Howard's Gulch Campground
Set back off the highway in a tree lined gulch this campground is a very quiet and pleasant place to spend the weekend or your entire vacation. A short hiking trail is available for nature viewing as this is one of the several Basin and Range Birding Trail stops within the Modoc National Forest. A recent dedication of the Highway 139 Auto Tour and Howard's Gulch Interpretive Sites brings an added benefit to this area. The Auto Tour is just south of the campground on the Howard's Gulch Frontage Road.
More like this: first-come in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | $15/single campsite per day with a maximum of 2 vehicles. |
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. |
| Season | Facilities open as weather permits; usually mid-May to late October |
| Forest | Modoc National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations are not accepted. |
| Fees | $15/single campsite per day with a maximum of 2 vehicles. |
| Rules | Dogs on leash only. Please clean up after your dog. Camping limit 14 days. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 41.4858° N, 120.9689° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMowitz Rx
16 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 32.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Howard's Gulch Campground, CA from Ryan W.
Worth a stop
- 13 miRed Tail Rim Trail North Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miHowards Gulch Trail0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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 Modoc National Forest.
- inModoc National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,023,026 acres
- 12.2 miKlamath National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,705,451 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
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Howard's Gulch Campground?
No. Howard's Gulch Campground is first-come, first-served. Reservations are not accepted. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Howard's Gulch Campground?
$15/single campsite per day with a maximum of 2 vehicles.
Source: Forest Service
Is Howard's Gulch Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Facilities open as weather permits; usually mid-May to late October.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Howard's Gulch Campground?
Howard's Gulch Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Howard's Gulch Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Lower Rush Creek Campground (14.1 mi, first-come), Ash Creek Campground (23.6 mi, first-come), and Jane's Reservoir Campground (29.2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby