Established Camping

Big Sage Campground

Big Sage Campground is located near Alturas in the Modoc National Forest. The terrain consists of sagebrush and open spaces. Visitors can experience temperature highs around 85°F in summer and lows near 20°F in winter. Nearby attractions include the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge and Lava Beds National Monument.

Description

US Forest Service

Modoc National Forest

Big Sage Reservoir and campground are surrounded by juniper woodland and sagebrush. The reservoir is several thousand acres and the campground lies on the shore near the boat ramp.

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Location

Big Sage Campground is located in California

Directions

From Alturas travel west on Hwy 299, 3 miles. Turn north on Crowder Flat Rd/County Road 73, and travel 6 miles. Turn right on County Road 180 and go 3.5 miles to Big Sage Dam and the campground.

Coordinates

41.57900032 N
120.6280004 W

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Connectivity

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Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites

Features

For Campers

Picnic Table
Toilets
Pets
Fires

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

2 hrs 38 min from Redding
3 hrs from Reno
3 hrs 5 min from Medford

Patricia N.

Ranger

Reviewed Aug. 12, 2025

Lightly used

We came here on a recon trip to see if our 26' fifth wheel toyhauler would fit in the spots and the condition of the road to reach this place.

We found this to be a very nice and under used campground. There was one other camper here, spoke to them and they stated they have been the only campers in the week they spent.

The road was well maintained and smooth. We will certainly come back to visit with the toyhauler and RZR. Many FS roads to explorer here.

There are allegedly 12 sites here, we were hard pressed to find them. the main area is graveled with 3 sites, the area to the north is dirt and we saw 4 sites.

Based on the other review we expected to see wild horses and didn't see any or evidence of them either.

Month of VisitAugust

Boots, Shoes, and Canoes

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 29, 2018

A lot of feral horses

We have visited Big Sage a number of times and it used to be a nice little campground set on the shores of Big Sage Reservoir. We have caught largemouth bass and crappie in the reservoir by the campground and we have launched our small boat and fished the upper reaches. Sadly, in the last few years feral horses have shown up and they are tearing up the campground and they are aggressive. There is horse manure everywhere.

Month of VisitMay

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the max vehicle length at Big Sage Campground?

Big Sage Campground allows vehicles up to 22 feet.

Are fires allowed at Big Sage Campground?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Big Sage Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Is there cell phone reception at Big Sage Campground?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is no coverage for AT&T, no coverage for T-Mobile, and some coverage for Verizon.

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