South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest

Mendocino National Forest — riverside, fishing

Location: Stonyford, CA, CA

Price: From $5 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you are able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/south-fork-campground-mendocino-national-forest to be notified when sites open up.

Affordable first-come, first-served camping with fishing opportunities and scenic mountain views. Google reviewers consistently rated it 5/5 stars, praising the dirt bike trails and pleasant weekend experience.

Wildlife alert: North American River Otter, Tule Elk, Western Gray Squirrel, Douglas' Squirrel, Mountain Quail, Acorn Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, California Whiptail, Western Fence Lizard, and Common Garter Snake observed in the area.

Insider tips for South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest: Arrive early — first-come, first-served only, no reservations available. Download the Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival to use Scan and Pay QR code payment system. Located 9.5 miles west of Stonyford on Road 18N03 for navigation.

Skip South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest if: You need hookups — no hookups available at this campground.. You require guaranteed site availability — book early as it fills up quickly..

Best time to visit South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only..

Nearby campgrounds: Davis Flat (Stonyford, CA), North Fork - Mendocino National Forest (Stonyford, CA), Dixie Glade Campground (Stonyford, CA), Mill Valley Campground (Stonyford, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest

Cell signal at South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest (Stonyford, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch›CA›South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest
South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest — photo 1
Mendocino National Forest — riverside, fishingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest

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Stonyford, CA, CA★ 4 (0 reviews)From $5/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you are able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

Best for:AnglersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Fishing

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need hookups — no hookups available at this campground.✕ You require guaranteed site availability — book early as it fills up quickly.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Arrive early

first-come, first-served only, no reservations available.

Download the Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival to use Scan and Pay QR code payment system.

Located 9.5 miles west of Stonyford on Road 18N03 for navigation.

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally during these months only.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: North American River Otter, Tule Elk, Western Gray Squirrel, Douglas' Squirrel, Mountain Quail, Acorn Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, California Whiptail, Western Fence Lizard, and Common Garter Snake observed in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
N/A· Mendocino National Forest
Getting there →

Located 9.5 miles west of Stonyford on Road 18N03.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Mendocino National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Mendocino National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest cost per night?+
South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest costs $5 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest open?+
South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest?+
South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest?+
South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest open, and what are check-in times?+
South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$5 /night★ 4 (0)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest cost per night?+
What season is South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest open?+
Does South Fork Campground - Mendocino National Forest have hookups?+
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