3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Pine Mountain Lookout stands as a historical fire tower cabin near Mendocino National Forest, providing panoramic 180-degree views of the surrounding landscape. The lookout features simple accommodations with provided cots and bunk beds, a table, and chairs. Basic amenities include an outhouse located near the parking area. The cabin requires visitors to navigate logging roads that can be rough and occasionally blocked by fallen trees. According to one visitor, "A simple, rustic cabin. Views are exceptional, as is the peace and quiet. Get up early and you'll catch the dawn chorus of an amazing number of birds: warblers, woodpeckers, quail, juncos, grosbeaks, cowbirds, even robins."
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Mendocino Redwoods RV Resort offers family-friendly cabin accommodations with access to numerous amenities including a pool, splash pad, playground, and even a petting zoo. Narrows Lodge Resort provides cabin and yurt rentals with private bathroom and shower facilities. Pine Acres Blue Lake Resort features waterfront cabin options with electric and water hookups. Most cabins throughout the region are pet-friendly and require advance reservations, particularly during summer months. A visitor noted, "We rented a small cabin for the night. It was clean and welcoming."
Most cabins require visitors to bring their own bedding, food storage containers, and cooking supplies. Pine Mountain Lookout visitors should secure food items at night due to rodent activity. Several resorts like Narrows Lodge Resort and Mendocino Redwoods RV Resort include on-site markets for basic provisions. Cooking facilities vary by location - some offer only outdoor fire pits while others include indoor cooking amenities. Guests staying at fire lookout cabins should prepare for more primitive conditions compared to resort cabins. Bringing a chainsaw is recommended when visiting remote lookouts like Pine Mountain due to potential road blockages from fallen trees.
"A simple, rustic cabin. As noted by others, it suffers from a little damage/neglect—many of the windows are boarded up—but it's an old fire lookout so we didn't expect a rental cabin atmosphere. "
"This cabin has not been kept up as well as the others I’ve stayed in, however, and looks to have Ben vandalized some time in the past."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $50 / night
"We received a key to our own bathroom and shower! They had a sink to was dishes in and a place to clean our fish. We rented a motor boat for a few hours to explore the beautiful lake. Pet friendly."
"It’s a family RV & cabin campground with a lot of great amenities. The new owners (5 years now) are very friendly and helpful making the whole experience a stellar visit."
"It was late and we were tired but when I walked in and heard good evening, I knew we found a nice spot. We were checked in and drove into the park. Clean and festive."
"We were just a few steps from the pool, which was clean, but pretty cold. It didn’t seem like it was heated. If it is, it’s not heated well."
"Turns out it's closed to camping now, so I took a flyer and looked at this park. I managed to grab what appeared to be the last spot available for the Friday and Saturday night stay I had planned."
"Came back a year later on a whim and still found it to be a nice place, in spite of the heat."
Available this weekend
from $30 / night
"It is a pretty good size that has plenty of space for small parties or large party campsites. It is not too far out from the town of Stonyford but still has enough privacy."
"It was relatively quiet, and nobody immediately near us. Amazing sunsets. The second time we went was June 2020. This time we stayed on the other side of the lake. "
Available this weekend
from $39 - $175 / night
"Location state park located north of Sonoma and an hour south of Mendocino • in the Virgina redwood forest • closest town: about 6 miles away
Facilities • Bathrooms & showers easily accesible"
"Spacious sites with fire pit, wooden food box and picnic table. Potable water available at spigots along the roads every 3-4 campgrounds."
Available this weekend
from $45 - $70 / night
"This RV park has many types of sites with pool, kid playgrounds and very large sights"
from $70 / night
"This is a rustic park with no sewer hookups, so you need to bring a sewer caddy, and also, they have laundry onsite. They are remodeling and repairing and it is coming along very nicely."
"Showers and restrooms and laundry. Plus the beautiful Russian River."
TravelerThis was a nice stay and the owner was friendly and helpful. It has showers, but no pet area or great place to walk dogs. It had full amenities for RVs and both pull in and back in sites. Closely spaced, but awning room. The only two drawbacks are that the price is high for the area, as is the area itself. There are some options to save, so it may be in your budget.
TravelerThe pros: the location is stunning. The beach is great, plus being situated right between Mendocino and Fort Bragg means lots of options for other sights to see and great restaurants too. The store is a nice bonus, the WiFi worked well near the entrance and the front part of camp, and every person I encountered who worked there was pleasant and helpful.
The cons: it is crowded as hell (at least during peak season in July) and no one cares at all about the posted quiet hours (and they don’t seem to be enforced). The tent sites do seem more spacious than the RV sites, but you’re still right on top of each other. I have terrible hearing and could still hear word for word what the family next to me was saying as they loudly chattered and laughed away at 11pm (kid, referring to my site: “Is someone in that tent?” adult: “Yeah, no one we know.” 😭)
I think the best way to visit again would be with friends who are in sites right next to you, so you have a better sense of what you’re getting into!
ScoutAbundant bad reviews were available for this campground but we had no major issues. Bathrooms and pool were in good condition.
TravelerSo the staff here are really nice and helpful and trying to keep the place up. There is definitely not enough staff for the size of of the grounds here. The river is super low right now but it's mid July inland in California so that's expected. Getting down to the river access is either by being dropped off by a car and then picked back up when you are done OR walking down the windy steep road and then back UP when you are tired and hungry and hot etc. If you have a mobility issue be prepared to get help. My husband has prosthetics and we couldn't be down at the same time without a lot of back and forth with the vehicle. The bathroom/bathhouse in A section of the park is trashed. I don't have a nicer way to put that. We lost water the second night we were there and that lasted most of the next day and then power went out at 11pm three nights later and was off for almost 24 hours. We more than likely won't be staying there again anytime soon. It looks like it used to be a really nice spot but it has just been neglected and abused.
GuideThis RV park has many types of sites with pool, kid playgrounds and very large sights
ScoutI absolutely love this place it was the friendliest place and super clean, I would recommend anyone to come and stay ❤️
ScoutThe employees are great, great attitudes.No problems whatsoever!
GuideStayed April 22, 2026. Only one other person camping. The folks that run the campsite were friendly and helpful. They have walk-ins, car camping, and spots for RV’s. There were heated outdoor showers, handwashing stations, and potable water.
Lots to do around the campsite. There’s swimming nearby and I think there was even a road that led to paintball. It was a clear night so the stars were so bright and visible. Got my spot for around $35 which I think is a steal for the amount of amenities there are. I would definitely visit again.
TravelerWe three generations, grandfather, mother and son, only had one night. We wanted awe inspiring and not too far from the Bay Area. Hendy Woods was a perfect match. The campground is well maintained and the sites are smallish but the layout and forest provide a lot of privacy. Trails go directly from the campground and are easy to walk. Take your map because there are a lot of crossings. Little Hendy Grove is a good one: a half mile or so to The Trees. There are some magnificent mature redwoods there.
Cabins near Mendocino National Forest range from basic fire lookouts to fully equipped lakeside accommodations. Most cabins in the region are reservable through recreation.gov or private resorts. Winter access to remote cabins can be difficult with snow and fallen trees blocking forest roads from December through April.
Fishing access: Pine Acres Blue Lake Resort offers waterfront cabin locations ideal for anglers. "We stayed for 5 glorious days..kayaking, fishing, small friendly campground. We had site A1...private cove right by lake," notes camper David B.
Wildlife viewing: Pine Mountain Lookout provides excellent opportunities for birding. Guests recommend early morning hours for best viewing. According to a visitor, "Get up early and you'll catch the dawn chorus of an amazing number of birds: warblers, woodpeckers, quail, juncos, grosbeaks, cowbirds, even robins."
Water activities: Kelsey Creek Campground at Clear Lake State Park offers cabin access with lake swimming. "Beautiful campground, good space between sites. Staff was great. We're in the Kelsey Creek Campground and there's hardly anyone here. Very peaceful, good birdwatching, and abundant deer life," shares Suzanne S.
Private lake access: Narrows Lodge Resort provides cabin and yurt accommodations with exclusive water access. "The water is crystal clear and there's a little dock for jumping off of. They bring in sand for the beach which makes it a really nice experience," explains Erika L.
Unique accommodations: Old Train Caboose offers distinctive lodging options. "This property is offering 2 lodging options, a Caboose & Tent camping under the Walnut trees," notes a visitor. The caboose provides a one-of-a-kind overnight experience not found at standard cabins.
Off-season tranquility: Cabin stays during weekdays or off-season months provide a more secluded experience. At Kelsey Creek Campground, one camper noted, "it was great for a mid-week stay. Beautiful campground, good space between sites. Very peaceful."
Road conditions: Access to Pine Mountain Lookout requires preparation. "The roads driving up to the lookout tower are logging roads so they are a bit rough, this wasn't something we were expecting on our drive there," explains Samantha S. Many forest cabins require high-clearance vehicles.
Wildlife precautions: Rodents can be an issue at remote cabins. "Keep your food up on the table at night--the mice are nocturnal visitors and will help themselves if you leave food on the counter," warns a Pine Mountain visitor.
Facility maintenance: Some cabins show signs of wear. At Thousand Trails Russian River, a camper observed, "Facilities are all in desperate need of updates and in a state of disrepair. Bathroom walls were falling off." Research current cabin conditions before booking.
Kid-friendly amenities: Mendocino Redwoods RV Resort offers extensive family activities. "A petting zoo, water play, pool, arcade and events. We were there for movie night. They had a big screen and showed a film for the kiddos," shares Donna D.
Beach cabins: Westport Beach RV Park offers cabins near the shoreline. "We rented a cabin here back in October. Our cabin was a five minute walk to the beach, with closer spots for RV'ers and tent campers," reports Jordan P., adding "The camp spots were all beautiful, flowery and grassy, with trees overhead."
Private bathroom access: Some yurts and cabins include bathroom facilities. At Narrows Lodge Resort, Jessica R. appreciated that "We rented a camping yurt and we were so surprised how big it is! We received a key to our own bathroom and shower!"
Hookup limitations: Many forest cabins lack full hookups. At Thousand Trails Russian River, a visitor notes, "Spaces are all 30 amp with no sewer hookups. Many spaces are very narrow/tight and uphill from your neighbor."
Access challenges: Forest roads may be difficult for larger vehicles. "If you have a larger rig be very conscious of where the spots are that allow for them. Ask at the ranger office for the list of ones they should have open," advises a Thousand Trails Russian River camper.
Seasonal planning: Winter access to cabins can be restricted. Visitors to East Park Reservoir note seasonal differences: "The water was super low, so our view was completely dried up," describes Julie D., highlighting how conditions change throughout the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Mendocino National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Mendocino National Forest is Pine Mountain Lookout with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Mendocino National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 30 cabin camping locations near Mendocino National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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