Recreation
Framed by distinctive geology and views of a timeless landscape, the Modoc National Forest is a place where solitude and recreation come together connecting people to the land and the past. These ecosystems with their rich habitat create abundant opportunities for recreation around water, wildlife viewing, fishing and hunting.
A network of scenic drives provide local communities and growing urban areas easy access to a rich heritage of land use and culture, from Native Americans to present day ranching. In concert with communities, the forest provides learning opportunities that invite visitors to stay, enjoy, and care for the forest in ways that maintain this remote, quiet character.
This website should help you plan your visit to the Forest. Navigate by choosing your planned recreational activity in the above menu. If you have a favorite area in mind, the current status of the campgrounds is listed in the table below with a link to more information. Also be sure to look at the Alerts & Notices page to view any emergency closures or other information that might affect your visit.
Other than 16 sites at Medicine Lake and one group site at Blue Lake campsites on the Modoc National Forest are first come, first served with a 14-day limit.
Current Recreation Conditions
Area Name | Status | Area Conditions |
---|---|---|
Ash Creek Campground | Open | 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services. |
Bear Camp Flat Trailhead | None | |
Big Sage Boating Site | Open | 2/2/2024: variable wet road conditions. several large puddles cross the road between Crowder Flat Rd and the campground. |
Big Sage Campground | Open | 2/2/2024: variable wet road conditions. several large puddles cross the road between Crowder Flat Rd and the campground. |
Blanche Lake Campground | None | 11/2/2023: No trash services. |
Blue Lake Boating Site | Open | 4/09/2024: Boat dock installed. |
Blue Lake Campground | Unreachable | 4/10/2024: No drinking water. No trash collection. No services. area still inaccessible due to snow Access is not maintained during winter |
Bullseye Lake Campground | None | 11/2/2023: No trash services. |
Cave Lake Boating Site | None | |
Cave Lake Campground | None | |
Cedar Creek Lower Trailhead | Open | |
Cedar Creek Upper Trailhead | Open | 3/5/2024: Open but road not plowed from HWY 299 |
Cedar Pass Campground | None | Seasonal road closure. Campground access is closed to wheeled vehicles between February 1st and April 30th 36 CFR 261.13 |
Cedar Pass Snow Park | Closed | Snow park will not open this winter. |
Cottonwood Flat Campground | None | 1/2/2024: Avoid the road from HWY 139 near Ambrose/Howard's Gulch to this location until late spring when road is dry. |
Doorknob Warming Hut Snowpark | Open | 11/1/2023: open all year. |
Duncan North Boating Site | Open | 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains. |
Duncan South Boating Site | Open | 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains. |
East Creek Campground | None | |
East Creek Trailhead | None | Roughly 5.5 miles of trail were cleared in October 2023. |
Emerson Campground | None | |
Green Springs Boating Site | None | 1/26/2024: road conditions are wet and muddy. |
Howard's Gulch Campground | Closed | 11/13/2023: Campground closed for the season |
Jane's Reservoir Boating Site | Open | 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains. |
Jane's Reservoir Campground | Open | 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains. |
Lassen Creek Campground | None | |
Lava Camp Campground | Open | 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services. |
Lily Lake Boating Site | None | |
Lily Lake Picnic Site | None | |
Little Medicine Lake Picnic Site | None | 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services. |
Logan Slough Boating Site | Closed | Access road 45N06 seasonal closure between December 1st and April 30th 36 CFR 261.13 |
Lower Rush Creek Campground | Open | 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services. |
Medicine Lake Recreation Area | None | 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services. |
Middle Fork Davis Creek Mine | Closed | reopens to the public July 2024 |
Mill Creek Falls Campground | Open | 1/24/2024: 4 to 5 inches of wet and heavy snow. No drinking water or trash collection. |
Mill Creek Trail | Open | |
Modoc Backcountry Discovery Trail | Open | Portions of this motorized route have seasonal closures during winter. Users must consult a Motor Vehicle Use Map to identify these areas. |
North Emerson Trailhead | None | |
Obsidian Needles Mine | Closed | reopens to the public July 2024 |
Owl Creek Trail | None | |
Patterson Campground | None | |
Patterson Guard Station | Closed | Visit rec.gov to book your stay for the 2024 season. Reservable dates become available 6-months in advance. |
Payne Springs Campground | None | 11/2/2023: No trash services. |
Pepperdine Campground | None | |
Pepperdine Equestrian Campground | None | |
Pepperdine Trailhead | None | 11/2/2023: its winter up here. |
Pine Creek Trailhead | None | |
Pink Lady Mine | Closed | reopens to the public July 2024 |
Pit River Trailhead | Open | 1/26/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains. |
Plum Valley Campground | None | |
Poison Flat Trail | None | |
Rainbow Mine | Closed | reopens to the public July 2024 |
Red Tail Rim Trail North Trailhead | Open | 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services. |
Red Tail Rim Trail South Trailhead | Open | 10/23/2023: No drinking water |
Reservoir C Boating Site | Open | 1/26/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains. |
Reservoir C Campground | Open | 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains. |
Reservoir F Boating Site | Open | 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains. |
Reservoir F Campground | Open | 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains. |
Schonchin Springs Campground | None | 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services. |
Slide Creek Trail | None | |
Soup Springs Campground | Closed | Closed for large scale hazard tree abatement. Stay tuned for information on the 2024 season. |
Soup Springs Trailhead | None | |
South Emerson Trailhead | None | |
Stough Reservoir Campground | None | 11/2/2023: No drinking water |
Summit Trail | None | |
Tom Smith Trail | None | |
Upper Cottonwood Trail | None | |
Upper Rush Creek Campground | Open | 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services. |
Willow Creek Campground | Open | 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services. |
Willow Creek Picnic Site | Open | 11/2/2023: Open all year. |