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 ↗



Site mix
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G1 | Pull-through | Gravel | Full | 75 / 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 length | 70 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
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Mendocino National Forest |
| Fees | $75. |
Weather by month
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 town | Stonyford, California |
| Coordinates | 39.7378° N, 122.8472° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedHoward 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 station | Dump station ↗ | 36.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Mike 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.
- 8 miLong Point Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.1 miThomes Gorge Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 14.2 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.6 miKill Dry0.5 mi trail
- 0.9 miPlaskett Fishing Trail0.3 mi trail
- 1.3 miBlack Butte Scenic0.8 mi trail
- 1.6 miRoberts Roostunder 0.1 mi trail
- 3.3 miGrants Gardenunder 0.1 mi trail
- 4.3 miSouth Poison Glade1.5 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
This campground sits inside Mendocino National Forest.
- inMendocino National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,073,580 acres
- 7.6 miYuki Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 56,239 acres
- 14.2 miYolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 182,298 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
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
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
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