California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife offers a wide array of camping opportunities.
(1) Antelope Valley Wildlife Area – No motorhomes or camp trailers permitted. Camping allowed only from May 1 through October 31.
(2) Ash Creek Wildlife Area – Allowed.
(3) Butte Valley Wildlife Area – Allowed.
(4) Cache Creek Wildlife Area – No motorhomes or camp trailers permitted. No camping within ¼ mile of designated parking areas.
(5) Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area – Allowed only in the Upper Cottonwood Creek Unit parking lot.
(6) Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area – No tent camping. Overnight parking with camp trailers allowed only in designated parking lots.
(7) Gray Lodge Wildlife Area – Allowed only during waterfowl season. Camp trailers or motorhomes may be placed in the designated camp trailer area no sooner than one week before the opening of waterfowl season and must be removed from the wildlife area no later than one week after the end of the regular waterfowl season. All campers, defined as a shell or shelter made to be mounted on a pickup truck must remain attached to a registered vehicle when on the area. All camp trailers and motorhomes must be registered at the checking station within one week of placement.
(8) Grizzly Island Wildlife Area – Not allowed except with prior written permission from the area manager during the tule elk season.
(9) Honey Lake Wildlife Area (FlemingAnd Dakin Units) – Allowed
(10) Hope Valley Wildlife Area – Backpack camping allowed east of Highway 89 only.
(11) Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area – Allowed
(12) Imperial Wildlife Area (FinneyRamerUnit) – Allowed only in designated area at Finney Lake.
(13) Imperial Wildlife Area (Wister Unit) – Allowed only in designated area. Campers must obtain an entry permit pursuant to subsection 551(w)(3). No unattached trailers or tents allowed in the checking station parking lot.
(14) Indian Valley Wildlife Area – Camping allowed, but camp trailers and motorhomes are prohibited.
(15) Knoxville Wildlife Area – Primitive camping is allowed beyond ¼ mile from Berryessa/Knoxville Road.
(16) Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area – Allowed only in Army Corps of Engineers-designated campgrounds.
(17) Little Panoche Reservoir Wildlife Area – Allowed only in parking lot, except during authorized dog trials when participants must adhere to conditions of Special Use Permit issued per subsection 550(n)(2) of these regulations.
(18) Los Banos Wildlife Area – Allowed only in the main office parking area, and only during waterfowl season.
(19) Mendota Wildlife Area – Allowed only in checking station parking lot, and only during waterfowl season.
(20) North Grasslands Wildlife Area – Allowed only in checking station parking lot, and only during waterfowl season.
(21) O’neill Forebay Wildlife Area – Allowed only in parking lot, except during authorized dog trials when participants must adhere to conditions of Special Use Permit issued per subsection 550(n)(2) of these regulations.
(22) Oroville Wildlife Area – Allowed only in designated camping sites by permit issued from the Oroville CHP office at (530) 538-2700.
(23) San Luis Obispo Wildlife Area – Allowed only in the parking lot and no more than 30 vehicles are allowed without a Special Use Permit (see subsection 550(d)
of these regulations).
(24) San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Area – Allowed only in parking lot.
(25) Shasta Valley Wildlife Area – Allowed
(26) Spenceville Wildlife Area – Allowed in designated campsites from September 1 through
the end of spring turkey season.
(27) Surprise Valley Wildlife Area – Allowed only in south parking area, except from April 1 through August 15 when camping is prohibited.
(28) Tehama Wildlife Area – Allowed
(29) Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area – Allowed only in the checking station parking lots on the night before a shoot day during the waterfowl season.
(30) Volta Wildlife Area (U.s. Bureau Of Reclamation Lands) – Allowed only in checking station parking lot.
(n) Additional Fire Restrictions on Wildlife Areas: The fire restrictions included below are in addition to the regulations regarding fire on department lands included in subsection 550(q) of these regulations.
(1) Grizzly Island Wildlife Area
(A) Fires are prohibited except for the use of portable gas stoves in designated parking areas and sites.
(2) Hope Valley Wildlife Area
(A) Fires are prohibited except for the use of portable gas stoves.
(3) Knoxville Wildlife Area
(A) Fires are prohibited except for the use of portable gas stoves.
(4) Oroville Wildlife Area
(A) Fires are prohibited except for the use of portable gas stoves within designated campsites.
(5) Spenceville Wildlife Area
(A) Fires are prohibited except for portable gas stoves within designated campsites.
(o) Designated Closures and Restrictions on Wildlife Areas: Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the lawful possession of a concealed firearm as provided in subsection 550(cc)(1) of these regulations.
Having trouble locating these sites? CDWF’s website provides an interactive map https://map.dfg.ca.gov/lands/
