Lake and Pond Fishing Areas

• General Campgrounds & Trailheads

  The Mendocino National Forest is one of 18 National Forests in California, and is nearly one million square acres in size. Forest Service employees you are most likely to come in contact with, in campgrounds and recreation areas, are here to protect and maintain all the resources of the National Forest. One of their primary responsibilities is to maintain the recreation values of the Forest and to enhance - whenever possible - your Mendocino National Forest visit.

  There are campgrounds on the Mendocino National Forest that use the Pack it In, Pack it Out program for dealing with waste. This means that garbage cans are not provided. Campers and hikers are asked to bring their own garbage bags and take their garbage with them when leaving the area. While this seems like an inconvenience, the funds saved are used to provide additional recreational facilities. Do not bury litter; forest animals can smell it and will dig it up. We appreciate your cooperation and assistance in helping to manage, protect and conserve the various resources of this forest.

  You must obtain a California Campfire Permit if you plan to build a campfire or use a stove, unless you are in a developed recreation area (campground or picnic area). Permits are available free-of-charge at offices of the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFire) and online at https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prevent-wildfire/campfire-safety/.

  Please visit, call, or write one of our Forest Service offices for more information. Unless otherwise indicated, office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. All forest offices are wheelchair accessible.

• Hammerhorn Campground
• Howard Lake Campground
• Howard Meadows Campground
• Masterson Group Campground
• Plaskett Meadows Campground
• Plaskett Meadows Picnic
• Lake Pillsbury

  The largest lake on the Forest has 2,280 acres of surface area and 31 miles of shoreline. Please remember that camping in Lake Pillsbury basin is allowed only in designated campgrounds.

  The campgrounds at Lake Pillsbury are operated and maintained by Pacific Gas and Electric. More information on Pacific Gas & Electric campgrounds is available by calling 916-386-5164. All of the campgrounds at Lake Pillsbury are open from May to September, except Oak Flat which is open all year.

  Lake Pillsbury campsites are designated for up to 2 vehicles each (there is a fee for additional vehicles) and a maximum of 6 people. The vault toilets are a modern no-odor type.

  • Camping is on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservations required except for the Fuller Grove Group Campground.
• Fuller Grove Campground
• Fuller Grove Group Campground
• Navy Camp Campground
• Oak Flat Campground
• Pogie Point Campground
• Sunset Campground
• Stonyford Recreation Area

  The south end of the Grindstone Ranger District offers over 200 miles of some of the most enjoyable and challenging OHV routes in the nation. The "Mendocino OHV Corridor" is a designated 40 mile, east-west route across the south end of the Forest connecting the Stonyford OHV Staging Area and the Upper Lake OHV Staging Area.

  The riding area varies in elevation from 1,700 feet (at Fout Springs), to almost 6,000 feet (near Goat Mountain). Vegetation varies from low elevation chaparral to tall pine and fir forest in the high country.

  The Grindstone Ranger District is not an OHV "park". Off-highway vehicle recreation is just one of the many uses allowed on National Forest lands. Please be considerate of others you may encounter in the forest.

   

  High Resolution Stonyford Area Motor Vehicle Opportunity Guide (PDF 20.1 MB)

• Letts Lake Campground
• Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness

  In the Wintun Indian language, "Yo-la" means "snow covered", and "Bo-li" means "high peak." The second part of this Wilderness' name refers to the headwaters of the Middle Fork Eel River, which originates in this remote and rugged land. This area was first protected in 1931 when it was classified as a primitive area. Further protection was given when this area became part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, created by the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The Wilderness Act of 1984 added another 2,000 acres to the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness, for a total of about 151,626 acres.

  The Wilderness is roughly oval in shape, being about 19 miles long in the north-south direction and 24 miles wide in the east-west direction. The majority of the Wilderness lies in two districts of the Mendocino National Forest (Covelo and Grindstone Ranger Districts). The far northern portion of the Wilderness is in the Yolla Bolly Ranger District of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. To the far west, a part of the Wilderness is in the Mad River Ranger District of the Six Rivers National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management has a small portion of the Wilderness (also on the western edge).

  The lowest point of the Wilderness is along Cottonwood Creek (2,600' elevation). This is just four and a half miles from the highest point, Mount Linn, at an elevation of 8,092 feet. Several other peaks push their way above 7,000 feet and provide fine views (weather and smoke permitting) of Mount Lassen, Mount Shasta, the Trinity Alps, the Kings Range and sometimes the Pacific Ocean.