Best Dispersed Camping near Guinda, CA

Several free dispersed camping areas surround Clear Lake, approximately 30 miles northwest of Guinda, California. Lakeview Dispersed Campground offers the most developed free sites, accessible via High Valley Road, though visitors note the access route requires careful navigation. A camper wrote, "The road was challenging. It was steep with loose dirt in spots." The area provides limited amenities—no drinking water, toilets, or trash service—but allows fires when restrictions aren't in place and accommodates both tents and RVs.

Additional dispersed options include Cowboy Camp with basic pit toilets, BLM Sheldon Creek with picnic tables and toilets, and High Valley Road Dispersed camping. Most sites require high-clearance vehicles to access, particularly after rain. According to one visitor, "The gravel roads here are open again and easy to drive on. All wheel drive is helpful, but we saw some people with a Prius up there." Cell service is generally available throughout the region, but summer temperatures can be extremely hot, and seasonal closures affect some sites. Cowboy Camp has experienced periodic closures, with recent reviews indicating gates were locked during certain periods.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Guinda, California (10)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Guinda, CA

16 Photos of 10 Guinda Campgrounds


Dispersed Camping Reviews near Guinda, CA

33 Reviews of 10 Guinda Campgrounds


  • C
    Aug. 9, 2022

    BLM Sheldon Creek

    Pleasant BLM camping, hot in the summer.

    A decent drive off the highway, but a good one. A few nice views. Google maps will not get you there, we followed the directions on this page.

    Only 2 spots up here, maybe 3. But we had it to ourselves on a weeknight. The Bathroom (vault toilet) had toilet paper. There was some water in the creek, but it wasn’t super easy to access. 

    The site itself is nothing special, just a couple of pullouts in the woods. Probably very hot during the day since you’re up on a ridge. Can’t beat free though.

  • kThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2023

    BLM Sheldon Creek

    FREE BLM campground - travel trailers not advised

    Tow behinds/trailers not recommended; rough roads and can’t turn back once on the path.

    Otherwise 10/10 for our truck camper, had the place to ourselves for the 4th of July weekend, beautiful fresh water creek running through, great toilet & even a fire pit with abundance of wood around.

    There are about 4/5 sites, only 2 with actual fire pits.

    Please keep it amazing by keeping it clean.

    FREE

  • Summer A.
    Jul. 17, 2022

    BLM Sheldon Creek

    Perfect Spot!

    Sheldon Creek is a BLM campsite up a winding dirt/gravel road. We drove a 4WD vehicle, but most cars should be able to handle the journey up. Signs will direct you in the right direction, and lead you to a campground with spots to pitch tents or park/hangout. There are even picnic tables, fire pits, and bathrooms. I didn’t get a chance to check out the bathrooms, but they looked decent. We only had one neighbor who seemed pretty friendly, which was a relief as you’re pretty far out in a remote area. Overall this is a beautiful spot where we felt safe. Would definitely recommend!

  • Jaye S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2024

    Lakeview Dispersed Campground

    Decent dispersed site

    Drive up to the site all incline dirt road ~6 miles - we made it up without 4 wheel drive but some areas were a little sketchy. Overall pretty dusty too. Sites themselves were decently maintained, some trash from previous campers but nothing major. This area is a popular for target practice so if the sounds of gunshots throughout the day isn’t your vibe, then this spot might not be suitable. Overall beautiful sunrises and sunsets and starry night sky

  • Chris C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 3, 2025

    High Valley Rd Dispersed

    Easy and chill!

    Very nice spot with multiple places to pull over and camp. There’s views of Lear Lake if you want to walk a bit. No water nearby. The road is very dusty on the way up!

  • Catherine L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2024

    Cowboy Camp

    Quiet

    Quiet stop, but I wouldn't call it the most beautiful stop I've ever stayed. Camping spots are to the left and the right I'd the day use. Pit toilets. No garbage.

  • Robert H.
    Jun. 30, 2024

    Lakeview Dispersed Campground

    High Above Clear Lake

    Beautiful spot with some views of the lake. No services, but had cell service (CC). I drove in from the south access to High Valley rd. The road was challenging. It was steep with loose dirt in spots. It was an adventure. I am going to try north access into Lucerne later. (See Google for more info)

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 2, 2025

    Lakeview Dispersed Campground

    First Time Camping - Perfect

    First time camping and going somewhat off road.

    If you’re worried about your vehicle making it up we saw a tesla and a nissan altima up there. My subaru made it up perfectly. I would however recommend AWD or a little higher clearance.

    South road is somewhat rough and the north road seems to be the smoother but longer road.

    Clean area, but dusty. Can be busy 2 other campers showed up quietly while I was asleep but kept their distance. Where I set up there were some log chairs and a previously built fire pit.

    Very beautiful and quiet, can be extremely cold at night and morning so be prepared!

    We did not got many bugs which was great.

  • Steve M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 27, 2024

    Clear Lake View Point Dispersed

    Absolutely not! Nowhere to camp and a terrible road

    As soon as I started going up an extremely steep hill and saw a sign that said not a through street, I should have turned around but it was impossible with my 30-foot car and trailer. I am Bart Upon A frightening , rutted, unmaintained road that is only suitable for off-road vehicles for sick four wheel drives . Barely made it out of there with everything working as it should on car and trailer and actually got stuck at one point and had to use logs to get myself traction. Do not try this and there is nowhere to stop and set up a ten , at all!


Guide to Guinda

Primitive camping near Guinda, California offers several dispersed sites within the Cache Creek and Clear Lake vicinity. The region sits at elevations ranging from 1,300-2,800 feet with oak woodlands and chaparral ecosystems dominating the landscape. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F between July and September, creating challenging conditions for unprepared campers.

What to do

Horseback riding trails: Cow Mountain Recreation Area features extensive trails for equestrians. "Love taking our Rock crawler up to cow. Lots of obstacles. Camping is awesome. Few sites and vault restrooms. Still a good time," notes a visitor to Cow Mountain Rec Area Dispersed.

Paddle boarding: Clear Lake provides water recreation opportunities just a short drive from camping areas. "This sweet little spot is a paddle boarding and fishing dream. Primitive site where Smittle Creek flows into Lake Berryessa," reports a camper who stayed at smittle creek.

Hiking: Multiple trails surround the dispersed sites, ranging from easy walks to more challenging terrain. "We tried to get to the pinpoint from another way and ran into another closed gate," warns a visitor about trail access issues at High Valley Rd Dispersed.

What campers like

Solitude: Quieter camping areas allow for peaceful experiences away from crowds. "Quiet stop, but I wouldn't call it the most beautiful stop I've ever stayed. Camping spots are to the left and the right of the day use. Pit toilets. No garbage," reports a camper at Cowboy Camp.

Creek access: Several sites feature seasonal water access. "It's not too bad of a road up there. Had deer, butterflies, and humming birds all around us. Babbling brook, cool and comfortable in mid-October. Looking forward to a springtime visit," writes a visitor to BLM Sheldon Creek.

Multiple camping options: The area offers various sites depending on your needs. "There are about 4/5 sites, only 2 with actual fire pits. Please keep it amazing by keeping it clean," notes a camper at BLM Sheldon Creek.

What you should know

Road conditions vary drastically: Many access roads require high-clearance vehicles, especially after rainfall. "The drive up was full of breathtaking views, and even though the road was quite bumpy, dusty, and steep at times, our AWD Kia made it up no problem," reports a visitor at Lakeview Dispersed Campground.

Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites lack basic amenities. "Only 2 spots up here, maybe 3. But we had it to ourselves on a weeknight. The Bathroom (vault toilet) had toilet paper. There was some water in the creek, but it wasn't super easy to access," notes a camper at BLM Sheldon Creek.

Seasonal closures: Some areas close without notice. "The camp area is closed, as of 2/9/2024. No indication of that on the BLM website," reports a visitor to Cowboy Camp.

Tips for camping with families

Check insect conditions: Some areas experience heavy insect activity. "No trees just dry open land inhabited by an unusual amount of flies. It was crazy how thick they were. An almost dry creek runs alongside the open field of camping pads," warns a camper at Cowboy Camp.

Bring adequate water: No potable water exists at most sites. "Very nice spot with multiple places to pull over and camp. There's views of Clear Lake if you want to walk a bit. No water nearby. The road is very dusty on the way up!" notes a camper at High Valley Rd Dispersed.

Consider wildlife encounters: Local wildlife includes deer and various bird species. "Had deer, butterflies, and humming birds all around us," reports a visitor to BLM Sheldon Creek.

Tips from RVers

Vehicle limitations: Many dispersed camping areas have significant access restrictions. "Absolutely not! Nowhere to camp and a terrible road. As soon as I started going up an extremely steep hill and saw a sign that said not a through street, I should have turned around but it was impossible with my 30-foot car and trailer," warns an RVer at Clear Lake View Point Dispersed.

Site selection: Scout potential sites before committing to a location. "There was only one other person here when I was. They got the prime spot, early bird and all. Very nice view. You have to drive up to right as you enter and then turn toward the lake to find the really nice spots," advises a camper at Lakeview Dispersed Campground.

Weather preparation: Dramatic temperature changes occur between day and night. "Very beautiful and quiet, can be extremely cold at night and morning so be prepared! We did not got many bugs which was great," notes a camper at Lakeview Dispersed Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Guinda, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Guinda, CA is Cowboy Camp with a 2.7-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Guinda, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 10 dispersed camping locations near Guinda, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.