USDA Forest Service · California
Medicine Lake Recreation Area
USDA Forest Service · California, United States · in Sattitla Highlands National Monument
- Sites
- 75
- Hookups
- 75 no hookups
- Season
- July 1 to September 25
- Max RV length
- 75 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,801 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- MEDICINE LAKE (NFSR 43N48) · asphalt · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Modoc National Forest
- Nearest town
- Tulelake
- Address
- MODOC NATIONAL FOREST, Tulelake, CA, 96134
- Phone
- 530-667-2246 OR 530-667-8659
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Hiking, Swimming
75 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
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.
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.
Facilities
The Medicine Lake Recreation Area is comprised of five campgrounds; Medicine, A.H. Hogue, Hemlock, Headquarters, and Schonchin Springs 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 86 campsites throughout the five campgrounds. Fifteen of these sites are available for advanced reservations and located within the Medicine and A.H. Hogue Campgrounds. Schonchin Springs is the only campground without water.
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.
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35° | 24° | 7° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 36° | 22° | -9° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 23° | 11° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 44° | 25° | 13° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 57° | 35° | 23° | 73° | 8 of 11 |
| June | 67° | 42° | 28° | 83° | 3 of 11 |
| July | 81° | 51° | 37° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 79° | 51° | 39° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 69° | 44° | 33° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 60° | 35° | 25° | 72° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 43° | 28° | 15° | 58° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 34° | 22° | 3° | 51° | 10 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
- A.H.Hogue · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi
- Medicine · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi
- Headquarters · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Schonchin Springs · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
- Blanche Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.