Camper submitted image from Medicine Lake Campground - 1

View Photos

Camper submitted image from Medicine Lake Campground - 2
Water
Camper submitted image from Medicine Lake Campground - 3
People
Unlock Planning Tools in App

Established Camping

Medicine Lake Campground

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

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.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Medicine Lake Campground is located in California

Detail location of campground

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

Open in Google Maps

Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage

The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More
Presented byT Mobile

Drive Time

Presented byToyota Trucks

Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage

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

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

25%
50%
25%
0%
0%

4.0

out of 5

4 Reviews

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
  • Review photo of Medicine Lake Campground by Matthew C., August 29, 2025
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
  • Review photo of Medicine Lake Campground by CRJohnson , August 22, 2021
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
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.

  • Review photo of Medicine Lake Campground by Ariel & John  W., November 5, 2020

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.