Mendocino National Forest Recreation News
Recreation Report - May 8th
ROAD CONDITIONS: Forest Highway 7 (County Road 307) is now open past Alder Springs to Covelo. Be prepared for icy, snowy conditions above 5500 ft. Drive cautiously and watch for boulders that may be on the roads. Four-wheel drive vehicles and chains are strongly recommended. The public should not go around road closed signs due to flooding or snow conditions. For your safety carry emergency equipment in your vehicle.
For more information on road conditions, Glenn County Public Works Department at 530-934-6530, Colusa County at 530-458-0466, Tehama County at 530-385-1462, Lake County at 707-263-2341, Mendocino County at 707-463-4363. or the Highway Patrol at 707-463-4722.
MOTOR VEHICLE USE MAPS: Motor Vehicle Use Maps maps are now available at the Mendocino National Forest offices or online at www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino/maps/mvum.
CAMPGROUNDS: Campsites are first come-first serve; reservations are only taken for group campsites. Reservations for Gray Pine and Masterson Group Campsites can be made through the National Recreation Reservation System at www.recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777. Please help us keep our campgrounds and facilities clean; do not throw your trash in the toilets. The toilets are not trash receptacles. It is costly to remove non-biodegradable material from the toilets.
GRINDSTONE RANGER DISTRICT: Off-Highway Vehicle Trail systems are currently open. OHV Riders need to stay on designated routes. No cross-county travel allowed. The Fouts Springs water system remains off at this time and while the water system is off, the fee Dump Station remains closed. Please plan accordingly and bring sufficient water. For recorded OHV information please call 530-963-3128.
The Colusa County Flycasters in cooperation with the California State Fish & Game will be hosting a Free Kids Fishing Day at Little Stony Day Use area on Goat Mountain Road. The event will start 7 am and end at 5 pm, May 9th. The road to Kinglsey is still in bad shape, but passable. M4 to Log Springs area has many rocks on the road due to loose soil and deep pot holes. Bathouse, Dixie Glade, Deafy Glade and Summit Springs trailheads to the wilderness are all open. The road to Summit Springs is a little rough, low clearance cars are not recommended.
UPPER LAKE RANGER DISTRICT: Off-Highway Vehicle trail systems are currently open, OHV Riders need to stay on designated routes. No cross-county travel allowed. Pillsbury Pines and Fuller Grove boat launches are now open. Campgrounds at Lake Pillsbury are closed for the season except for Oak Flat. Forest Service Road M-8 (River Road) from county road 240A near Van Arsdale to road 18N05 is closed until further notice. Call the OHV Information phone line for current conditions: 707- 275-1430. Wildflowers are out, lupines poppies, fiddle necks, blue dicks, shooting stars, buttercups to name a few.
COVELO RANGER DISTRICT: Eel River is a great area for bird watching, especially for hawks and eagles. There is parking available outside the gates of the Eel River Work Center. Eel River campground will be closed for maintenance thru May 12. Please call the office for road conditions at 707-983-8500.
RED BLUFF RECREATION AREA: There are 4½ miles of nature trails to view the abundant wildlife at the Recreation Area. Please remember to keep pets on their leash at all times. Forest maps and information can also be obtained from the Sacramento River Discovery Center and the Red Bluff Chamber of Commerce. The Watershed Celebration at the Red Bluff Recreation area will be May 9th at 9:00 am - 1 pm. Annual boat launch passes can be purchased for $30 from the Willows and the Red Bluff Recreation Area offices and are only good at the Red Bluff Recreation area.
CAMPFIRE PERMITS: Campfire permits are free and available at all Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection offices and from Forest Service field personnel. You may also download the form from our web site at www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino/passespermits/. Please fill out the permit and fax it to (530-934-7384); include your fax number and we will process the permit and fax it back to you.
GENETIC RESOURCE & CONSERVATION CENTER: The 209 acre Genetic Resource & Conservation Center in Chico is open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., however there are no public services available at the office. The nature trail is wheelchair accessible. Pet leash laws do apply and are posted.
FUELWOOD PERMITS: Personal use firewood permits are available for purchase. There is a minimum purchase of four cords of wood for $20.00. It is illegal to remove firewood from the forest without a valid permit.
FOREST MAPS: Mendocino Forest Vistor and Wilderness maps are available at any of the Mendocino National Forest offices.
Note: Corning Chamber of Commerce, 1110 Solano Street, (530) 824-5550; and Red Bluff Chamber of Commerce, 100 Main Street, (530) 527-6220; sell Forest Visitor maps ONLY.
Maps are also available at:
- June Marie's Gifts 76300 Covelo Road., Covelo, CA 95428, (707) 983-6101.
- Soda Creek Store, Upper Lake.
- Lake County Visitor Information Center, 6110 East Highway 20, Lucerne, CA 95458, (707)274-5652.
INTERAGENCY RECREATION PASS PROGRAM: Available to citizens who are age 62 or older, the Senior Pass is a lifetime pass that costs $10.00. The Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass available to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. who are permanently disabled. The Annual Pass costs $80.00 and is valid for one year from date of purchase. Passes admit the pass holder into federal public recreation sites that charge entrance fees and offers a 50% discount at certain outdoor recreation sites. Where a per-person fee is charged, the Annual Pass covers a pass holder and three accompanying adults. For more information, please call one of our offices.
LAKE PILLSBURY: The
largest lake on the Forest has 2,280
acres of surface area and 31 miles of
shoreline. Fishing, boating, sailing,
and water-skiing are popular activities. The Forest Service
and PG&E manage
several developed campgrounds around the lake, for more information
on PG&E campgrounds
call 916-386-5164.
Please remember that camping in Lake Pillsbury Basin is allowed in designated campgrounds only.
Name | Fees | Contact | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Big Spring | no | Stonyford Work Center | CLOSED |
Fuller Grove | no | Upper Lake Ranger District | OPEN |
Pine Point | no | Upper Lake Ranger District | OPEN |
Plaskett Meadows | no | Stonyford Work Center | OPEN |
Pogie Point | no | Upper Lake Ranger District | CLOSED |
Rattlesnake Firefighter Memorial | no | Grindstone Ranger District | OPEN |
Sycamore Grove | no | Red Bluff Recreation Area | OPEN |
Wolf Creek Information Site | no | Stonyford Work Center | OPEN |