Bear Creek Campground

Open — Open year-round with challenging access. Traditional routes via Elk Mountain Road and M10 Road are closed due to storm damage. Currently accessible only through Potter Valley or via Sam Alley using forest roads. High-clearance 4WD required; no trailers. Rice Fork crossing may be impassable depending on water levels. Vault toilets are reported as full.

About

Bear Creek Campground sits in a remote section of Mendocino National Forest within the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. This primitive, no-fee campground offers 16 sites equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, plus a large equestrian camp for horse camping. Located along Bear Creek, the campground provides opportunities for fishing, backpacking, and day hiking in a secluded forest setting. The campground is open year-round but access is challenging and often limited. Multiple road closures and storm damage on traditional routes mean campers must currently access the site via Potter Valley or Sam Alley using forest roads that require high-clearance 4WD vehicles. Trailers cannot access the campground due to narrow roads. The Rice Fork crossing on M10 Road can become impassable during high water events, and vault toilets may be full during peak seasons. This is a true dispersed-style experience with no potable water, no fees, and minimal amenities. Campers must be self-sufficient and prepared for primitive conditions. Quiet hours are enforced from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Directions

Located 15 miles north of Upper Lake on Elk Mountain Road, and 8 miles east on Forest Road M10. Due to storm damage, traditional routes are closed. Currently accessible through Potter Valley via Mendocino County Rd 240 / Lake County Rd 301 or via Sam Alley using Forest Roads 16N01 and 16N30. High-clearance 4WD required; roads are very narrow with no trailer access.

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