Best Dispersed Camping near Quincy, CA

Dispersed camping opportunities exist throughout the Plumas National Forest near Quincy, California, with several free primitive sites available on public lands. The region features multiple dispersed camping areas including Stag Point, Humbug Summit, and Bogard USFS Dispersed sites. Fort Sage Off Highway Vehicle Area, located approximately 60 miles northeast of Quincy, provides designated dispersed camping with more amenities than typical primitive sites. Most locations require no permits and allow camping at no cost, though Christie Hill Basecamp and Greenville Creek areas do require permits.

Access to many dispersed sites requires navigating unpaved forest roads that vary significantly in condition. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for reaching remote locations like Bowman Lake Dispersed, where roads become particularly rough and rocky. Several areas feature primitive fire rings, though seasonal fire restrictions commonly apply throughout the region. Most sites lack amenities such as drinking water, toilets, or trash service. Visitors must pack out all waste and bring sufficient water supplies. Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most locations, with exceptions at Fort Sage OHV Area where some carriers provide minimal coverage.

The dispersed camping experience near Quincy offers solitude and natural beauty, with opportunities to hear coyotes, view wildlife, and enjoy dark night skies. Campers report varying levels of seclusion depending on location and season. Fort Sage OHV Area receives consistent praise for its cleanliness and maintained facilities. "Cleanest pit toilets ever and they are lit up (great for late arrival). Quiet and smells like juniper and sage," noted one visitor. Bogard USFS Dispersed camping area provides a more secluded experience, though seasonal conditions affect accessibility. A camper remarked, "The campsite was very easy to find, but also very secluded. When we arrived, only 3 other sites were taken."

Best Dispersed Sites Near Quincy, California (26)

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Quincy, CA

22 Reviews of 26 Quincy Campgrounds


  • Aliza  N.
    Nov. 1, 2022

    29N22 Dispersed near Lassen NP

    Dispersed camping near Lassen NP

    Lovely quiet remote dispersed camping spot. No services. On a very nice gravel road marked for winter cross country skiing. Saw a few others in the area. Most camp spots are right on the edge of the road but lots of room and plenty of privacy. Leave no trace. Pack in, pack out.

  • Nick C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 13, 2023

    29N22 Dispersed near Lassen NP

    Limited Option Near Lassen NP South Entrance

    This is a small flat area near the base of Christie Hill. The turn off of the Hwy 89 is at the McGowan SnoPark area (really just a logger's staging area). There are a handful of very rough roads one could pull off the road and camp in a tent on (or 4x4 van). For a larger RV or travel trailer, we found only one spot (40.390996,-121.540748) that was large enough to accommodate our 32 foot travel trailer. It is right along the road, but there is virtually no traffic here, so we found it acceptable. 

    I do not believe there are any good spots further down the road. A word of caution as well - the lake just beyond here (McGowan Lake) - is privately owned and gated. It is not available for camping.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2024

    Bowman Lake Dispersed

    Lake side Campsites

    If you are looking to be near the water and no service, this is perfect. The rough road in I believe must keep some folks out but the lake is amazing.

  • aThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2024

    Antelope Mountain Dispersed Camp

    One good area

    We only found one good area and it already had 2 people at it. It had level sites and nice tall trees. It also tucked in out of the wind. We some for other sites but they were windy, rough road to reach them, and not level so we moved on

  • Daisee Mae S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2022

    CA-139 Pull Off Area

    Somewhere to Rest

    This is literally right off the highway, it might be hard to spot unless someone else is there.

    The roads to the spots are a little rutted, no low profile vehicles, but it’s easy to access.

    There is no name to this place, and the bulletin board has zero information.

    Possibly 5-6 spaces. The most people that was here any given night were just stopping for a place to rest for the night.

    No bathrooms, trash or water. One of the locals said there is a junk yard you can walk to from here but we never found it.

    Traffic noise dies down around 10/11PM. Unless the occasional driver is honking at absolutely nothing, it’s pretty quiet.

    We heard gunshots around 9PM that lasted for about an hour. Seems the people around here hunt at night.

    Definitely just a place to rest or gather yourself for a couple of days. I’m not sure about the amount of time you can stay here. But hey, it’s free!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 13, 2024

    Christie Hill Basecamp

    Dispersed camping

    No water or outhouse. If you have a low clearance vehicles, pick your pins carefully.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 21, 2021

    Bogard USFS Dispersed

    Good for a night or two - can be muddy in Spring

    The main road to Bogard Campground had too much snow for us to be able to pass through, so we found this small clearing tucked away off of Forest Route 32N09 in Lassen Nat’l Forest to stay overnight instead. 

    It’s a nice open flat-ish space, big enough for several rigs as well as big enough to do a complete u-turn in our 26ft class c without having to back up. 

    It’s quiet except for lots of distant road noise from the highway and surprisingly frequent train noise in the distance. We stayed here on a Sunday night in April, and did not see another soul. There seems to be a lot of logging activity in this area though, and we wondered if this clearing was some sort of staging area for the loggers.  

    There’s a small pond here at this time of year, probably from runoff from snow melt. Be aware of the ground near the water being deceptively solid but saturated with water and muddy. Our tires sank a bit when we tried to park too close to the water. 

    Zero cell service for any of the 3 major carriers, and our cell booster did not help much.

  • cThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 7, 2023

    Christie Hill Basecamp

    Quiet camping 4 miles outside Lassen NP

    Just off the main highway. Gravel road in. We had a Ford van that had no problem driving over the dirt and gravel road. There are sites with fire rings and relatively flat ground. Great location for dispersed camping just minutes from the southern lassen entrance.


Guide to Quincy

Dispersed camping areas near Quincy, California provide overnight stays on Plumas National Forest lands with access to mountain terrain at elevations ranging from 3,500 to 7,000 feet. Free camping near Quincy typically requires visitors to bring all supplies including water and waste disposal bags. Most sites are accessible from May through October, though higher elevation locations may have lingering snow into June.

What to do

Wildlife viewing opportunities: At Bowman Lake Dispersed camping area, visitors can observe local wildlife in a quiet setting. The area requires navigating "rocky, but worth every second" terrain according to one camper who noted they found "a perfect spot with easy access to water right outside of our tent. Very friendly area for our dog - zero ticks the whole weekend!"

Fishing access: Grouse Ridge Campground provides access to several alpine lakes for fishing. "The views were beautiful and the water was perfect," notes one visitor. Despite challenging access roads, the location offers solitude and good fishing opportunities in multiple nearby lakes.

Stargazing: The dark night skies at Antelope Mountain Dispersed Camp provide excellent stargazing conditions. One camper described it as "not a bad place to spend a night or two primitive camping" with sufficient elevation to escape light pollution from nearby towns.

Off-highway vehicle trails: The designated trail system allows motorized recreation on established routes. A visitor to the area noted, "Trail riding galore. Went on all the trails and out in the sand dune area we came upon wild horses, this was quite a site to see."

What campers like

Clean facilities: Fort Sage Off Highway Vehicle Area receives consistent praise for maintenance. "The gravel road in was as smooth as the hwy. Clean bathrooms (outhouse), picnic tables, fire pit, and a great panoramic Mountain View sunset," reports one camper.

Natural quiet: Many dispersed sites offer significant separation from other campers. At Bogard USFS Dispersed camping area, a visitor noted the location was "very easy to find, but also very secluded. When we arrived, only 3 other sites were taken."

Access to water features: Several campsites provide proximity to lakes or streams. "If you are looking to be near the water and no service, this is perfect. The rough road in I believe must keep some folks out but the lake is amazing," shares a camper at Bowman Lake.

Night sky viewing: The remote location allows for exceptional astronomical observation. One camper shared their experience: "Coyotes yipping in the distance while staring into a gorgeous night sky. Couldn't ask for a better free spot!"

What you should know

Vehicle requirements: Many sites require high-clearance or 4WD vehicles. As one Bowman Lake visitor explained: "Only accessible by way of 4 x 4 with decent clearance. The trail will take you off road for quite some time, but it's well with the adventure. Traction boards and a winch could help you through unexpected obstacles."

Seasonal conditions: Early and late season camping presents unique challenges. A visitor to one dispersed site noted: "We were there last weekend in June and there was still snow on the ground. Woot! It was awesome."

Insect preparation: Christie Hill Basecamp and other sites experience seasonal mosquito activity. "Mosquitoes EVERYWHERE! We pulled in to the area around 6 PM on a Tuesday evening, not a single person around. We originally pulled near the little bog. When we got out we noticed TONS of mosquitoes," warned one camper.

Changing site conditions: Campgrounds may undergo maintenance or logging operations. "Not sure what happened here but its under reconstruction. Some of the spots are gone. The spots open now are just spots the bulldozer made to push material off the road," reported a visitor at Christie Hill.

Tips for camping with families

Site selection for safety: Choose established sites with natural boundaries. "We met a very kind older woman who had been there a while & said that not many people know this place exists, so it doesn't get very busy. The campsite was well kept. We had a picnic table, campfire & plenty of trees for our hammocks," shared a visitor at Bogard.

Wildlife awareness: Prepare for encounters with small wildlife. "I left my dog's food out one afternoon & a chipmunk got to it but other than that, we had no issues with wildlife!" explained a camper at Bogard USFS Dispersed camping area.

Recreation planning: Bring activities that don't require facilities. A visitor to Grouse Ridge noted, "We went mid week in August and it wasn't too crowded. The views were beautiful and the water was perfect," suggesting weekday visits for families seeking more space.

Tips from RVers

Site accessibility assessment: Evaluate dispersed sites carefully before committing. "There appears to be logging or construction going on, as a previous review stated most of the pull ins are just areas that the bulldozer is pushed everything back. There is one a few hundred yards in that is decent nice and quiet, but very dusty," advised an RVer at Christie Hill Basecamp.

Seasonal planning: Avoid peak summer heat at lower elevation sites. "I would avoid this place in the summer, hot and with no power it would be a sweat box," cautioned a visitor about one camping area. Consider higher elevation sites during summer months for natural cooling.

Ground conditions: Watch for saturated soil after snowmelt. "Be aware of the ground near the water being deceptively solid but saturated with water and muddy. Our tires sank a bit when we tried to park too close to the water," warned an experienced RVer about spring conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find dispersed camping near Quincy, CA?

Several dispersed camping options exist around Quincy in the Plumas National Forest. Fort Sage Off Highway Vehicle Area offers well-maintained sites with cement picnic tables, fire pits, and vault toilets. It's accessible from the highway with two camping sections. For a more remote experience, 29N22 Dispersed near Lassen NP provides quiet camping on a gravel road with no services. Additional options include Kyburz Flats (rough road access, suitable for high-clearance vehicles), Bowman Lake Dispersed (lakeside camping with rough access roads), Antelope Mountain Dispersed Camp, and Humbug Summit Dispersed. Most areas require pack-in, pack-out practices and have no facilities beyond occasional fire rings.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Quincy, CA is Stag Point with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 26 dispersed camping locations near Quincy, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.