Howard Meadows Campground
Open for the 2026 season as of May 12. The campground is not maintained through winter and closes seasonally. First-come, first-served only with on-site Scan & Pay. Campers should avoid parking under fire-damaged trees from the 2020 August Complex fire.
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.
Logging traffic on Forest Highway 7
Forest Service contractors will be loading log decks from the Plaskett Keller Project and hauling them east on FH7 to the valley. Be prepared for traffic delays. Stay alert for logging crews near or on roads. And follow traffic signs along the haul route.
About
Howard Meadows Campground is a small, rustic campground nestled in the Mendocino National Forest near Howard Lake, a scenic 20-acre lake popular for non-motorized boating, kayaking, and fishing. The campground offers 6 developed sites, each equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. A vault toilet is available on-site, but there is no potable water, so campers must bring their own supply. This is a first-come, first-served campground with no advance reservations. Payment is $6 per night and can be made on-site using the Recreation.gov Scan & Pay feature via QR code. Check-in is at 2:00 p.m. and check-out at 11:00 a.m., with quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Access requires a high-clearance vehicle to navigate one rough section of road. The campground experienced damage during the 2020 August Complex fire, and campers should avoid parking or camping under fire-damaged trees. The area is not maintained through winter and closes seasonally, typically reopening in spring when conditions allow.
Directions
From Covelo, turn right onto CA-162 E (Mendocino Pass Road) and continue for 8 miles. Turn left onto County Route M1/Indian Dick Road. Follow this road for 13.5 miles, turn left into Little Doe Campground and continue 3.5 miles, bear left at Howard Meadows and continue 0.5 mile to Howard Lake.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $6 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (707) 983-6118 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Photos
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