Bear Creek Campground
Open year-round but access is severely limited. M10 Road from the east is impassable due to active slides near Fouts Springs. From the west, the Rice Fork crossing becomes impassable during high water. Currently accessible only via Potter Valley or Sam Alley routes with high-clearance 4WD. No trailers. No fees, no reservations required.
Heat Advisory issued October 8 at 8:36AM PDT until October 8 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
* WHAT...High temperatures of 95 to 100 with overnight temperatures in the high 50s and 60s. Moderate to localized Major HeatRisk. * WHERE...Mendocino Interior, and Lake County. * WHEN...Until 11 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses.
Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited
Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…
Temporary road closure on 16N21 Road
Forest Road 16N21 on Pitney Ridge in the Upper Lake Ranger District is temporarily closed for resource protection and to eliminate traffic incursions onto a contingency dozer line, which intersects with the road in multiple locations. Please see Exhibit A for a map of the road closure.
About
Bear Creek Campground sits along its namesake creek within the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Mendocino National Forest. This free, primitive campground offers 16 sites equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, plus vault toilets. No potable water is available, so campers must pack in all drinking water. A large equestrian camp is also located onsite, making this a popular destination for horseback riders exploring the backcountry. The campground is technically open year-round; however, access has historically been challenging and is currently severely restricted. The M10 Road can become impassable due to high and fast water at the Rice Fork crossing during winter and spring. Additionally, storm damage has caused slides and hillslope failures on the primary access routes via Elk Mountain Road (CR 301) and M10 Road from the east. Currently, the only viable access is through Potter Valley or via Sam Alley (Forest Roads 16N01 and 16N30), which require high-clearance 4WD vehicles. Trailers are not recommended due to narrow road conditions.
Directions
Located 15 miles north of Upper Lake on Elk Mountain Road (County Road 301), then 8 miles east on Forest Road M10. Due to current road damage, access is only via Potter Valley (Mendocino County Rd 240 / Lake County Rd 301) or via Sam Alley (Forest Roads 16N01 and 16N30). High-clearance 4WD required.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | — |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (530) 934-3316 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
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