam robbins
Very nice PG&E site right on the east part of Lake Britton, across Hwy 89 from Burney Falls SP. Camp hosts live elsewhere but visited several times a day even in mid-April. Most sites are just across the access road from the lake, with narrow rocky beaches.The access road is gravel and ends at the campground, even though Google Maps shows it continuing all the way to Hwy 299. The two old rail bridges are unsafe for foot traffic but very scenic, one over the lake and one over Hwy 89.Nice hiking along the north side of the lake on the old road, which appears to also have been a Diatomite mining railroad grade. Bring headlamps and good filter masks like N-95s for exploring the many mine shafts along the old road. The finely powdered Diatomite is bad for your lungs.
Apr 17, 2021 · David Luckhardt