Best Tent Camping near Covelo, CA
The Mendocino National Forest surrounding Covelo, California offers several primitive tent camping options within an hour's drive of town. Surveyor Campground, open May through December, provides tent-only sites with basic amenities including picnic tables and vault toilets. Howard Meadows Campground, accessible from April to November, features walk-in tent sites alongside a trickling creek. Little Doe and Wells Cabin campgrounds also accommodate tent campers with seasonal availability, typically closing during winter months when snow makes access difficult.
Most tent campgrounds in the Covelo region have minimal facilities on unpaved surfaces. Howard Meadows requires a high-clearance vehicle for access, with one visitor noting that "the road in was muddy, but a capable 4x4 can handle it easily." Vault toilets are standard at established sites, though drinking water is rarely available. Campers should bring all necessary supplies, including water and food. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with complete bans common during summer and fall. Sites at Surveyor Campground include fire rings and picnic tables, while backcountry tent camping in the Yuki and Sanhedrin Wilderness areas follows strict leave-no-trace principles.
Tent campers seeking seclusion will find the primitive tent sites around Covelo particularly rewarding. The area experiences minimal crowds even during peak summer months. Wildlife sightings are common, with one camper at Howard Meadows reporting "frogs in the evening" along the creek. Most tent campsites offer natural shade from surrounding forest, providing relief during hot summer days. Cell service is nonexistent at most locations, creating a true disconnect from urban life. For those willing to venture farther from established campgrounds, walk-in tent sites in the wilderness areas provide even greater solitude, though they require proper backcountry preparation and adherence to wilderness regulations.
