Free camping near Upper Lake, CA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Upper Lake, CA there are 45 camps: 20 free, 19 fee, 6 unpriced. The closest is Dry Oak, 6.2 miles north-east of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Dry Oak, 6.2 miles out.
Who manages them: 29 on the Forest Service; 15 on the BLM; 1 on an agency our record does not name.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Oak | 6.2 | Free | — | 6.2 mi to Upper Lake | — |
| Middle Creek | 6.6 | Fee | — | 6.6 mi to Upper Lake | — |
| Deer Valley | 7.1 | Fee | — | 7.1 mi to Upper Lake | — |
| Goat Rock Primitive Campground | 7.4 | Free | — | — | — |
| Lake view Dispersed Camping | 8.8 | Free | Morrison Creek (stream) | 2.3 mi to Lucerne | — |
| Lakeview | 9.0 | Free | Morrison Creek (stream) | 2.3 mi to Lucerne | — |
| North Cow Mountain Recreation Area | 9.1 | Unpriced | McClure Creek (stream) | 3.8 mi to Midlakes | — |
| Penny Pines | 9.5 | Fee | — | 9.5 mi to Upper Lake | — |
| South Willow Creek Camp | 9.9 | Free | Willow Creek (stream) | 5.5 mi to Nacomis Indian Rancheria | — |
| Woods Camp | 9.9 | Free | Willow Creek (stream) | 4.8 mi to Oasis | — |
| Mayacmas Campground | 10 | Free | Scotts Creek (stream) | 4.3 mi to Talmage | — |
| Tucker Camp | 10 | Free | Willow Creek (stream) | 4.7 mi to Nacomis Indian Rancheria | — |
| South Cow Mountain Ohv Management Area | 11 | Unpriced | — | 7.2 mi to Hopland | — |
| Knobcone Camp | 11 | Free | Willow Creek (stream) | 4.2 mi to Nacomis Indian Rancheria | — |
| Benmore Ridge Campground | 11 | Unpriced | Benmore Creek (river) | 3.2 mi to Oasis | — |
| Simms Camp | 11 | Free | Willow Creek (stream) | 4.2 mi to Nacomis Indian Rancheria | — |
| Cow Mountain Recreation Management Area | 11 | Unpriced | Benmore Creek (river) | 3.8 mi to Nacomis Indian Rancheria | — |
| Jerky Camp | 11 | Free | Willow Creek (stream) | 3.9 mi to Nacomis Indian Rancheria | — |
| Bear Creek | 11 | Free | Blue Slides Creek (stream) | 8.1 mi to Rice Fork Summer Homes | — |
| Red Mountain Campground | 12 | Free | Pool (water) | 3.7 mi to Ukiah Rancheria | — |
| Cedar Camp Campground | 13 | Free | Root Creek (stream) | 4.5 mi to Pole Garden | — |
| Wilson Camp | 13 | Free | Hospital Creek (stream) | 2.0 mi to Pole Garden | — |
| Green Flat Camp | 14 | Free | Hospital Creek (stream) | 1.9 mi to Pole Garden | — |
| Spillway C.G. (Letts Lake) | 14 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Main Letts C.G. | 14 | Fee | — | 10.0 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Saddle Camp Loop C.G. | 14 | Fee | — | 10.0 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Stirrup C.G. (Letts Lake) | 14 | Fee | — | 10.0 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Pacific Ridge Camp | 15 | Free | — | 0.4 mi to Pole Garden | — |
| Mill Valley | 15 | Fee | — | 9.5 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Thistle Glade | 16 | Free | Thistle Glade Creek (stream) | 4.5 mi to Rice Fork Summer Homes | — |
| Dixie Glade Campground | 16 | Fee | Lily Pond (water) | 2.4 mi to Fouts Springs | — |
| Old Mill Campground | 17 | Free | Mill Creek (stream) | 3.3 mi to Fouts Springs | — |
| Indian Valley Management Area | 18 | Free | — | 2.7 mi to Spring Valley | — |
| Mill Creek | 19 | Fee | — | 6.0 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Sunset | 19 | Fee | — | 12 mi to Potter Valley | — |
| Fuller Grove Campground | 19 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Potter Valley | — |
| South Fork Campground | 19 | Fee | — | 5.9 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Davis Flat | 19 | Fee | — | 5.9 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Fuller Group C.G. | 19 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Potter Valley | — |
| Navy Camp | 19 | Fee | — | 12 mi to Potter Valley | — |
| Oak Flat | 19 | Fee | — | 12 mi to Potter Valley | — |
| Little Stony | 19 | Fee | — | 4.0 mi to Lodoga | — |
| Lower Nye Campgrounds | 20 | Unpriced | Skeleton Creek (stream) | 7.3 mi to Rice Fork Summer Homes | — |
| North Fork | 20 | Fee | — | 5.6 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Red Elephant Mine Trail | 20 | Unpriced | Gibson Creek (stream) | 4.3 mi to Ukiah | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Upper Lake, CA, not a driving distance — a camp four miles out across a canyon can be an hour of road. Cost is the audited three-state verdict on each camp's own record: free, fee, or unpriced where we could not confirm a price. A blank column is a gap in the record, not a statement that the thing is absent. Camps come from state and federal agency records, not from a visit, except the ones marked. Seasons, permits and fire rules change: confirm with the managing office before you go. Found a fee where we show free? Tell us on the contact page.