Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Medicine Lake Recreation Area
Modoc National Forest, California
About this campground
The popular Medicine Lake Recreation Area and adjacent Medicine Lake are located in the Medicine Lake Highlands in northeastern California.
The Medicine Lake Recreation Area offers camping, boating, fishing and swimming.
Medicine Lake Recreation Area is nestled along Medicine Lake and mostly sheltered by mature lodgepole pine trees but can be windy at times.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 41.585844° N
- Longitude
- 121.585569° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Drive-in
- Boat-in
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
- Group sitesCommunity report
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Drinking water
- Picnic table
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- Alcohol allowedCommunity report
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Paved roads
- Big rig friendlyPublished vehicle length up to 75 ft
- Back-in sitesCommunity report
- Sanitary dumpCommunity report
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
Overview
The popular Medicine Lake Recreation Area and adjacent Medicine Lake are located in the Medicine Lake Highlands in northeastern California. The Recreation Area is located in the Modoc National Forest at an elevation of 6,770 feet.
Facilities
The Medicine Lake Recreation Area is comprised of five campgrounds; Medicine, A.H. Hogue, Hemlock, Headquarters, and Schonchin Springs Campgrounds. Nearby the campgrounds are Picnic Area and Boat Launch sites. Campsites vary between somewhat rugged with limited parking space to larger areas suitable for recreation vehicles. Facilities include vault toilets, water hydrants and garbage dumpsters. Campsites include a picnic table, fire ring and a barbeque grill. There are a total of 86 campsites throughout the five campgrounds. Fifteen of these sites are available for advanced reservations and located within the Medicine and A.H. Hogue Campgrounds. Schonchin Springs is the only campground without water.
Recreation
The Medicine Lake Recreation Area offers camping, boating, fishing and swimming. The adjacent Day Use Areas accommodate boating with a concrete boat ramp and dock. Swimming is available in a designated swimming area next to the Picnic Area. Hiking and mountain biking are available on trails originating in the Recreation Area. The longest of these trails is the trail up Little Mt Hoffman.
Natural Features
Medicine Lake Recreation Area is nestled along Medicine Lake and mostly sheltered by mature lodgepole pine trees but can be windy at times. The Recreation Area lies adjacent to the Medicine Lake Lava Flow which is accessible by a short hike. The Glass Mtn. and Burnt Lava Flow Geologic Areas are located within a 15-minute drive.
Nearby Attractions
Nearby are a few other federal sites with interesting features. The Lava Beds National Monument is located within a half-hour drive and includes lava caves and tubes. The Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge is located within an hour's drive where many types of migratory waterfowl can be viewed.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Swimming SiteSwimming
- Hiking
- Camping
- Boating
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Potable water
- Picnic tables
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Standard Non-Electric
75 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Car, Caravan/Camper Van, Fifth Wheel, Pickup Camper, Pop Up, RV, Small Tent, Tent, Trailer, Vehicle
- Maximum people
- 10
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 75 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Reservation cutoff
- 7 days before arrival
- Maximum published occupancy
- 10 people per site
- Maximum published vehicles
- 2 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 12:00 PM
- Food storage
- The current official campground record does not publish a campground-specific food-storage rule. Check posted rules before leaving food, trash, toiletries, or scented items unattended.
- Fire and stove use
- Medicine Lake Recreation Area's official facility record states: Campsites include a picnic table, fire ring and a barbeque grill.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Sep 25, 2026
- Next release
- Jan 1, 2027, 7:00 AM PST
- Next book-through date
- Jul 1, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Sep 25, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonJul 1, 2026 – Sep 25, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $15 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJul 1, 2027 – Sep 25, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $15 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonJul 1, 2028 – Sep 25, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $15 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- Trash collection, vault toilets and drinking water available all season.
- Maximum of two vehicles and 10 people allowed per site.
- Cell phone reception is limited and is not available in the vicinity of Medicine Lake Recreation Area.
- Click Here for more information on the Modoc National Forest.
- Each summer there is a Special Use Permit allowing a tribal gathering in the Medicine Campground Loop. This occurs during the 3rd weekend of each July for 5-6 days. The sites within this campground will not be available for reservation or walk in use during this time. The A.H. Hogue Campground Loop will remain open during this time and will be completely available for reservations and walk in use.
Getting there & contact
Official directions
From McCloud go east on US Hwy 89 south for 16 miles to Forest Service Road 15/Harris Spring Rd. Turn left on Road 15 and go 4.4 miles to Forest Service Road 49/Medicine Lake Road. Follow the signs 27.5 miles to Medicine Lake. From Tulelake take US Hwy 139 south for 21 miles to Forest Service Road 97. Turn right on Road 97 and go 24 miles turning right on Road 49. Drive 2 more miles turning left into the entrance of Medicine Lake Recreation Area. Follow the signs to your final campground destination.
Facility contact
530-667-2246 OR 530-667-8659 · bradley.phelps@usda.gov