Large valley oaks frame a view of a deep canyon.

Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument

A cave under a starry sky

Public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service in the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument are some of the most scenic and biologically diverse landscapes in northern California. They range from rolling, oak-studded hillsides to steep creek canyons and ridgelines with expansive views.

Surrounding the farms, ranches and orchards in a region stretching from Napa County to the mountains of the Mendocino National Forest north of Clear Lake, these lands provide valuable wildlife habitat, lands critical for scientific study and recreational opportunities for residents of the region and beyond.

The new national monument is within easy driving distance for residents of the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sacramento Metropolitan region and expanding communities of the North Bay Area including Santa Rosa.

On BLM-managed lands, area residents and visitors can explore monument lands by hiking on trails in the Cache Creek Wilderness, rafting the white water of Cache Creek, boating in to the secluded Cedar Roughs Wilderness, or traveling the rugged terrain of the Knoxville Recreation Area in their four-wheel-drive vehicles, motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles.

A closer look at these public lands will reveal an intricate world of plants, animals and insects that have adapted to thrive in harsh and rocky serpentine soils. These greenish-gray-colored soils lack essential nutrients needed by most plants. To survive these soils, plants must tolerate drought, exposure to heavy metals and full sun. For years, scientists have studied conditions on BLM-managed lands within the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to improve their understanding of these habitats and the specially adapted plants.

Management Partnerships and Interim Guidance

The Bureau of Land Management (Ukiah Field Office) and USDA Forest Service (Mendocino National Forest) co-manage the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. The Bureau of Land Management is providing interim guidance regarding management of the monument. This interim monument management direction will provide direction on the stewardship of these lands during the public planning effort and pending approval of a monument management plan, in compliance with the Presidential Proclamation. The interim guidance memorandum can be viewed online.

North of Highway 20, on the eastern edge of Lake County, the Indian Valley Management Area offers an abundance of recreational possibilities. Rolling chaparral covered hills dotted with oak and pine make an ideal setting for hunting, camping, bicycling, hiking, and equestrian use.
Valley oak with orange foliage shade bright green grass
The Cache Creek Wilderness is centered on a 17-mile stretch of Cache Creek, flowing from Clear Lake in eastern Lake County. The prominent feature within the wilderness is Cache Creek, which runs east towards the Capay Valley and the Sacramento River while forming a steep-sided canyon through most of the area.
Bright green grasses and valley oaks frame a view of the cabin.
Due to its close proximity to the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Area regions, and because of its varied terrain, Knoxville's 17,700 acres attract many off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts each year. The landscape is characterized by steep and rolling hills with the vegetation varying from scattered hardwoods and grasses to dense chaparral brush.
a chapparal  covered land scape with low clouds  and a boulder in the foreground.
The UC Davis Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve is set in the steep inland canyons, hillsides, and ridge-tops of the California Inner Coast Range. It forms part of the Devil’s Gate Wildlands recreation area, and borders the southernmost tip of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.
A crew builds trail stairs in a deep canyon

Deer Valley, Penny Pines & Middle Creek

Sites within Deer Valley, Penny Pines & Middle Creek are managed by the U.S. Forest Service’s Mendocino National Forest office.

Name

Facilities

Deer Valley Campground

Camping, OHV, hiking

Fuller Grove Campground

Camping

Pogie Point Campground

Camping

Navy Camp Campground

Camping

Oak Flat Campground

Camping

Sunset Campground

Camping

Lakeshore

Trailhead

Pine Point Picnic Area

Day-use area

Penny Pines Campground

Camping, OHV

Middle Creek Campground

Camping, OHV

Wolf Creek

Day-use area, OHV

Fuller Grove

Boating, boat launch

Pillsbury Pines

Boating, boat launch

Letts Lake & Stony Creek

 Sites within Letts Lake & Stony Creek are managed by the U.S. Forest Service’s Mendocino National Forest office.

Name

Facilities

Cedar Camp

OHV

Cedar Camp Campground

Camping

Black Oak

Camping

Green Flat

Camping

Wilson Camp

Camping

Pacific Ridge

Camping

Wolf Creek

Day-use area, OHV

Gray Pine Group Campground

Camping, OHV

Mill Creek Campground

Camping

Nail Track

OHV

Mill Valley Campground

Camping, OHV

Davis Flat

OHV

Fouts

OHV

Mill Creek

OHV

Letts Lake

Boating, Fishing

North Fuller

OHV

South Fuller

OHV

Big Springs Picnic Area

Day-use area

Letts Lake Campground

Camping

Old Mill Campground

Camping, OHV

Little Stony Campground

Camping, OHV

Snow Mountain Wilderness

Sites within Snow Mountain Wilderness are managed by the U.S. Forest Service’s Mendocino National Forest office.

Name

Facilities

Lower Nye Campground

Camping, trail

West Crockett Trailhead

Trailhead, camping

Bear Creek Campground

Camping

Bathhouse Trailhead

Trailhead

Dixie Glade Campground

Camping, trailhead

Deafy Glade Trailhead

Trailhead

Summit Springs Trailhead

Trailhead, camping

Bear Wallow Trailhead

Trailhead

Copper Butte Trailhead

Trailhead

Skeleton Glade Trailhead

Trailhead

Bloody Rock Trailhead

Trailhead

Cold Creek Trailhead

Trailhead

Windy Point Trailhead

Trailhead

Waterfall Loop

Trail

Overlook Trail

Trail

East Peak Trail

Trail

Milk Ranch Loop

Trail

East Peak Access

Trail

West Peak Access

Trail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indian Valley Management Area

Sites within Indian Valley Management Area are managed by the Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office.

Name

Facilities

Blue Oaks Campground

Camping

Kowalski Camp

Camping (boat/foot access)

Wintun Camp

Camping

Indian Creek Bridge

Trail (foot/equestrian access)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cache Creek Natural Area & Cache Creek Wilderness

Sites within Cache Creek Natural Area & Cache Creek Wilderness are managed by the Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office.

Name

Facilities

Redbud Trailhead

Trailhead (CDFW Cache Creek Unit)

Redbud Trail

Trail

Judge Davis Trailhead

Trailhead, trail (CDFW Harley Gulch Unit access)

Perkins Creek Ridge Trailhead

Trailhead, trail

Blue Ridge Trail

Trail

Fisk Creek Trail

Trail

Frog Pond Trail

Trail

Brushy Skyhigh Trail

Trail

Cache Creek Ridge Trail

Trail, spur trails #1 - #4

Buck Island

Trailhead

Roadkill Café Loop Trail

Trail

Lynch Canyon Trailhead

Trailhead

Old Wagon Road

Trail

Thompson Canyon

Trail, spur trail

High Bridge Trailhead

Trailhead

Hidden Pond Trail

Trail

Dunfield Springs Trail

Trail

Cowboy Camp

Trailhead, camping

 

 

 

 

 

Knoxville Management Area

Sites within Knoxville Management Area are managed by the Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office.

Name

Facilities

Northern Staging Area

OHV staging area

Hunting Creek Road

OHV

Hunting Creek Campground

Camping

Hunting Creek Trail (Trail #30)

OHV

Cement Creek Campground

Camping

Trails #1 - #29 and #31- #34

OHV

Round Mountain Road

OHV

Old Mine Road (Trail #35)

OHV

Pocock Creek Loop (Trail #36)

OHV

Adams Ridge

OHV (open to all vehicles for deer season)

Cedar Creek Road

OHV

Devilhead Road

OHV

Dunnigan Hill Road

OHV

Painted Rocks Trail

Trail

 

Berryessa Peak & Stebbins Cold Canyon

Sites within Berryessa Peak & Stebbins Cold Canyon are managed by the Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office.

Name

Facilities

Blue Ridge Trail/Loop Trail

Trail (CDFW Putah Creek Wildlife Area and University of California at Davis access)

Homestead Trail

Trail (CDFW Putah Creek Wildlife Area and University of California at Davis access)

Annie’s Trail

Trail (CDFW Putah Creek Wildlife Area and Tuleyome access)

Berryessa Peak Trail

Trail (CDFW Knoxville Wildlife Area access)

 

Cedar Roughs Wilderness

Sites within Cedar Roughs Wilderness are managed by the Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office.

The Cedar Roughs Wilderness has no developed recreational facilities.

 

Two hikers walk through green trail of wild flowers. Photo by Bob Wick/BLM.