U.S. Forest Service · Mendocino National Forest · Stonyford, CA

Masterson Group Campground

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.

More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · group sites in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
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Photos via Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group sites1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntrySurfaceShadePeople / vehicles
G1Pull-throughGravelFull75 / 25

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

Max vehicle length70 ft

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.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
ForestMendocino National Forest
Fees$75.

Mendocino National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Masterson Group Campground40°50°60°70°80°January: 4.50 inches of precipitationFebruary: 4.02 inches of precipitationMarch: 2.75 inches of precipitationApril: 1.35 inches of precipitationMay: 1.07 inches of precipitationJune: 0.54 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.05 inches of precipitationAugust: 0.05 inches of precipitationSeptember: 0.12 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.93 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.00 inches of precipitationDecember: 3.98 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 44.9°F averageFebruary: 47.5°F averageMarch: 51.1°F averageApril: 55.7°F averageMay: 63.7°F averageJune: 72.1°F averageJuly: 78.4°F averageAugust: 76.7°F averageSeptember: 71.9°F averageOctober: 62.1°F averageNovember: 50.8°F averageDecember: 44.3°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Stony Gorge Rsvr, 20 miles from the campground at 800 feet, station USC00048587 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 21 inches a year.

Getting there

From Interstate 5, take the exit for Willows/Oroville Hwy 162 and head west. After about 23 miles turn right at the junction at County Road 306. Travel approximately four miles, then turn left onto 162/Forest Highway 7.

Nearest townStonyford, California
Coordinates39.7378° N, 122.8472° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Howard Forest Frp Rx

    37 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 stationDump station ↗36.4 mi
RV sales & serviceMike Friend RVs ↗52 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

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.

  • 0.6 mi
    Kill Dry
    0.5 mi trail
  • 0.9 mi
    Plaskett Fishing Trail
    0.3 mi trail
  • 1.3 mi
    Black Butte Scenic
    0.8 mi trail
  • 1.6 mi
    Roberts Roost
    under 0.1 mi trail
  • 3.3 mi
    Grants Garden
    under 0.1 mi trail
  • 4.3 mi
    South Poison Glade
    1.5 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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Mendocino National Forest.

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.

Natural features

Sprinkled throughout the dense green forest are several lakes, offering visitors additional recreational opportunities against a stunning and secluded backdrop.

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.

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 Masterson Group Campground?

Sites at Masterson Group Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Masterson Group Campground?

$75.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Masterson Group Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Masterson Group Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Masterson Group Campground have?

1 site, including 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Masterson Group Campground?

The longest site here provides 70 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

What is there to do at Masterson Group Campground?

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. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Masterson Group Campground?

Stonyford, California. The nearby Plaskett Lake Campground is a family campground that can handle additional visitors for larger parties.

Source: Getting there

What if Masterson Group Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Atchison Campground (4.2 mi, first-come), General Campgrounds & Trailheads (8.9 mi, first-come), and Sugar Spring Campground (9.1 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby