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Best Dispersed Camping near Burnt Ranch, CA

41 Reviews

Several dispersed camping options exist near Burnt Ranch, California on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. Lacks Creek BLM Management Area provides free primitive camping with established sites along Pine Ridge Road, approximately 17 miles east of Highway 101 via Bair Road. Additional dispersed camping can be found at Groves Prairie Camp, accessible via forest service roads from either Willow Creek or Hawkins Bar. Redwood Creek Dispersed Camp allows backcountry camping along the creek banks, while Cline Gulch BLM offers riverside primitive sites about 45 minutes from Redding.

Access roads to these dispersed sites typically require careful navigation on gravel and dirt surfaces. The drive to Lacks Creek involves a windy gravel road with some confusing intersections and occasional low-hanging branches. According to one visitor, "Follow Pine Ridge Road all the way till you hit dispersed sites with picnic tables and fire pits on the right." Most areas have no drinking water, so campers must bring their own supplies. Cell service varies by location, with some spots receiving limited coverage. Fire restrictions may apply seasonally, and campers should verify current conditions before traveling. Several locations have vault toilets, but no other amenities or services are available.

Many sites feature scenic views and natural surroundings that attract visitors. At Lacks Creek BLM, campers report "beautiful views" and access to hiking and biking paths directly from campsites. One camper noted the area has "fire rings, a nice running/bike path right in the camp ground," but warned about ticks in the area. Groves Prairie Camp provides a secluded meadow setting with three designated sites, each containing a picnic table and fire ring. North Trinity Lake offers lakeside camping without facilities but provides open field and wooded options. Most locations remain relatively quiet with limited traffic, though Cline Gulch reportedly experiences occasional target shooting activity in the vicinity.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Burnt Ranch, California (9)

    1. Lacks Creek BLM

    19 Reviews
    Hoopa, CA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 825-2300

    "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."

    "The whole BLM management area is well developed and has signs to guide you. There are spots all along pine ridge road. Campsites have picnic tables and fire rings."

    2. Groves Prairie Dispersed Camp

    2 Reviews
    Willow Creek, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 629-2118

    "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 a beautiful little creek right next to the campsite."

    3. BLM Dispersed Camping - Lacks Creek

    3 Reviews
    Hoopa, CA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 825-2300

    4. Aikens Creek Recreation Area

    1 Review
    Orleans, CA
    30 miles

    "But it still has camp sites and a little further in there is dispersed very close to the river. It was secluded and great."

    5. Redwood Creek Dispersed Camp

    4 Reviews
    Orick, CA
    40 miles
    Website

    "Dispersed camping along the river banks after walking through the Tall Trees hike. Easy overnighter."

    "but be prepared, you will be camping next to a creek on top of rocks. if you have a sleeping pad, this is no problem. if not, be aware. Next, you WILL cross a creek! the rocks are PAINFUL!"

    6. Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed

    8 Reviews
    French Gulch, CA
    48 miles

    "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."

    "No amenities of any kind."

    7. 44 Backcountry Camp — Redwood National Park

    1 Review
    Orick, CA
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 464-6101

    "It is located up the hill from the sign announcing it along the trail, look carefully if like me you've night hiked to get here."

    8. North Trinity Lake

    4 Reviews
    Trinity Center, CA
    45 miles

    "This is disbursed lakeside camping with no facilities."

    "- 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"

    9. Wild and Senic Trinity River Grapevine River Access Dispersed Site

    2 Reviews
    French Gulch, CA
    47 miles

    "Great location off 299. 5 miles from Big Flat"

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Burnt Ranch, CA

22 Photos of 9 Burnt Ranch Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Burnt Ranch, CA

41 Reviews of 9 Burnt Ranch Campgrounds

  • matt R.The Dyrt PRO User
    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.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 29, 2025

    Lacks Creek BLM

    Great Spot

    Not much more to say that others haven’t. Clean, with a beautiful view. The whole BLM management area is well developed and has signs to guide you. There are spots all along pine ridge road. Campsites have picnic tables and fire rings.

  • rThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2025

    Lacks Creek BLM

    Lacks creek blm

    Clean great view the gps was wrong it took me past the turn off and sent me to private property with a locked gate so at the top of the hill look for a clearly marked sign on the left turn up the hill when you get to the intersection take the road to the right and go up the hill I went past the first site and got on top there are three sites in a row and a bathroom at the end

  • Greg B.The Dyrt PRO User
    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.

  • Kalah H.
    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

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    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.

  • Toni K.The Dyrt PRO User
    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.

  • Ryan Z.
    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.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 7, 2020

    North Trinity Lake

    Gorgeous Lakeside Camping

    This is disbursed lakeside camping with no facilities.

Guide to Burnt Ranch

Dispersed camping near Burnt Ranch, California, offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities, these spots are perfect for adventurers seeking solitude and beauty.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Burnt Ranch, California

  • Bring your own water, as many areas, like Lacks Creek BLM, do not provide drinking water or sanitation facilities.
  • Be prepared for rough access roads; for instance, the drive to Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed can be bumpy, but the secluded experience is worth it.
  • Always check for cell service availability before heading out; some locations, such as BLM Dispersed Camping - Lacks Creek, may have limited connectivity.

Scenic hikes for dispersed campers

Activities while free camping near Burnt Ranch

  • Fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunities at North Trinity Lake, where you can cast a line in a picturesque setting.
  • Enjoy a peaceful evening by the fire at Lacks Creek BLM, where campfires are allowed, making it perfect for stargazing and storytelling.
  • Wildlife watching is a must; keep an eye out for local fauna while camping at Cline Gulch BLM Dispersed, where you might spot deer or even wild horses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Burnt Ranch, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Burnt Ranch, CA is Lacks Creek BLM with a 4.6-star rating from 19 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 9 dispersed camping locations near Burnt Ranch, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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