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Recreation

Trails webpages and information will not be available until May 2025. Thank you for your patience while we work through getting the most updated, accurate information for you during this time.

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 stay limit.

Showing: 1 - 10 of 62 results

Ash Creek Campground

Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Picnicking
The low elevation for the Ash Creek Campground allows it to open earlier in the season than others at higher elevations. Fishing is always good at Ash Creek as it is stocked by the California…

Bear Camp Flat Trailhead

Hiking
This trailhead begins from a beautiful meadow.  Four wheel drive vehicle is recommended to access this trailhead.  Access is from Forest Rd. 64 from Eagleville in Surprise Valley or Forest Rd. 64…

Big Sage Boating Site

Site Open
Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
Big Sage Reservoir and campground are surrounded by juniper woodland and sagebrush. The reservoir is several thousand acres and the campground lies on the shore near the boat ramp.

Big Sage Campground

Site Open
Picnicking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
Big Sage Reservoir and campground are surrounded by juniper woodland and sagebrush. The reservoir is several thousand acres and the campground lies on the shore near the boat ramp.

Blanche Lake Campground

Site Closed
Blanche Lake and Campground are located a few miles southeast of Medicine Lake and offer campers a little more seclusion than that of the larger lake area.

Blue Lake Boating Site

Site Open
Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Picnicking
Blue Lake, located in the southern Warner Mountains, is a favorite for local anglers and is stocked by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.  A boat dock is available in summer…

Blue Lake Campground

Site Open
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning
Blue Lake CampgroundBlue Lake Campground is located on a gentle slope above beautiful Blue Lake. Forty-Eight large and well spaced sites offer plenty of shade. A three-mile trail surrounds the lake…

Bullseye Lake Campground

Site Closed
A short distance from the Medicine Lake Recreation Area, Bullseye Lake Campground offers quiet nights and plenty of shade for those hot summer days.

Cave Lake Boating Site

Site Open
Water Activities Hunting, Fishing and Shooting
There is a gravel boat ramp and parking area on the south side of the lake as well as a bathroom facility. Non-motorized boats only. The road into this area is extremely rough, 4-wheel drive is…

Cave Lake Campground

Site Open
Picnicking Scenic Drives
The campground at Cave Lake is lightly used and can be the perfect place for a weekend or week long getaway. Deer hunting season, in the fall, is the busiest time of year.