Bushay Recreation Area
Mendocino Lake
Bushay Recreation Area is situated on Lake Mendocino in California's Mendocino Range, where redwood forests meet wine country. The access road to Bushay Campground is subject to high water levels. For this reason the campground is often closed during the rainy months. If high water levels continue into the late spring and early summer months, reservations may be cancelled by Lake Mendocino staff with a full refund. Every effort will be made to provide advance notice in the event of cancellations.
The lake is formed by the Coyote Dam on the Russian River. A wide variety of recreational opportunities is available, including boating, swimming, water skiing, fishing, hiking and horseback riding.
This campground offers more than 100 family sites, many of which overlook the lake. Multiple group sites are also available.
The Mesa Day-Use Area is within the campground and offers a group picnic shelter with electric hookups. Family picnic sites are also located here, complete with tables and grills.
Amenities include flush and vault toilets, showers, drinking water, a dump station and playground. A horse staging area is located in the campground near the Kaweyo Trailhead.
Notifications and Alerts
Campground Closed Indefinitely: Bushay Campground is currently closed until further notice. Changes to water management in 2020 have resulted in high lake levels, flooding the access road for up to five months during the peak camping season. We are exploring potential solutions to restore access in the future. For camping opportunities at Lake Mendocino, please see Kyen Campground or Miti Boat-In Campground.
Need to Know
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY PLEASE DIAL 9-1-1
Mendocino County Sherriff’s Office: (707) 463-4086
Lake Mendocino Front Desk (M-F, 8 AM - 4 PM): (707) 467-4200
CAMPING IS BY RESERVATION ONLY.
There is no first come, first served camping available. All payments for reservations must be processed through recreation.gov. (NO CASH). Same day reservations available.
CHECK IN: 1 PM // CHECK OUT: 11 AM
- Please renew sites by 10:30 AM if you intend to stay another night
- Camping limited to 14 days in a 30 day period
ENTRANCE GATE CLOSURES: The campground entrance gate is closed from 10 PM to 8 AM daily. No non-emergency vehicle access will be granted during this time. Vehicles may exit at any time through the exit gate. Locked out? Please park in park in a safe spot along the side of Inlet Rd. and enter on foot to your camp site.
VEHICLES AND PARKING: All vehicles and camping trailers must fit on designated pad. Pad lengths included in campsite information. No vehicles on grass or along roadway. Only boat trailer wheels are allowed on grass. Off-road vehicles are not permitted.
CAMPSITES: Please keep your campsite free of litter and waste material, utilize campground dumpsters for garbage. All camping equipment must remain in your reserved site. Campsites are limited to eight (8) persons per site.
QUIET HOURS ARE FROM 10 PM - 6 AM: All noise amplification devices (including but not limited to radios, speakers, car stereos or boom boxes) and generators must be turned OFF. Please be respectful of other campers and keep ambient noise to a minimum during quiet hours.
PETS: Pets must be on a six-foot leash and under the owner's control at all times. Do not leave pets unattended in vehicles or at campsites.
NO UNATTENDED FIRES: Fires are permitted (unless otherwise prohibited) in designated fire rings only. Extinguish campfires completely before leaving your site or going to sleep. Please gather only dead and downed wood.
Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
FLUCTUATING LAKE LEVELS: Please be advised that Lake Mendocino boat ramps, some day-use and parking areas, and many campsites are subject to closure based on lake levels. In the event that high water levels force closures in Bushay Recreation Area, reservation holders will be refunded in full and notified as soon as possible. To check the status of our boat launches and other areas please contact the park office (707) 467-4200 or visit the Lake Mendocino Facebook page.
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Natural Features
Lake Mendocino lies in the scenic rolling hills of Coyote Valley. Groves of oak mixed with manzanita and pines forest the area, offering limited shade and an excellent bird and wildlife habitat.
Nearby Attractions
The charming city of Ukiah, less than 15 minutes away, offers a variety of shopping and dining opportunities, museums and golf courses. The Ukiah Farmer's Market runs Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings throughout the summer, offering fresh produce, local wines, arts and crafts and live music.
Recreation
The 1,822-acre lake provides abundant boating, swimming and water skiing opportunities. Anglers will find sunfish, smallmouth bass, striped bass, crappie, white and channel catfish, bluegill and perch.
Several miles of trails wind around Lake Mendocino, including the 7-mile Kaweyo Trail, which is open to hiking and horseback riding. This trail winds from the lake to the dam, providing excellent views of the lake and wildlife in the area.
Contact Information
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Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 707-467-4200
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From the South (San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Ukiah): Follow Highway 101 North towards Ukiah. Approximately 5 miles north of Ukiah, take Highway 20 East. Continue on Highway 20 East for approximately 3 miles. Just after you see Lake Mendocino on your right, you will cross a tall bridge. Take the first left after the bridge. Follow the road under the bridge and along the river until you reach the Host Booth at the top of the hill.
From the North (Eureka, Willits, Fort Bragg): Follow Highway 101 South. Approximately 15 miles south of Willits, take Highway 20 East.
Continue on Highway 20 East for approximately 3 miles. Just after you see Lake Mendocino on your right, you will cross a tall bridge. Take the first left after the bridge. Follow the road under the bridge and along the river until you reach the Host Booth at the top of the hill.
From the East (Sacramento): From the city of Williams, take Highway 20 West. Continue on Highway 20 for approximately 2 hours or 80 miles traveling past Clearlake and Blue Lakes. Approximately 2 miles after the Potter Valley turn-off you will see a sign for Lake Mendocino
Recreation Area. Take the first right after the sign. Follow the road under the bridge and along the river until you reach the Host Booth at the top of the hill.
Available Campsites
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