Medicine Lake Recreation Area
MEDICINE LAKE RECREATION AREA
Part of Modoc National Forest
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.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.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.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.Important Notices
- Trash collection, vault toilets and drinking water available all season.
- 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.
- Click Here for more information on the Modoc National Forest.
- Each summer there is a Special Use Permit allowing a tribal gathering in the Medicine Campground Loop. This occurs during the 3rd weekend of each July for 5-6 days. The sites within this campground will not be available for reservation or walk in use during this time. The A.H. Hogue Campground Loop will remain open during this time and will be completely available for reservations and walk in use.
Notifications and Alerts
Forest Service News Release
Contact: Suzanna Johnson
530-233-8713
suzanna.johnson@usda.gov
Medicine Lake Recreation Area temporary closures for insecticide treatment
ALTURAS, Calif., Sept.14 ,2026 — Important Recreation Area Information: Medicine Lake Recreation Area- Please be advised that the Medicine Lake Campground Loops on the Modoc National Forest will be closed for at least four days beginning September 28th. This closure is necessary for insecticide treatment to address the Mountain Pine Beetle issue in the recreation area. Updates for the precise length of area closure, attained by contacting the Modoc National Forest Supervisor’s Office at 530-233-5811 visiting our recreation information on the forest Web page and by visiting our forest Facebook page. Please note that the day use and boat launch areas will remain open. Dispersed camping is available at Blanche, Bullseye, and Paynes Springs, as well as other dispersed sites outside of the Medicine Lake campground loops. The closure is crucial due to increased levels of lodgepole pine mortality caused by the pine beetle over the past five years. This has led to the loss of forest canopy, an increase in hazardous dead trees, a decrease in aesthetic values and wildlife habitat within the campgrounds. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us preserve the natural beauty of the area
Available Activities
- SWIMMING SITE - Swimming
- HIKING - Hiking
- CAMPING - Camping
- BOATING - Boating
Directions
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.
Contact Information
Phone: 530-667-2246 OR 530-667-8659
MODOC NATIONAL FORESTDOUBLEHEAD RANGER DISTRICT OFFICE
49870 HIGHWAY 139
Tulelake, CA 96134
Rental Options
Available Campsites
- Site 073, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop Headquarters Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 063, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 032, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 028, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 069, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 060, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 071, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 052, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 033, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 068, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 072, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 036, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 059, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 066, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 051, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop Headquarters Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop Headquarters Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop Headquarters Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 037, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 064, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 048, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 049, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 043, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop Headquarters Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 074, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 070, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 075, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 056, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop Headquarters Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 047, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 030, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 026, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 035, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 040, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 038, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 061, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 039, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop Headquarters Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 041, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 034, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 044, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 029, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 067, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop Headquarters Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 050, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 055, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 045, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop Headquarters Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 062, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 042, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop Headquarters Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 031, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 053, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 057, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 058, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 054, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 065, Loop Hemlock Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 046, Loop A.H. Hogue Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop Medicine Campground, Type Standard Nonelectric
