Camping near Cedarville, CA

Camping near Cedarville, California offers access to the remote Warner Mountains, a north-south mountain range with elevations reaching above 9,000 feet. The area sits within Modoc National Forest, characterized by juniper and pine forests interspersed with high desert terrain. Winter temperatures can drop well below freezing with significant snowfall limiting access to many camping areas until late spring.

What to do

Obsidian collecting: Obtain a free permit from town before heading to areas near Plum Valley Campground. As one visitor noted, "Love staying here. Lots to do nearby mostly obsidian collection and fishing. Make sure if you are wanting to collect you get a free permit in town before heading out."

Hiking to mountain lakes: Access Clear Lake via trails from the Warner Mountains. A visitor to Mill Creek Falls Campground shared, "Not only is the Falls beautiful but the trek up to Clear Lake is breathtaking! Serene and tranquil. Worth the hike for those wanting to get in touch with Nature!"

Wildlife viewing: Visit the nearby wildlife refuge, accessible within minutes from Alturas. A camper at Sully's RV Park mentioned, "Close to the wild refuge. Walked the 3 mile loop before heading out of town. Super close."

What campers like

Creek-side camping: Many sites offer direct access to running water at Lassen Creek Campground. A camper observed, "The spot itself is next to a pleasant stream, carpeted with pine needles and nestled among evergreens. It's remote enough that we couldn't hear any traffic or other noise pollution."

Solitude: The less-frequented nature of these campgrounds means visitors often have significant space to themselves. One Lassen Creek camper shared, "Dry Camp with pit toilets. No designated campsites, find a fire ring and make your spot. Beautiful spot, watch out for the cows!"

Clean facilities: Despite the remote locations, many campgrounds maintain good sanitation standards. A camper at Stough Reservoir Campground noted, "It is a small campground, vault toilets and was clean when we were there."

What you should know

Seasonal conditions: Snow can persist into late spring and return early fall at higher elevations. One visitor reported, "We tried to get to this campground but were blocked by too much snow in the road. Other than the snow the road was in good condition and easy to drive in our class c."

Road access challenges: Many access roads are unpaved and require careful driving. A Plum Valley visitor warned, "The road can be a little rough to the campground with some deep ruts. We were able to pull our 19 foot camper up the road and into the campground not sure if we would try with anything larger."

Communication limitations: Cell service is virtually nonexistent throughout much of the region. A Stough Reservoir visitor noted, "The Verizon phone had basically no service, just some sporadic in and out, but practically unusable. The ATT phone has some service, not great, but usable for texting and light browsing."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: While most forest campgrounds lack developed play areas, Likely Place RV and Golf Resort offers more amenities. One visitor mentioned, "The playground is on the far side of the meadow," though they also noted the place "is not considered kid friendly" by some.

Creek exploration: Children can wade and explore shallow creeks that run through several campgrounds. A visitor to Plum Valley Campground shared, "Campground is in the shade which is great in the summer and has a creek running through."

Weather preparation: Even summer months can bring surprisingly cold temperatures. One camper at Stough Reservoir experienced, "Snowed when we were there in June," highlighting the need for warm clothing regardless of season.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Many campgrounds can accommodate smaller RVs but have limitations. A visitor to Cedar Pass Campground noted, "The website says that the vehicle limit is 17ft, but I'm not sure why. We had plenty of room for our 26ft class c. I could see large class As or 5th wheels having trouble navigating the narrow forest roads."

Prime spots identification: The layout of some campgrounds offers certain advantages. A Stough Reservoir camper recommended, "I got the primo site across the water, solo spot with my own pit toilet."

Full hookups availability: For those needing amenities, options exist but are limited. A visitor to Sully's RV Park in Alturas commented, "This is not a high-end RV park. It is small (only 5 FHU sites) and has a number of permanent residences, but the RV sites are level, showers/bathrooms are clean, they have good laundry facilities."