Primitive camping near Mendocino National Forest offers a range of secluded sites on BLM lands and forest roads. Located in Northern California's diverse terrain, these dispersed sites range from 1,500 to 7,000 feet in elevation, with most spots lacking developed facilities. Seasonal temperature variations can be extreme, with summer highs reaching 100°F and winter lows dropping below freezing at higher elevations.
What to do
Hiking nearby trails: Cowboy Camp provides access to multiple trailheads with varying difficulty levels. "It's open, grassy level and quiet. Next to a stream and surrounded by hills. The only tough part is getting across the stream to some of the hikes," notes one camper at Cowboy Camp.
Wildlife observation: Sheldon Creek camping areas feature diverse wildlife in wooded settings. "Had deer, butterflies, and humming birds all around us. Babbling brook, cool and comfortable in mid-October," reports a visitor to BLM Sheldon Creek.
Off-road adventures: Technical driving routes provide challenging terrain for properly equipped vehicles. A reviewer at Cow Mountain Rec Area Dispersed explains: "Love taking our Rock crawler up to cow. Lots of obstacles. Camping is awesome. Few sites and vault restrooms."
What campers like
Solitude and space: Most dispersed sites offer ample distance between campsites. "Only one other person here when I was. They got the prime spot, early bird and all. Very nice view," reports a camper at Lakeview Dispersed Campground.
Cost-free camping: These primitive sites provide no-cost alternatives to developed campgrounds. "FREE BLM campground... 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."
Ridge-top perspectives: Higher elevation campsites offer expansive vistas. A visitor to High Valley Ridge notes: "There are numerous pull-outs and campsites along this High Ridge Road with absolutely breathtakingly stunning views of the valley to the east and the lake to the west."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access routes vary from moderately rough to technical. "The road to this pin is completely impassable in any regular vehicle, this would require an ATV. We took a regular AWD midsize SUV... The road is EXTREMELY narrow and windy on the edge of a cliff," warns a camper about High Valley Rd Dispersed.
Limited facilities: Most 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."
Site availability: Arrive early for preferred spots. "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."
Tips for camping with families
Weather preparation: Temperature swings can be significant, especially at higher elevations. "Very beautiful and quiet, can be extremely cold at night and morning so be prepared! We did not got many bugs which was great."
Site selection: Research specific sites before arrival. "There were only one other person here when I was. They got the prime spot, early bird and all. You have to drive up to right as you enter and then turn toward the lake to find the really nice spots."
Wildlife awareness: Bear activity occurs in some areas. "My wife and I were going to camp here but she was a little spooked by the amount of bears we saw on the trail to the campsite," notes a visitor to Grizzly Flat Dispersed Campground.
Tips from RVers
Vehicle size limitations: Small to mid-sized rigs work best. "We always manage to level out in our 23" Winnebago View. There is lots of open space so no crowding."
Turn-around points: Some roads lack adequate space to turn large vehicles. "Tow behinds/trailers not recommended; rough roads and can't turn back once on the path."
Seasonal access: Road conditions worsen with precipitation. "The road getting to it was definitely a bit sketchy for my Rav4 AWD, probably wouldn't be able to do it if it wasn't dry. Large vehicles likely won't be able to make it up there."
