Best Dispersed Camping near Cottonwood, CA

We thought this might be a nice place to stay the night or even longer, but next time if we need a place to sleep we’ll just find one of the turnouts off of Hwy 299. I could see this being a good place for people who live locally to come and hang out in nature by the creek for a few days, but this isn’t a place I’d recommend as a destination. There is so much dead brush and cut trees all over the place here, possibly from cleanup after a fire?  Would recommend larger rigs avoid this area due to the number of low hanging tree branches.

Also, this is a popular shooting area because we saw a ton of ammunition casings as well as broken glass and clay pigeons and other items used for target practice. Oh, and we heard a bunch of gunshots in the middle of the night.

Once you enter the BLM land area, you will cross a narrow one lane bridge. From there you can go left, through a narrow and brush and low-hanging-tree-limbed gravel road (larger rigs beware) to a small clearing at the end which is large enough for a group, but too small for more than one party to feel comfortable there. 

If you turn right from the bridge you have a long road for a few miles along the creek. This road is at times narrow and bumpy with low hanging limbs, and at times wide and smooth and easy to drive. Along this road are several unmarked, undeveloped, and completely unmaintained clearings where you can camp. There are no fire pits or any other indication that it’s a camp site (which is a good thing because per the info board fires aren't allowed). We did pass one trailer that appears to be residing here permanently. 

The public road eventually dead ends about 2 miles in and turns into private property, at which point there’s a large-ish space where you can turn around. 

Zero cell service, though the WeBoost gave the Verizon phone a couple of weak bars. The T-Mobile hotspot and the ATT cell phone were not improved by the WeBoost.

• dispersed camping
• no amenities
• a beautiful open field with the woods in the back and Trinity lake in the front
• you could camp in the open field or in the woods

Plenty of dispersed camping along the creek just south of Big Pine Campground. We found a could spots that our 38ft fifth wheel could fit, and many spots for smaller rigs. Water, dump, and trash are available at Old Station Visitor Information Center just north (RV sewer dump closes mid October)

As one reviewer wrote, just a short run of slightly rough road to get to expansive meadows of boondocking.

Spent the evening in the RV/Truck area after stocking up on some Olive stuffed garlic and artichokes. Mmmm. Was quiet besides the obvious freeway intersection area near by but NOT complaining. Easy boon-docking. Small pet area. Well lit if you park under a light. Safeway,Burger King, Taco Bell, Auto parts store lots more in little area around The Olive Pit. Basically park and walk to get shopping done. Boom. Hope this helps a little.

The good. Managers are there daily. Dumping trash and cleaning the pit toilet.

The bad. Managers are there daily being passive aggressive in reminding you they can kick you out, walking around looking in the same vehicles (even yours as you stand there) and writing down plate numbers. They like to remind you of the 14 day in 365 day limit for the region, not just here. They like to talk about their database and what will happen if you try to camp somewhere else and they love complaining about tent campers outside the parking lot. Also, no fires, ever.

That being said. Blm law enforcement they claim to have in their pocket reminds everyone that tent camping is allowed outside the parking lot.

It is clean though, the rivers is blah and turkey hunters might fire off next to you but walk the road. Plenty of trails, beautiful meadows, horseback riders seen regularly. Quiet at night usually to. If not tell the managers, they’ll get right on that lol.

I won’t go again but that’s not because of the CG.

Details: Law Enforcement does visit, they are nice Locals are a problem Be prepared for management complaints, not camper complaints Town is 20 minutes away Free stay with a weird 14 day regional rule, inquire with management

My husband and I loved this place. It was a little bumpy ride but well worth it. It was super secluded and quiet. No one else drove by at all during the two days we stayed. There was an awesome creek right next to us. FYI there was no phone service at all until you get by the school.

It is a parking lot behind the Olive Pit. Lots of traffic noise. Okay if you want a free spot to sleep for the night.

Pitched 2 tents on asphalt. 3 other cars here. Picnic tables and an outhouse. Saw/heard great horned owl, fox, then cows in the morning.

Easy access via paved road. Very bucolic area. Lots of trails. Sacramento River is within walking distance. Pit toilet, no water or other services.

This is a good gravel road not far from main road. Lots of spaces along road. Not busy at all. No amenities of any kind.

Because of poor reception unable to find. Definitely way out there

About 45-60 minutes from Redding. Easy to locate. Road was just scrapped so it was in good condition. Found perfect site to feet from the river. No slot of other sites

I had a perfect spot right by the river… easy to navigate with my 20’ van, stunning, private, shady and green… I was about to write a 5 star review… but then my dog and I both got bitten by ticks - and we woke to find 8 other dead ticks in our bed. (She’s on tick prevention meds, but I’m not!) Anyway, we didn’t return as anticipated for our 2nd night.

The place itself has delicious food. It is also a little grocery store. The “dog area” is something they squeezed into the side of the lot. Not fenced in but there were dog poop bags when we stopped.

Not much to say similar to rest stop. Spent evening in their parking lot that does say no parking unless your a customer. I went in and purchase couple jars of olives to take to Slab City with me as trading stock now I’m a customer (happy face). No one messed with me and it was decently quiet. Only two other rvs. Super small dog potty area too but it’s their yay.

I was so grateful for the mature shade trees that offered a respite from the hot sun. It's a very quiet spot, so keep it that way. Some riffraff staggle through but they're harmless.

Just a small parking lot with 8 or 9 pull through sites in the middle of a small downtown commercial area. The parking lot is next to two restaurants and a bar.

We came in at about 3 AM and went to sleep. Woke up and made coffee in the parking lot around 10 the next morning. Several very confused customers looked at us like we were hillbillies.