Best Dispersed Camping near Cedarville, CA
Several dispersed camping options exist near Cedarville, California, primarily on public lands. Duncan Reservoir South Site offers primitive camping with access via a graded dirt road a few miles from the highway. Lesson Trail Marker Road Side Stop provides a roadside area with gravel surface near a creek, suitable for overnight stays on state land. Additional dispersed camping can be found at Catnip Reservoir in the Sheldon National Antelope Refuge across the border in Nevada, where backcountry permits are not required for camping.
Road access to these sites varies considerably. Duncan Reservoir requires travel on dirt roads that are generally well-maintained but may become challenging in wet conditions. The Lesson Trail Marker site features a step entry off the main road. Catnip Reservoir is accessible via County Road 34A, a well-maintained gravel road, though the final approach involves two-track roads with some tire ruts that may be muddy when wet. Most sites have minimal or no amenities. Duncan Reservoir includes seasonally maintained pit toilets and established fire rings. Fires are permitted at Duncan Reservoir and Catnip Reservoir, but not at the Lesson Trail Marker site.
These primitive camping areas provide quiet experiences with minimal crowds. Duncan Reservoir features an old boat launch area, though water levels may be too low for launching during off-season periods. According to one visitor, the site offers "minimal noise and light pollution." Catnip Reservoir provides level dirt surfaces surrounded by sagebrush with views of the reservoir and surrounding hills. A camper noted it has "not much to do here, but I really liked this location," highlighting the reservoir's waterfowl and other birds, with coyotes active at night and fishing for cutthroat trout available. The Lesson Trail Marker site serves primarily as a convenient stopover point, with one reviewer describing it as "good for stop over" along a creek.
