Picnicking

Picnicking 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.

• Plaskett Meadows Picnic
• Rattlesnake Firefighter Overlook - 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.
• Pine Point Picnic
• Red Bluff Recreation Area

  The sparkling Sacramento River bisects 488 acres of riparian forest, flowering grasslands, wetlands, and oak woodlands providing very diverse nature viewing experiences. Visitor facilities are closed.

• Sycamore Grove Picnic
• 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)

• Big Springs Picnic
• Dixie Glade Campground
• Wolf Creek Visitor Station