California · Camping

Stough Reservoir

Facilities open as weather permits; usually mid-May to late October.
season
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Stough Reservoir open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Modoc National Forest.

  • Forest Fire Restrictions 2026 have been lifted as of 09/27/2026

    Agency alert covering Modoc National Forest · Order 09-26-01 · USFS · Modoc National Forest

As of · Source: USFS · Modoc National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

  • At 6,286 ft
  • Warner Mountain Ranger DistrictModoc National Forest

Stough Reservoir Campground sits at 6,200 feet in the Warner Mountain Ranger District of Modoc National Forest, about a mile off Hwy 299 on a gravel road. It offers a cool base for overnight stays, with campsites set away from the shore of the small, stocked reservoir and views of the water. The Forest Service manages the land, and the site's vault toilets are the only listed amenity. The campground makes an easy stop for anyone driving along Hwy 299, with small trailers and motorhomes able to find turn-arounds on the gravel road. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife keeps the reservoir stocked, and the site is also Number 4 on the Basin and Range Birding Trail. Birders can look for Prairie Falcons, Rufous Hummingbirds and Wild Turkeys. Summer brings the warmest weather, with typical July highs around 91°F and lows near 56°F, while September is milder, averaging about 81°F. These are typical averages from a nearby weather station at Cedarville, which sits roughly 1,600 feet lower than the campground, so temperatures at the reservoir run cooler. Cedar Creek Trail lies about 2.5 miles away, and Summit Trail is about 7.7 miles off. Pepperdine campground is about 7.8 miles away, and paddlers can head to Parker Creek, about 9.2 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Stough Reservoir

    Best months: April–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      43° / 22°

      9 wet · 2 snow

    2. Feb

      47° / 24°

      8 wet · 2 snow

    3. Mar

      54° / 28°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    4. Apr

      60° / 33°

      9 wet

    5. May

      69° / 41°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 48°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      91° / 56°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      89° / 53°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      81° / 44°

      3 wet

    10. Oct

      67° / 34°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      52° / 26°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      42° / 21°

      10 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cedarville, CA, 4.5 mi away at 4,688 ft. The station sits about 1,600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.