Best Dispersed Camping near Helena, CA

Looking for the best Helena dispersed camping? Dispersed camping means that no facilities or amenities are provided, so that you can truly disconnect and get back to nature. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your California excursion.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Helena, CA (7)

    Camper-submitted photo from Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
    Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
    Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
    Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
    Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
    Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM

    2. Lacks Creek BLM

    10 Reviews
    32 Photos
    418 Saves
    Hoopa, California

    Lacks Creek is a recreational treasure hidden in the coast range and offers a wide range of outdoor opportunities. Ride your horse or bike along the shared use trails, or find your own secluded campsite with a view. Lacks Creek is located in California's northern Coast Range, approximately 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The area is in Humboldt County, approximately 20 miles northeast of Eureka. The management area includes 8,673 acres of BLM managed public lands 7,377 acres are within the Lacks Creek watershed, with the other acreage made up of contiguous lands. The management area is surrounded by large private land timber holdings, and the region contains some of the most productive and intensively managed commercial forest lands in the United States. The immediate area is sparsely populated with scattered ranches in adjacent Redwood Valley.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Group
    Camper-submitted photo from North Trinity Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from North Trinity Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from North Trinity Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from North Trinity Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from North Trinity Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from North Trinity Lake

    3. North Trinity Lake

    4 Reviews
    10 Photos
    323 Saves
    Trinity Center, California
    • Pets
    • Phone Service
    • Reservable
    • Dispersed
    • Picnic Table
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo from Groves Prairie Dispersed Camp
    Camper-submitted photo from Groves Prairie Dispersed Camp
    Camper-submitted photo from Groves Prairie Dispersed Camp
    Camper-submitted photo from Groves Prairie Dispersed Camp
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Dispersed Camping - Lacks Creek
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Dispersed Camping - Lacks Creek
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Dispersed Camping - Lacks Creek
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Dispersed Camping - Lacks Creek
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Dispersed Camping - Lacks Creek
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Dispersed Camping - Lacks Creek
    Camper-submitted photo from Mt. Shasta Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Mt. Shasta Area

    6. Mt. Shasta Area

    2 Reviews
    2 Photos
    141 Saves
    Castella, California

    Recreation on the unit centers on the two designated wilderness areas of Mount Shastaand Castle Crags. Dominating the landscape for several hundred miles in all directions, Mount Shasta looms 14,162 feet, a beautiful snow-cloaked massif, second only to Mount Rainier in height among the famous Cascade Range volcanoes. No trails lead up Mount Shasta, but trails provide access to the Wilderness and the foot of the mountain. The Wilderness shares its southern border with Castle Crags State Park. You'll find 27.8 miles of maintained trails starting from nine trailheads. The Pacific Crest Trail rambles for 19 miles through the area. Most of the National Forest lands on the Mt. Shasta district are open for dispersed camping. Remember, most dispersed sites will be affected by campfire restrictions starting sometime in July. When restrictions are in effect, you may still operate a gas stove and/or a gas-only barbeque with a valid campfire permit. Wood fires and charcoal barbeques are strictly prohibited. Please use proper sanitation methods for human waste, pack out all of your garbage, and leave no trace of your stay. Current list of Road Closures, Campground & Trail information.

    • Pets
    • Electric Hookups
    • Reservable
    • ADA Access
    • RVs
    • Dispersed
    • No image available

    Recent Dispersed Reviews in Helena

    25 Reviews of 7 Helena Campgrounds


    • Luke D.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
      Nov. 5, 2024

      Lacks Creek BLM

      Absolutely Amazing Spot!

      Don’t be confused when you arrive and head up the hill where you’ll find camping spots. Even has an area with picnic tables under the trees.

      A great spot overall and a nice drive up. We were there when it rained all day one of our days and it didn’t affect the roads much.

      We even pulled up our rear drop camper and had no issues at all.

    • Kalah H.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
      Sep. 18, 2024

      Lacks Creek BLM

      Amazing place to stay for free with hikes close by

      I loved staying at lacks creek! I had good cell service with att and it was beautiful, quiet and serene. Hikes right by the campsites. Fire pit. No water at all though. Bring your own water. And no bathroom unless you drive like 3 miles down the other way and some of the roads weren't open due to landslides. I drove my honda civic all the way up there. There was a few points I thought I wouldn't make it but sure enough my good ol honda pushed through. Lol Anyways! Highly recommend! Just bring water! Lol

    • Casey B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
      Aug. 19, 2024

      Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed

      A little sketchy and not much shade

      The first spot you come across is super cute with little stone sculptures in the creek and a little shelter with carpet...and then you realize it's most likely a locals party zone and homeless camp. There was a trash pile, bags of potato chips...and potatoes.

      The next spot was cleaner and near the water, but the circular "driveway" was tight and had very little space. This is where we stayed.

      The rest of the spots weren't near water and were just open fields directly in the sun.

    • Greg B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Groves Prairie Dispersed Camp
      Aug. 12, 2024

      Groves Prairie Dispersed Camp

      Secluded & beautiful Meadow

      This secluded camp is well worth the effort to find.  I've been 3 times and finally decided to add it to The Dyrt.  Upon this return, I tried to find it online (Six Rivers's official site) but found no info.  There are two ways to this camp, the longer from Willow Creek, or the shorter from Hawkins Bar.  Both ways are via forest service roads that are "fair".  There are 3 sites, each with a picnic table and fire ring.  There is one vault toilet that was stocked with 'the papers'.  There is NO trash service or cans and NO POTABLE WATER.  There is a tiny creek running nearby if needed.  There is MAYBE one (1) bar of Verizon service, but it is extremely unreliable.  I came here to see the Perseids Meteor Shower, on a Sunday night/Monday, and did not see a soul.

    • Hannah A.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
      Jul. 31, 2024

      Lacks Creek BLM

      Camping

      Other than the long bumpy dirt road this site was great! Easy to find and great views. Had pretty good cell service with AT&T. Very quiet

    • Mateo G.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
      Jul. 8, 2024

      Lacks Creek BLM

      Confusing

      Beautiful area, cool drive in. But the map on here is misleading… Follow Pine Ridge Road all the way till you hit dispersed sites with picnic tables and fire pits on the right.

      (41.0051476, -123.7848194)

    • Kelly V.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
      Jul. 5, 2024

      Lacks Creek BLM

      Embrace of forest

      Clean, level, spacious campground sites, close together trees so you can hang a hammock, hilltop view, pristine feel. Deep grateful breath. Gaia happy here.

    • JThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
      Jun. 14, 2024

      Lacks Creek BLM

      Great winding drive up

      When you get to the area where apple maps says park and walk, just take the pine ridge or whatever trail a couple more miles up. you will pass a single designated camp site( was occupied when I came up). and a ways on past it you will find the Lacks campground! nice little campground and my only complaint is people! Please pack your trash out. the fire pits arent garbage containers. Fruit boxes to soup and beer cans were in almost every fire ring. That’s just irresponsible and is the kind of crap that leads to more and more of these places being closed?

    • Kevinae B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
      Apr. 21, 2024

      Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed

      Secret Hideaway

      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.

    • tThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
      Nov. 17, 2023

      Lacks Creek BLM

      Pretty easy to get to

      It was great very peaceful. Only saw one person in the whole time I realize I’m probably going in the off-season thing I went in the middle of November.

    • matt R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
      Sep. 13, 2023

      Lacks Creek BLM

      Awesome spot.

      Great spot. The site is very secluded and well maintained. Note the gps coordinates take you to the right of the sign at the top of the hill after you turn off the main road. I would recommend going straight. Just follow it to the end. There is three fire pits and a bathroom. That is okay. But it will do. Note there is no trash can on site and the closest gas station is probably an hour from the camp site. After you drive down the dirt roads. They are a little road but any vehicle could make it.

    • JThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
      Aug. 14, 2023

      Lacks Creek BLM

      Perfect spot

      Awesome pull outs on easy terrain. Lots of hiking and mountain bike trails too. Quiet, well maintained spots. Mosquitoes are bad this time of year so prepare well!

      Can easily drive a van or pick up. I saw one large trailer here, but there are only 1-2 spots, as corners are too tight as you get higher.

    • Mckenna S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from North Trinity Lake
      Jun. 9, 2023

      North Trinity Lake

      Beautiful spot!

      This was a perfect spot for a quick one night stay as we were passing through. The coordinates were off though and it took us up to a private residence road so I would not follow that. There’s multiple side dirt roads leading down to the lake from the main road so I would just look for those. Beautiful views at night and in the morning! It was wide open with no other campers in site.

    • Jack W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
      Sep. 26, 2022

      Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed

      Out of the way but perfect for a night

      This site is nothing special but it’s the only BLM I could find in the area. We stopped on the way up to Shasta. You don’t need ground clearance or 4wd to get there. Lots of space, there will certainly be a place for you when you pull in. Only one or two other campers were there when we stayed. Nice place

    • Scout G.
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM Dispersed Camping - Lacks Creek
      Aug. 23, 2022

      BLM Dispersed Camping - Lacks Creek

      Long drive, no service

      I was planning on staying here but had no service for miles with Verizon. Not just spotty service, literally nothing until I drove back down 15 minutes and camped on a road turnout. It seems nice especially since there's a bathroom and picnic tables as it's a trailhead. I drove out after dark and the road was a little rough but nothing we couldn't handle. It's 40 minutes from 299. If you don't mind being without service or have a different carrier it would be a nice secluded spot.

    • Ryan Z.
      Camper-submitted photo from North Trinity Lake
      Jul. 9, 2021

      North Trinity Lake

      Not accessible

      The coordinates and GPS lead to a random part of the highway surrounded by hills. Not real or inaccessible in vehicle, lake may be dried up.

    • Karen T.
      Camper-submitted photo from North Trinity Lake
      May. 24, 2021

      North Trinity Lake

      a lovely area

      • 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
    • Toni  K.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM Dispersed Camping - Lacks Creek
      May. 14, 2021

      BLM Dispersed Camping - Lacks Creek

      Free BLM land

      Pretty far drive off a dirt road. The camp spot does have fire rings. There’s a nice running/bike path right in the camp ground. However, there are a lot of ticks. Be careful if you have any animals. 

      Also saw wild horses driving up!

      Drive east on Highway 299 for 17.8 miles from Highway 101. Turn left at the Redwood Valley turn off(Bair Road) and travel 3.9 miles. Make a right turn at the sign that reads"Hoopa- 22 miles", and travel 5.9 miles up this windy gravel road. The entrance is a left turn.

    • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed
      Apr. 21, 2021

      Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed

      At Least It’s Free

      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.

    • Deleting App D.
      Camper-submitted photo from Lacks Creek BLM
      Jan. 24, 2021

      Lacks Creek BLM

      This review is for Lack Creek, California.

      Paradise!! Dispersed Camping at it's finest. Nothing but a Firepit. The Vacation finally started.. Dead battery on car, snowed in, running low on water. Haven't seen someone in along time. This is Paradise! Finally I can relax and start my vacation. Dogs and I are staying warm in a tent. I keep the fire going and I stay warm and dry. If you want an amazing place to camp, bike, hike have some great privacy with a breathtaking view. This is the place for you. The gravel road was intense and make sure you have Chains or 4x4. Or just don't visit the day before an epic snow storm. I give this place five Stars cause of what it is, Paradise!!!

    • CThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Mt. Shasta Area
      Aug. 12, 2018

      Mt. Shasta Area

      Beautiful

      Shasta is breathtaking pictures can’t do it justice A place to experience lakes streams hiking camping boating snow sports water sports the great outdoors !!

    • George B.
      Camper-submitted photo from Mt. Shasta Area
      Jun. 19, 2018

      Mt. Shasta Area

      A mountain that soars above

      Mt. Shasta is a place that’s beautiful from every angle. If you’re on the road or on the mountain all it does is takes your breath away.

      Stay where it’s more comfortable for you but at least go and stay and see this beauty!

      Winter time really is its best time but beware and plan ahead, a lot of the camp sites are closed in that time of year!



    Frequently Asked Questions

    • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Helena, CA?

      According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Helena, CA is Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed with a 3.5-star rating from 6 reviews.

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

      TheDyrt.com has all 7 dispersed camping locations near Helena, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.