Modoc National Forest – Medicine Lake Recreation Area
Area…
Area Status: Closed
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.
See also Little Medicine Lake Picnic Area
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.
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.
In summer a boat dock is available at the launch ramp. There is no fishing or swimming in the vacinity of the dock or ramp. Ample trailer parking is available.
Medicine Lake has specific rules for skiing and use of power boats. Rules are subject to change depending on conditions. Please chek the rules posted on the bulletin board each time you boat on Medicine Lake.
Facilities: The Medicine Lake Recreation Area is comprised of four campgrounds; Medicine, A.H. Hogue, Hemlock and Headquarters 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 75 campsites throughout the four campgrounds. Fifteen of these sites are available for advanced reservations and located within the Medicine and A.H. Hogue Campgrounds.
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
Medicine Lake Campground Maps
Maps below give reference to campsite locations and numbers in each campground.
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| Medicine Campground Sites | AH Hogue Campground Sites | Hemlock Campground Sites |
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | 10/06/2021: Campground water systems will be shut down in the coming weeks. |
|---|---|
| Operational Hours: | Day Use Area closes at 10 p.m. |
| Reservations: | Reservations can be made for 15 of the 75 campsites at Medicine Lake by visiting Recreation.gov. Reservations must be made 7 days ahead of arrival and can be made up to 6 months in advance. First-come, first-served sites may be available. |
| Fees | $14 per night for campsites |
| Open Season: | May – October |
| Usage: | Heavy |
| Busiest Season: | July and August |
| Restrictions: | Dogs must remain on a leash at all times within the campgrounds and day use area. Please clean up after your dog. Camping limit 14 days. |
| Closest Towns: | McCloud 48 miles. |
| Water: | Not yet |
| Restroom: | Vault Toilets |
| Information Center: | 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. Each summer there is a Special Use Permit allowing a tribal gathering in the Medicine Campground Loop. This year, the gathering will occur from the morning of Thursday, July 15th through July 19th, 2021. Please respect the tribe’s right to gather. All sites within Medicine Campground will not be available for reservation or walk-in use during this time. The Hemlock, A.H. Hogue, and Headquarters campgrounds will remain open during this time and will be available for reservations and walk-in use. |
General Information
Directions:
GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
41.58584, -121.58557
41°35’9″N, 121°35’8″W
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.
Accessibility:
Accessible vault toilets
