Running Deer Campground

Plumas National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: La Porte, CA, CA

Price: From $23 per night

Price range: $23–$25 per night

Rating: 3.4 out of 5 (17 reviews)

Season: May through October

Running Deer Campground is located on the eastern shore of the Little Grass Valley Reservoir, giving visitors ample opportunity to fish, swim, boat and enjoy nature. It is one of eight campgrounds in the area, providing access to a beautiful mountain lake and various hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails that meander through the scenic hills and valleys.The campground offers dozens of single-family campsites, available for tent and RV camping. More than a handful of the sites overl

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/running-deer-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Running Deer Campground sits on the eastern shore of Little Grass Valley Reservoir with access to fishing, boating, swimming, and nearby hiking and mountain biking trails. Google reviewers consistently praise the lake proximity and clean flush toilets (4.6/5 rating from 15 reviews).

Wildlife alert: Bears present in area—store all food in coolers and bins inside your vehicle. Also verify presence of coyotes, Western Wood-Pewee, Spotted Sandpiper, and American Goshawk.

Insider tips for Running Deer Campground: Book early—this is a popular federal campground with limited availability. Some sites are first-come, first-served while others are reservable; call ahead to confirm availability. Bring your own cooler for food storage; bears actively target unprotected food and ice chests.

Skip Running Deer Campground if: You need RV hookups—only electric hookups available; most sites have no hookups and suitable for self-contained RVs only.. You require shower facilities—none available at this campground.. You visit outside May-October—campground is closed seasonally..

Best time to visit Running Deer Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..

Nearby campgrounds: Horse Campground (Oroville, CA), Little Beaver A Campground (Oroville, CA), Deanes Valley Family Cg (Ca) Plumas Nf (Bucks Lake, CA), Ramshorn (Nevada City, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Running Deer Campground

Cell signal at Running Deer Campground (La Porte, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch
CamperWatch›CA›Running Deer Campground
Running Deer Campground — photo 1
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Plumas National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Running Deer Campground

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La Porte, CA, CA★ 3.4 (17 reviews)From $23/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Running Deer Campground is located on the eastern shore of the Little Grass Valley Reservoir, giving visitors ample opportunity to fish, swim, boat and enjoy nature. It is one of eight campgrounds in the area, providing access to a beautiful mountain lake and various hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails that meander through the scenic hills and valleys.The campground offers dozens of single-family campsites, available for tent and RV camping. More than a handful of the sites overlook the beautiful lake, while others are surrounded by various trees and shrubbery.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV33 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
Bear boxesYes — at every site
Pull-throughsAvailable
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking WaterBoat Launch
Recreation
Picnic TablesElectric Hookups
Family & Pets
Flush ToiletsFishing

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups—only electric hookups available; most sites have no hookups and suitable for self-contained RVs only.✕ You require shower facilities—none available at this campground.✕ You visit outside May-October—campground is closed seasonally.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground with limited availability.

Some sites are first-come, first-served while others are reservable; call ahead to confirm availability.

Bring your own cooler for food storage; bears actively target unprotected food and ice chests.

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Bears present in area—store all food in coolers and bins inside your vehicle. Also verify presence of coyotes, Western Wood-Pewee, Spotted Sandpiper, and American Goshawk.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
530-534-6500· Plumas National Forest
Getting there →

From Oroville, California, travel east on Highway 162 to Olive Highway. Turn right and continue 5 miles to Forbestown Road. Turn right and go 16 miles to La Porte Road. Turn left and travel 27 miles to La Porte, then 2 miles to signs for the recreation area. Turn right and continue just over 2 miles to the campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Plumas National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Plumas National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Running Deer Campground cost per night?+
Running Deer Campground costs $23–$25 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Running Deer Campground open?+
Running Deer Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Running Deer Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Running Deer Campground?+
Running Deer Campground can accommodate RVs up to 33 feet.
How do I make reservations at Running Deer Campground?+
Running Deer Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Running Deer Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Running Deer Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Running Deer Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Running Deer Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Running Deer Campground Map
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$23 /night★ 3.4 (17)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Running Deer Campground cost per night?+
What season is Running Deer Campground open?+
Does Running Deer Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Horse Campground

Oroville, CA

From $23/night

Little Beaver A Campground

Oroville, CA

From $23/night

Deanes Valley Family Cg (Ca) Plumas Nf

Bucks Lake, CA

From $15/night

Ramshorn

Nevada City, CA

From $20/night

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