Modoc National Forest Patterson Campground

Overview

*Altitude is 7,080 feet above sea level* Set on the edge of a meadow surrounded by Aspen, Fir and Pine trees, Patterson Guard Station has stood since 1921. It served the Modoc National Forest as a fully staffed fire office and guard station until 1981. Just a few footsteps from the Summit Trail and one-quarter mile from the wilderness boundary, Patterson Guard Station can be your basecamp for trips into the South Warner Wilderness or the perfect place to disconnect and relax. The cabin only has one set of bunkbeds (two mattresses). There is a large turn-around parking area directly adjacent to the cabin which can accommodate camper trailers, smaller RVs and gooseneck horse trailers. No hook-ups. If your party exceeds 8 persons, the adjacent Patterson Campground offers 6 developed campsites for $15/night. Click here to view the full reservation calander and additional details not included on this page.

Recreation

Hiking & Horseback Riding The nearby trails within the South Warner Wilderness offer wild landscapes and solitude for hikers and horseback riders. The Wilderness Act of 1964 prohibits the use of motorized and/or mechanized equipment within the Wilderness area (limited exceptions are provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act). South Warner WIlderness maps are advised and always available at the Modoc National Forest Supervisor's Office in Alturas, Calif. Maps may also be available at the Likely General Store in Likely, Calif. Off-Highway Vehicles Many of the roads near Patterson Guard Station, outside of the wilderness area, are open to Off-Highway Vehicles. Motor Vehicle Use Maps are available online and at the Modoc National Forest Supervisor's Office in Alturas, Calif. Boating Blue Lake, 9 miles west, features a boat ramp and dock for motorized and non-motorized watercraft. Help keep this lake clean by following the California Invasive Species Prevention Program Please respect the 10 mph speed limit on the lake. If speed-boating is your thing, consider launching your boat at West Valley Reservoir instead.

Natural Features

The Warner Mountains form a prominent Northwestern boundary of the basin and range geologic province that envelops the entire state of Nevada. This range was once a sedimentary basin between volcanoes of the ancestral Cascade Range until the Warners went through their own phases of active volcanism between ~28 million years ago until as recently as 2 to 3 million years ago. Dramatic uplift on the eastern side of this range provides breathtaking views, best seen from Surprise Valley, east of the Warners. South-facing slopes in the Warner Mountains are often dry and host Lodgepole and Ponderosa Pine, Juniper trees and Sagebrush. North facing slopes are wetter and host Fir trees. Aspen trees are found along streams and boggy areas beside Corn Lillies that can grow up to 5 feet tall before drying up by mid-summer.

Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (530) 233-5811.

Nearby Attractions

Blue Lake, 9 miles West, offers a boat ramp and dock with a kayak launcher, fishing platform, day use area with grills and picnic tables and a developed campground with 40+ developed campsites at $15/night. Cedarville, California, is a historic western town offering restuarants, a grocery store, and shopping oppourtunities. 31 miles North along County Road 1.