USDA Forest Service · California
Masterson Group Campground
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- June 1 to October 17
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,220 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · T-Mobile none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- MASTERSON GROUP CAMP (NFSR 22N24) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- Mendocino National Forest
- Nearest town
- Stonyford
- Address
- Stonyford Work Station, P.O. Box 160, Stonyford, CA, 95979-0160
- Phone
- 530-963-3128
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Canoeing, Day Use Area, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Non-Motorized Boating, Paddle Boating, Picnicking, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Tucked away in the towering pines of the Mendocino National Forest, the Masterson Campground is perfect for your next big get-together. The large grassy meadows of the campground are surrounded by a dense blanket of forest, offering visitors an outdoor experience of tranquility and solitude.
Recreation
The campground's open meadow areas allow for group games and activities, and a large fire ring provides the perfect place for a nighttime campfire circle and s'mores session. Plaskett Lake, a short one-mile walk from the campground, offers a variety of trout for the fishing enthusiast, as well as canoeing and other non-motorized boating activities. Mendocino National Forest's 913,306 acres of mountains and canyons allow for a variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, backpacking, boating, fishing, hunting, nature study and off-highway vehicle riding. Whether it's deer, birds, rabbits, chipmunks or perhaps the occasional bear, wildlife viewing is always a popular activity for visitors. The area is also an extremely popular destination during hunting season.
Facilities
Masterson offers traditional primitive camping with the added convenience of toilets and running water. The site can hold up to 75 guests and 25 vehicles comfortably.
Natural Features
The Mendocino National Forest, California's only national forest that is not crossed by a paved road, straddles the eastern spur of the Coastal Mountain Range in northwestern California, just a three-hour drive north of San Francisco and Sacramento. Sprinkled throughout the dense green forest are several lakes, offering visitors additional recreational opportunities against a stunning and secluded backdrop.
Nearby Attractions
The nearby Plaskett Lake Campground is a family campground that can handle additional visitors for larger parties. The day use site at Plaskett Lake is a great place to spend the day. Plaskett Lake is also planted with trout.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43° | 28° | 12° | 60° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 42° | 27° | 4° | 61° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 46° | 27° | 17° | 72° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 51° | 31° | 19° | 65° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 64° | 39° | 26° | 76° | 5 of 11 |
| June | 73° | 46° | 31° | 89° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 83° | 56° | 40° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 82° | 55° | 46° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 74° | 50° | 38° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 64° | 42° | 29° | 80° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 48° | 33° | 22° | 69° | 8 of 10 |
| December | 41° | 27° | 10° | 60° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Plaskett Meadows Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Atchison Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Keller Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Wells Cabin Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
- General Campgrounds & Trailheads · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.