$14 / night

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Medicine Lake Campground

4 Reviews

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Medicine Lake Campground is located near Tulelake in Modoc National Forest. The area features forested terrain with a lake nearby, providing opportunities for water activities. Temperatures range from lows in the 30s Fahrenheit in winter to highs in the 80s during summer, and visitors can explore Lava Beds National Monument, which is less than an hour away.

Description

The popular Medicine Lake Recreation Area and adjacent Medicine Lake are located in the Medicine Lake Highlands in northeastern California. The Recreation Area is located in the Modoc National Forest at an elevation of 6,770 feet. See also Little Medicine Lake Picnic Area Natural Features: Medicine Lake Recreation Area is nestled along Medicine Lake and mostly sheltered by mature lodgepole pine trees but can be windy at times. The Recreation Area lies adjacent to the Medicine Lake Lava Flow which is accessible by a short hike. The Glass Mtn. and Burnt Lava Flow Geologic Areas are located within a 15-minute drive. Recreation : The Medicine Lake Recreation Area offers camping, boating, fishing and swimming. The adjacent Day Use Areas accommodate boating with a concrete boat ramp and dock. Swimming is available in a designated swimming area next to the Picnic Area. Hiking and mountain biking are available on trails originating in the Recreation Area. The longest of these trails is the trail up Little Mt Hoffman. In summer a boat dock is available at the launch ramp. There is no fishing or swimming in the vacinity of the dock or ramp. Ample trailer parking is available. Medicine Lake has specific rules for skiing and use of power boats. Rules are subject to change depending on conditions. Please chek the rules posted on the bulletin board each time you boat on Medicine Lake. Facilities : The Medicine Lake Recreation Area is comprised of four campgrounds; Medicine, A.H. Hogue, Hemlock and Headquarters Campgrounds. Nearby the campgrounds are Picnic Area and Boat Launch sites. Campsites vary between somewhat rugged with limited parking space to larger areas suitable for recreation vehicles. Facilities include vault toilets, water hydrants and garbage dumpsters. Campsites include a picnic table, fire ring and a barbeque grill. There are a total of 75 campsites throughout the four campgrounds. Fifteen of these sites are available for advanced reservations and located within the Medicine and A.H. Hogue Campgrounds. Nearby Attractions : Nearby are a few other federal sites with interesting features. The Lava Beds National Monument is located within a half-hour drive and includes lava caves and tubes. The Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge is located within an hour's drive where many types of migratory waterfowl can be viewed

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Location

Medicine Lake Campground is located in California

Directions

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 41.58584, -121.58557 41°35'9"N, 121°35'8"W From McCloud go east on US Hwy 89 south for 16 miles to Forest Service Road 15/Harris Spring Rd. Turn left on Road 15 and go 4.4 miles to Forest Service Road 49/Medicine Lake Road. Follow the signs 27.5 miles to Medicine Lake. From Tulelake take US Hwy 139 south for 21 miles to Forest Service Road 97. Turn right on Road 97 and go 24 miles turning right on Road 49. Drive 2 more miles turning left into the entrance of Medicine Lake Recreation Area. Follow the signs to your final campground destination.

Coordinates

41.58800011 N
121.59500067 W

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Detours Nearby

LOCAL FAVORITES PRESENTED BY

Lava Beds National Monument Road

47 min away

Tickner Rd

57 min away

Drive Time

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2 hrs 19 min from Redding
2 hrs 41 min from Medford
3 hrs 9 min from Grants Pass

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Reservable
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Water Hookups

Contact

General Info

Reservations

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Matthew C.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 29, 2025

Nice camp spot for boaters

I stopped by for one night while in the area and enjoyed the campground. It was a bit crowded but what do you expect on 4th of July. Campground has all the amenities. Nice spot!

Month of VisitJuly

CRJohnson

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 22, 2021

Worth the drive…

A lonely, nearly hour long drive from Highway 139 gets you to this jewel of a National Forest Campground. Many spaces are too tight, sloped and uneven for most trailers. Plan ahead and reserve your spot if your bringing bigger campers. When we went, the campgrounds were full but the lake? It seemed like we had it all to ourselves. There are some nice trails, perfect for hiking or bombing around with a mountain bike or ebike.

Siteone right on the lake

Month of VisitJuly

Lori T.

Ranger

Reviewed Jun. 20, 2021

Great Stay

There are four campgrounds in very close proximity to each other in the Medicine Lake Recreation Area. We drive through the first two (Hemlock and A H Hogue) and didn’t see a site that suited us. The third campground is Medicine Campground and it seemed a little more spacious, so we chose a site there. A majority of the sites in the four campgrounds are first come/first served and we had plenty to choose from on a Tuesday night. The lake front sites (the lake is rather low like most in the state) were almost all occupied, but any site has easy access to the shoreline. We spent two nights in site #29. The lake is crystal clear and shallow along the shoreline making it great for kids. The camp sites have the usual amenities (fire pit and picnic tables), but the one drawback was the lack of potable water. It was being tested while we were there and was expected to be available by the weekend (end of June).

Site29

Month of VisitJune

Ariel & John W.

Ranger

Reviewed Nov. 5, 2020

Remote but beatiful

The name is Medicine Lake campground. Stayed here in June 2020, had to camp at overflow because the lake loops were all full. Nice, clean, well kept. Pit toilets were clean. Fire pits and picnic table at each site. No cell service whatsoever. Paddled Medicine Lake, beautiful but buggy. Lots of mosquitos and lake flies. Lots to do nearby, Lava Flow NM, lava tubes, giant obsidian flows, hiking trails. Remote but beautiful. Lots of dispersed camping also available in the Modoc NF.

Frequently Asked Questions

What facilities and amenities are available at Medicine Lake Campground?

Medicine Lake Campground offers several basic amenities for campers. Each site is equipped with a fire pit and picnic table. The campground features clean pit toilets that are well-maintained. While the facilities are relatively simple, the campground is clean and well-kept overall. There is no cell phone service at the campground, so visitors should plan accordingly. The campground is part of the larger Medicine Lake Recreation Area, which includes several nearby campgrounds such as Hemlock and A H Hogue.

What do visitors say in reviews about Medicine Lake Campground?

Visitors generally appreciate Medicine Lake Campground for its natural beauty and well-maintained facilities. Many note that it's clean and well-kept with properly maintained pit toilets. Campers highlight the spacious sites at Medicine Campground compared to nearby alternatives. The location receives praise as a "jewel of a National Forest Campground" despite being somewhat remote. Some visitors mention that the campground can get crowded during holidays, but the lake itself remains relatively peaceful. Many also note the beautiful paddling opportunities on Medicine Lake, though they caution about bugs.

What fishing opportunities are available at Medicine Lake?

Medicine Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities in a serene setting. The lake is notably uncrowded even when the campgrounds are full, providing peaceful fishing experiences. While specific fish species aren't mentioned, the lake's remote location in a National Forest setting suggests good conditions for freshwater fishing. Paddling on the lake is also popular, making it easy to access different fishing spots. For the best fishing experience, consider bringing insect repellent as the lake can be buggy at times.

Where is Medicine Lake Campground located and how do I get there?

Medicine Lake Campground is located in the Medicine Lake Recreation Area in Northern California. To reach the campground, you'll need to take a remote drive approximately one hour from Highway 139. The isolated location means you should be prepared for limited services along the way. The campground is situated near three other campgrounds in the recreation area: Hemlock, A H Hogue, and Medicine Campground. While somewhat remote, the journey rewards visitors with a beautiful natural setting upon arrival.

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