Modoc National Forest

The Modoc National Forest is a land of contrasts and unspoiled vacation-hideaway settings. Nestled in the extreme northeastern corner of California, the Modoc National Forest is mountains, pine forests and meadows, lakes, streams, rugged canyons, wetlands, lava beds and high desert plateaus. The Modoc offers you beautiful scenery, varied terrain, abundant wildlife and a memorable visitor experience. The forest is named for the county in which the greater part of the forest is situated. The county, in turn, is named after the Native American tribe, the Modocs.  The history of the Modoc National Forest begins with the setting aside of the forest reserves by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904 at the request of the local ranchers.  In 1945 William S. Brown Senior, a Forest Service Information Specialist, compiled a history of the Modoc in 8 chapters.Some of California's best kept secret campgrounds are right here on the Modoc. For quiet, secluded camping try Mill Creek Falls Campground, Reservoir F Campground, Payne Springs Campground or Ash Creek Campground. If you are looking for more action, activities and lots of fun people, it's Medicine Lake for you.  There are four campgrounds on Medicine lake:  AH Hogue Campground,Headquarters Campground, Hemlock Campground and Medicine Campground.