Recreation


A red canoe with a Forest Service shield  floats on Blue Lake on a sunny day

Discover an Area by Activity

Select an activity to find an area to visit.

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.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Current Recreation Conditions

Area Name Status Area Conditions
Ash Creek Campground Open Open 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services.
Bear Camp Flat Trailhead None None
Big Sage Boating Site Open 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 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 None 11/2/2023: No trash services.
Blue Lake Boating Site Open Open 4/09/2024: Boat dock installed.
Blue Lake Campground Unreachable 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 None 11/2/2023: No trash services.
Cave Lake Boating Site None None
Cave Lake Campground None None
Cedar Creek Lower Trailhead Open Open
Cedar Creek Upper Trailhead Open Open 3/5/2024: Open but road not plowed from HWY 299
Cedar Pass Campground None 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 Closed Snow park will not open this winter.
Cottonwood Flat Campground None 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 Open 11/1/2023: open all year.
Duncan North Boating Site Open Open 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains.
Duncan South Boating Site Open Open 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains.
East Creek Campground None None
East Creek Trailhead None None Roughly 5.5 miles of trail were cleared in October 2023.
Emerson Campground None None
Green Springs Boating Site None None 1/26/2024: road conditions are wet and muddy.
Howard's Gulch Campground Closed Closed 11/13/2023: Campground closed for the season
Jane's Reservoir Boating Site Open Open 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains.
Jane's Reservoir Campground Open Open 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains.
Lassen Creek Campground None None
Lava Camp Campground Open Open 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services.
Lily Lake Boating Site None None
Lily Lake Picnic Site None None
Little Medicine Lake Picnic Site None None 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services.
Logan Slough Boating Site Closed Closed Access road 45N06 seasonal closure between December 1st and April 30th 36 CFR 261.13
Lower Rush Creek Campground Open Open 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services.
Medicine Lake Recreation Area None None 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services.
Middle Fork Davis Creek Mine Closed Closed reopens to the public July 2024
Mill Creek Falls Campground Open Open 1/24/2024: 4 to 5 inches of wet and heavy snow. No drinking water or trash collection.
Mill Creek Trail Open Open
Modoc Backcountry Discovery Trail Open 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 None
Obsidian Needles Mine Closed Closed reopens to the public July 2024
Owl Creek Trail None None
Patterson Campground None None
Patterson Guard Station Closed Closed Visit rec.gov to book your stay for the 2024 season. Reservable dates become available 6-months in advance.
Payne Springs Campground None None 11/2/2023: No trash services.
Pepperdine Campground None None
Pepperdine Equestrian Campground None None
Pepperdine Trailhead None None 11/2/2023: its winter up here.
Pine Creek Trailhead None None
Pink Lady Mine Closed Closed reopens to the public July 2024
Pit River Trailhead Open Open 1/26/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains.
Plum Valley Campground None None
Poison Flat Trail None None
Rainbow Mine Closed Closed reopens to the public July 2024
Red Tail Rim Trail North Trailhead Open Open 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services.
Red Tail Rim Trail South Trailhead Open Open 10/23/2023: No drinking water
Reservoir C Boating Site Open Open 1/26/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains.
Reservoir C Campground Open Open 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains.
Reservoir F Boating Site Open Open 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains.
Reservoir F Campground Open Open 4/10/2023: variable road conditions becoming worse with forecasted rains.
Schonchin Springs Campground None None 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services.
Slide Creek Trail None None
Soup Springs Campground Closed Closed Closed for large scale hazard tree abatement. Stay tuned for information on the 2024 season.
Soup Springs Trailhead None None
South Emerson Trailhead None None
Stough Reservoir Campground None None 11/2/2023: No drinking water
Summit Trail None None
Tom Smith Trail None None
Upper Cottonwood Trail None None
Upper Rush Creek Campground Open Open 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services.
Willow Creek Campground Open Open 11/2/2023: No drinking water or trash services.
Willow Creek Picnic Site Open Open 11/2/2023: Open all year.

Recreation Areas

Highlights