| The Mendocino National Forest straddles the eastern spur of the Coastal Mountain Range in northwestern California, just a three hour drive north of San Francisco and Sacramento. Some 65 miles long and 35 miles across, the Forest's 913,306 federally owned acres of mountains and canyons offer a variety of recreational opportunities - camping, hiking, backpacking, boating, fishing, hunting, nature study, photography, and off-highway vehicle travel.The only one of California's 18 national Forests not crossed by a paved road or highway, the Mendocino National Forest is especially attractive to people seeking an outdoor experience of tranquility and solitude.Elevations in the Mendocino National Forest range from 750 feet in the Grindstone Creek Canyon in the Sacramento Valley foothills on the Forest's eastern edge to the 8092 feet of South Yolla Bolly Mountain in the northern part of the Forest. The average elevation is about 4000 feet.The waters of the Mendocino River flow to the Pacific Ocean, westward through the Eel River system, and eastward through the Sacramento River system to San Francisco Bay.All of the Mendocino National Forest has a wide variety of wildflowers that bloom at various times through spring and summer: California poppy, penstemon, shooting stars, wild iris, milkweed, Indian paintbrush, buttercups, dogwood, wild lilac, and many varieties of lupine. Vegetation types include mixed conifer forests, oak woodlands and savannah, chaparral, annual and perennial grass glades, and wet meadows.The Ranger Districts of the Mendocino National Forest also share many species of wildlife in common, including black-tailed deer, black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, coyote, skunk, jackrabbits, oppossum, badger, gray squirrel, ground squirrel, rattlesnakes, gopher snakes, lizards, toads, pacific tree frog, quail, wild turkey, blue grouse, golden eagle, spotted owl, goshawk, prairie falcon, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, turkey buzzard, scrub jays, woodpeckers and a variety of migratory water and song birds.Upper Lake Ranger District has a small population of tule elk. Salmon and steelhead spawn in streams of the Covelo and Upper Lake Ranger Districts, and rainbow trout, western pond turtle, and yellow-legged frog live in and around many of the streams of each of the three Districts.Lake Pillsbury, the only sizable lake on the Mendocino National Forest, is a popular attraction. Howard and Hammerhorn Lakes, and Letts and Plaskett Lakes range in size from 3 to 13 acres, and are locally popular for camping and fishing. |
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| | | Facilities: There are lots of camping opportunities in Mendocino National Forest. Best Time To Visit: Mendocino National Forest is open year-round. Most areas of the forest are open year round offering a variety of recreational activities. Fees: Many of the facilities and services in the Mendocino National Forest are free. Accessibility: Accessibility varies from activity to activity. Rules: General rules for National Forests and National Grasslands include details about camping, pets, and other topics. Etiquette expected of visitors is outlined in the Leave No Trace program. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for vehicles parked in some areas. Directions: Mendocino National Forest straddles the eastern spur of the Coastal Mountain Range in northwestern California. Some 65 miles long and 35 miles across, the Forest offers over 913,000 acres of mountains and canyons with a variety of recreational opportunities - camping, hiking, backpacking, boating, fishing, hunting, nature study, photography, and off-highway vehicle travel. Map: Click here for a map to Mendocino National Forest Reservations: Reservations are not needed or required to visit Mendocino National Forest. Most of the forest is first-come, first-served. Some areas and campgrounds do accept reservations. | | |
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| | | | | | Address | | Mendocino National Forest | | 825 Humboldt Ave. | | Willows, California 95988 |
| | | Phone | | General: (530) 934-3316 | | Fax: (530) 934-7384 | | TTY: (530) 934-7724 | |
| | | | | Website | | Email |
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