Mendocino National Forest has camping choices that go from well-developed campgrounds to basic spots with few amenities. You can stay at Mendocino Redwoods RV Resort near Willits if you want a starting point for hiking the forest trails. Letts Lake Campground works well for campers who prefer a quieter setting with fishing nearby - many people try for bass and trout in the lake. At Sunset Point Campground inside the forest boundaries, you'll find good views and decent facilities. The forest terrain varies quite a bit, with some camping spots under trees and others in open areas. Weather changes quickly here, so pack for both warm days and cool nights. Most campers visit during spring and fall when the weather is mild and there are fewer people around. Summer brings dry conditions that increase fire danger in the forest. Always check current fire rules before your trip. Places like Oak Flat Campground have basic facilities, so bring everything you'll need. Some of the more remote camping areas require trucks or SUVs with higher clearance to reach them. The quiet and natural setting of Mendocino National Forest makes the extra preparation worthwhile. The forest has something for everyone, from RV sites to places where you can camp away from crowds.
"Close to neighboring campsites but not too bad. Grove village is really close where they have firewood, grocery store, restaurant, shops, post office. Bugs in summer so don’t forget your bug spray!"
"Great location in the Sequoia National Park. Appropriate for families, couples or singles. Plenty of trails to roam and scenery galore. Easy access to bathrooms, evening activities."
"Camp sites are spaced out, so you're not on top of one another like some of the other sites around the lake. Also has a nice beach and direct access to the lake."
"No better campsite for a long weekend of lake lounging and good camping good. The sites are BIG, and the ones that lead to the water give you best access to the lake."
$5 / night
"Was 0.75 miles away from water (we have been in a drought?) but beautiful spacious campsite. Even with annoying neighbors, you can have peace and quiet."
"The local store is about a 10 minute drive away and during the summer has ice beer and provides firewood for sale (during winter no ice but plenty of snow)."
"This is close to the lake, but no direct lake access. Weather was pretty hot and humid until a few hours after dark."
"Pogie point is one of my favorite camp grounds around Lake Pillsbury. Not many people camp there because there is no direct access to park your boat next to your site."
$12 / night
"National Forest pulled in officers from surrounding forests and Sheriff Depts. With a 35' Class A our options were limited. A Ranger suggested Letts Lake."
"The campground does not offer very much privacy between sites, but is right on Letts Lake, offering great views."
$50 / night
"Only caveat is the access to the cabin. They're not kidding when they warn you to bring a chainsaw. "
"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. But overall it was an amazing experience."
"Navy Camp is a small, quiet campground on the far side of the lake from the dam. When the water is high (early summer), this camp is our favorite on the lake."
"After a last minute decision to leave Lake Berryessa in search of more solitude, found this gem of a spot. Lonely, picturesque, peaceful, and most importantly... open! Totally recommend it."
"But not a bad place to get away from the city. Daily easy access, rough dirt roads, I have a truck but would feel fine driving my wife’s Subaru to these sites."
$8 / night
"Middle creek campground was as close as we could find to free camping in Upper Lake CA."
"Beautiful location, campground was easily accessible going up Elk Mountain Road. Camped in Site 11, pull through, no hook ups, nice picnic table, grill and fire pit. Vault toilets, no showers."
GuideEnjoyed our time at pillsburry. Water was warm, but too much clay and some areas had algae. Camp site was very spacious with fire pit. We fit our vehicles perfectly. Water spigot at camp site and bathrooms were across. There’s a store and token showers
GuideVery spacious camp site. We got invited here by a relative. Stayed in the upper area, so you had to drive down to the lake. Park rangers were present. Can’t remember the camp site we stayed in but if you don’t mind taking a 5 minute drive,book the upper campground. Lake water was 7/10. Great temperature, but I’m more of a Christal clear water person. There was some algae/ weeds. I heard a lot of negative comments about the water. Overall we had a good time Bathrooms and showers were next to our site.
GuideFinally open again after a couple years of clearing storm damage.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/demonstration-state-forests/boggs-demonstration-state-forest
I was there the week prior to July 4 and expected a crowd. Instead I was one of only two campers until I left on the 3rd.
As in years past, the "no-see-ems" and bees get a bit thick. The bees absolutely LOVE water, so have a van with a shower on the rear door complicates things. Nonetheless, the stay was nice. The mountain biking, though tough, was super fun. I got lucky with the weather too - only hit about 82 at the warmest.
Vault toilets are reasonably well maintained. Don't be afraid to use them if you need to.
There continues to be a lot of forest recovery after the fire over a decade (wow!) ago.
The trees that were planted are now reaching an impressive height and providing shade on many of the trails. See the pic with the bike against the tree for a sense of scale.
Nice to have the option available again - I'll be back in the fall.
Oh... the pizza parlor in Cobb is also excellent. They have great pizza a great sleection of good beers on tap!
GuideApparently this place has been closed for four years and is just re-opening. It definitely looks like it. Sections of the campground are still closed, and the parts that are open were ROUGH. This places does have potential- views of the lake are good, bathrooms have showers. By far the worst part of camping here is that there was no camp host and no park ranger. Saw unsafe fire practices, and experienced extremely loud music that went to 2:00 am and started again at 6:30 am. Did I ask for it by coming here on Fourth of July weekend? Probably. On the whole, the entire experience felt like trying to camp in a run down city park. Having no one to contact when things get out of control after the sun goes down invites campers to try to regulate other campers, which is always recipe for disaster. I’ve camped in all kinds of place - Nat’l park, state parks, county parks, BLM, National Forests, and have experienced the full range of camping experiences . I will never come back to this place again.
ScoutThe good: Drive in was awesome. Beautiful view of the lake and sunset. Many spots to pull out into and choose from. Very quiet, minimal road noise.
The bad: pair of coyotes spotted stalking our campsite, did not respond to hazing and had to pack up dinner preparations quickly to ensure no bad encounters
*also note that cell service is okay for t mobile and barely existent for Verizon
GuideBeen coming here for years when passing through. Super convenient, very affordable gas, security everywhere and good staff.
ScoutThe coordinates for this location are located on property owned by Kevin S. Burdick and Mary Ann Jones. It is not National Forest or BLM land.
The parcel just to the South is also privately owned, by Marie Helen Pejcha.
All other adjacent properties are also privately owned. This location should be deleted from The Dyrt.
The nearest public lands where dispersed camping is actually allowed is a mile to the East along High Valley Road, in the Mendocino National Forest.
ScoutWe love to visit Harbin Hot Springs near Middletown after wine tasting in Napa Valley, but Harbin doesn’t allow dogs. We discovered this great campground on private land. They have a very steep road up, but we made it up with our 24 foot Sprinter. They have a farm atmosphere with friendly chickens. Be aware that they do have a dog but she was friendly. You need to leash your dog around the chickens but they can go off leash around the property and they have a dog friendly hike with a great view. Harbin is less than 15 minutes, easy drive with no traffic.
ScoutWe had a very romantic couples retreat to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The yurt was very beautifully decorated, clean and elegant with sisal carpets, candles, fairy lights and beautiful decorations. We had a table with tea and coffee in our tent, and the heated mattress pad was very cozy. Even though it rained we were snug and dry and the sound of rain on the canvas was soothing.
Mendocino National Forest camping encompasses terrain ranging from 750 to 8,092 feet elevation across nearly one million acres of land. The forest spans seven counties in northern California, with most campsites accessible between April and October. Winter conditions often make roads impassable due to snow at higher elevations, while summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F in lower areas.
Fishing opportunities: Letts Lake Campground offers productive fishing for bass and trout. According to Keith B., "This lake is amazing for Bass fishing!! There are only a few sites on the water, definitely get there early. All First come, first serve. We seen the sheriff patrol at least once a day here."
Hiking trails: Pine Mountain Lookout provides access to numerous hiking trails with spectacular views. A visitor notes, "Get up early and you'll catch the dawn chorus of an amazing number of birds: warblers, woodpeckers, quail, juncos, grosbeaks, cowbirds, even robins."
Wildlife viewing: Navy Camp allows visitors to observe various wildlife species in their natural habitat. As Leila J. explains, "When the water is high (early summer), this camp is our favorite on the lake. Later in the season, it can be very dry and you may be the only camper there, even on a weekend. (This can be good but the forest critters are more bold in trying to steal your food!)."
Secluded campsites: Pogie Point Campground offers privacy not found at other locations. Rich H. mentions, "Pogie point is one of my favorite camp grounds around Lake Pillsbury. Not many people camp there because there is no direct access to park your boat next to your site. Normally a spot where my buddies and I group camp and make some noise."
Lake access: Campers appreciate the direct water access at Fuller Grove. According to Marc A., "Fuller grove was a nice little campground on Lake Pillsbury. The campground beach is beautiful, definitely recommend some late-night stargazing. There's only outhouses in decent condition."
Natural surroundings: Deer Valley Campground attracts visitors seeking solitude. Ray S. describes it as a "Beautiful place sunrises and sunsets even chasing the moon everyone said experience this adventure sincerely. The months to visit all year round it's beautiful."
Road conditions: Access to many campgrounds requires driving on rough forest roads. Regarding Letts Lake Campground, Jeanie P. advises, "The drive to the campsite is a long 19 miles on combo of narrow paved and windy road and dirt road. 4wd wasn't necessary when we went but lower clearance cars might not fair so well."
Seasonal considerations: Water levels affect campsite quality throughout the year. At Navy Camp, "When the lake is high enough, we stay here so we can anchor our boat for the duration of our trip near our campsite. There are two boat launches on the lake: one by Fuller Grove Camp, one near Sunset camp."
Limited amenities: Most campgrounds offer basic facilities only. Middle Creek Campground features "Vault toilets, no showers. There is potable water close to the campsites," according to Michi P., who adds that her site had a "nice picnic table, grill and fire pit."
Easy trails: Mackerricher State Park Campground offers family-friendly hiking options near Mendocino. Jennifer M. reports, "This campground is a short walk to the beach and hiking trails. Amenities include: showers, bathrooms, drinking water and fire rings. Decent cell service."
Wildlife education: Children can observe elk herds at Pogie Point. Cary A. shares, "The best part, in the right season the elk herds come through the dry riverbed next to the camp. We saw a herd of 30+ elk and listened to them calling all evening and in the morning."
Swimming spots: Multiple campgrounds offer safe swimming areas for children. At Letts Lake, a camper notes there's "an easy trail that loops around the lake that's just over a mile long and a place to put in a boat in the lake. Very dog and kid friendly."
Site selection: Middle Creek Campground accommodates larger vehicles. Justin W. explains, "This campground is dry and built primarily for HOV people cuz the Elk mountain area is very much a dirt bike and four-wheel Haven. It's got dropped toilets and it has potable water."
Water availability: RVers should note that water access varies by campground. At Letts Lake, Graham W. explains, "With a 35' Class A our options were limited. A Ranger suggested Letts Lake. There is a narrow one lane newly paved road that goes up to Dixie Glade equestrian camp, from there it is dirt. Taking it slow, we made it to Letts Lake and parked in spot 12."
Supply planning: The remote location requires bringing all essential supplies. For Lake Pillsbury campgrounds, Leila J. advises, "Soda Creek Store is about a 10 minute drive. They have ice, wood, bait, beer, sodas, snacks, and a few other things like tp, diapers, etc if you forgot these. But you can never count on anything...they've got what they've got and that's it."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds in Mendocino National Forest?
Mendocino National Forest offers several excellent campgrounds for different camping styles. Little Stony — Mendocino National Forest is highly recommended for its accessibility, clean paved sites, and beautiful stream filled with wildlife. It's easily reached without four-wheel drive, though be aware it's popular with dirt bike riders. Letts Lake Campground — Mendocino National Forest provides another quality option with drive-in access. For those seeking more rustic experiences, Oak Flat and Deer Valley campgrounds offer basic amenities with toilets and water. Most campgrounds in the forest feature fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, with the best sites available from late spring through early fall depending on weather conditions.
Where can I find dispersed camping in Mendocino National Forest?
Dispersed camping is available throughout Mendocino National Forest, though accessibility may be limited due to past fire damage and seasonal closures. Middle Creek Campground offers a good base near Upper Lake when free camping options are restricted. For more remote dispersed camping, Red Mountain provides ultimate seclusion about 6 miles from civilization down windy roads and up a mountainside—ideal for those with off-road capabilities who want to stay awhile. When dispersed camping, remember to follow Leave No Trace principles, camp at least 100 feet from water sources, use existing fire rings when allowed, and pack out all trash. Always check current forest conditions and fire restrictions before heading out, as large portions of the forest may be closed due to wildfire recovery.
What fishing opportunities are available while camping in Mendocino National Forest?
Mendocino National Forest offers diverse fishing opportunities across its streams, lakes, and reservoirs. Pogie Point Campground provides excellent access to Lake Pillsbury, a popular fishing destination. The campground offers shaded sites with clean pit toilets and moderate bug activity (bring spray). Navy Camp also provides fishing access with basic amenities. Throughout the forest, anglers can target trout species in mountain streams and bass, catfish, and panfish in larger bodies of water. The Eel River and its tributaries run through portions of the forest, offering seasonal fishing. Most fishing locations are accessible from late spring through early fall, depending on weather conditions and water levels. Remember to obtain a California fishing license before your trip and check local regulations for catch limits and seasonal restrictions.
What hiking trails are available in Mendocino National Forest?
Mendocino National Forest features a network of hiking trails for various skill levels, though availability may be affected by seasonal conditions and fire recovery efforts. Near Russian Gulch State Park Campground, you'll find secluded hiking trails through forested areas, perfect for day hikes. Van Damme State Park Campground also offers convenient access to trails within the greater Mendocino region. The forest itself contains numerous backcountry trails that wind through diverse landscapes of dense woods, open meadows, and elevated vistas. Popular routes include the Summit Springs Trail and the Snow Mountain Wilderness paths. Hikers should come prepared with proper footwear, ample water, navigation tools, and awareness that cell service is limited. Always check trail conditions and closures before setting out, especially during and after fire season.
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