Howard Lake Campground
Howard Lake Campground has 4 sites and is a popular primitive experience. A high-clearance vehicle is needed to cross the creek on one section of the road into Howard Lake. Avoid parking or pitching tents under dead standing trees. Use extreme caution in high winds. Downed trees, dropped limbs, stump holes and unstable terrain may be present. Fishing may be impacted by lily pads and low water levels. Howard Lake is a 20-acre lake. The lake is open for non-motorized recreational paddle boating, kayaking, or pack rafting. Howard Lake is just down the road from Howard Meadow Campground.
Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.
More like this: first-come in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | $6 |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Mendocino National Forest |
| Fees | $6 |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 39.8785° N, 122.9919° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedHoward Forest Frp Rx
41 mi from the campground · 13 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 38.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 54.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 3.7 miBlands Cove Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 5.6 miSmokehouse Ridge Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 1.8 miHell Hole Canyon ↗10.4 mi trail
- 3.4 miTravelers Home ↗7.6 mi trail
- 4 miLittle Buck0.2 mi trail
- 4.6 miKey Spot0.1 mi trail
- 4.7 miEnd of the Dayunder 0.1 mi trail
- 4.9 miHammerhorn Lake0.4 mi trail
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Mendocino National Forest.
- inMendocino National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,073,580 acres
- 2.7 miYolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 182,298 acres
- 12.2 miYuki Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 56,239 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Round Valley Flour MillsBuilding · Covelo · 14.9 mi
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Howard Lake Campground?
No. Howard Lake Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Howard Lake Campground?
$6
Source: Forest Service
Is Howard Lake Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Howard Lake Campground have?
4 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Howard Lake Campground?
Howard Lake Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Howard Lake Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Howard Meadows Campground (under 0.1 mi, first-come), Little Doe Campground (1.2 mi, first-come), and Sugar Spring Campground (4.2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby