List Your RV

BLM Camping

Cedar Roughs Wilderness

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.

Home
Bureau of Land Management
California
Cedar Roughs Wilderness

Cedar Roughs Wilderness is located in Napa, California. It encompasses 6,287 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. BLM-managed lands are public areas that offer challenging recreation opportunities and unique camping experiences to nature lovers looking for solitude and adventures. The Cedar Roughs Wilderness area features two unique parcels of land: Maxwell Creek and Lake Berryessa units. These parcels lie 4.2 miles and 2.3 miles west of the Pope Creek Bridge, respectively.

The Lake Berryessa parcel offers access to approximately 6,350 acres of desert land. On the other hand, Maxwell Creek Unit offers access to an extra 160 acres of BLM-managed land, formerly bordered by private land through Canyon Road. There are many different environs that you can explore during your trip to this BLM site, including the nearby Lake Berryessa, canyons, grasslands, and woodlands. Lake Berryessa is the biggest lake in Napa and the most popular recreation spot near the wilderness area. Here you can go boating, swimming, and fishing. Visitors can also enjoy other outdoor activities such as wildlife viewing, hiking, and bird watching. Cedar Roughs Wilderness is a perfect getaway destination when planning for your next BLM RV trip in California.

What to See and Do

Hiking and Biking

Cedar Roughs Trail

This lightly trafficked trail is situated near St. Helena, CA. It traverses one of the most captivating areas within the Wine Country. This dog-friendly trail is accessible throughout the year, and travelers can use it for running, nature trips, bird watching, and hiking.

Length: 3.73 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Fishing and Boating

Lake Berryessa provides visitors with fishing opportunities all year round due to the presence of cold and warm-water fish species. You can enjoy the fascinating natural beauty of this big lake as you haul in sunfish, rainbow trout, channel catfish, as well as large and smallmouth bass.

Lake Berryessa is also a great boating destination in California. It maintains constant water levels that provide boating enthusiasts with ideal angling conditions all year round. From rafts to high-performance racing boats, there is enough room for every boater to enjoy themselves on the lake. If you love swimming, you'll also find plenty of spots to swim at this lake during the hot summer months, thanks to the many lake access points.

Wildlife Viewing

Cedar Roughs Wilderness is popularly known as a black bear breeding spot. The wilderness area supports Napa's black bear population. It's also an excellent site for wildlife viewing in California. Visitors can see coyotes, squirrels, deer, and other wild animals during their trip. Birdwatchers will also get the chance to see both resident and migratory birds in this desert land.

Picnicking

Picnics are quite popular in this BLM land, and you can find many spots within the wilderness that are fairly far from the crowds. If you want a standard picnicking experience during your visit, you can check the two-day-use picnic sites at Lake Berryessa. Here you'll find more than 200 picnic areas with grills and additional six shelters ideal for bigger groups. You can reserve the shelters online or use them on a first-come, first-served basis if they are unoccupied.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

RV Camping

There are no developed Bureau of Land Management campgrounds in Cedar Roughs Wilderness. However, RV camping lovers can find RV services in the nearby private campgrounds and RV resorts. One of the closest is Spanish Flat Campground, located on the southwestern shores of Lake Berryessa. This campground has 55 campsites, 45 of which can accommodate trailers and RVs. It has no hookups, but visitors can find amenities such as grills, picnic tables, piped water, and portable toilets.

Free Camping

Dry camping is permitted within Cedar Roughs Wilderness but only in the previously used areas to avoid disturbing wildlife and prevent vegetation damage. If you're looking for a more traditional experience, you can go to the nearby Ritchey Campground in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. The Bureau of Land Management camping ground has 23 campsites suitable for trailers with a maximum length of 24 feet and small RVs that are not more than 31 feet long. The campsites are primitive with no hookups, but you'll find picnic benches, grills, and fire rings. Other amenities within this Bureau of Land Management free camping area include restrooms, coin-operated showers, and a swimming pool.

RV Rentals Near Cedar Roughs Wilderness Plan your next adventure

Credit: Vanna Mae, @vannamaeart

Planning your Cedar Roughs Wilderness BLM trip

When planning your trip in the Cedar Roughs wilderness, remember that there's no direct public transportation service to this wilderness area, and motor vehicles aren't permitted on the site. Therefore, you need to park your bike, car, motorbike, or any other automobile along the wilderness boundary since there's no designated parking area. Visitors who wish to trek into the wilderness instead of driving can park their vehicles in any of the parking areas provided along Lake Berryessa's western banks.

Cellphone service is quite limited near this wilderness area, depending on your service provider. Also, there's no marked trail system. So, remember to bring a map and other navigation tools to help you with route planning and navigation. Remember to check road conditions before your RV trip to avoid bumping into unexpected road closures. When searching "BLM camping near me," remember that Cedar Roughs Wilderness provides unmatched opportunities for adventure and solitude. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.

Leave No Trace

Cedar Roughs Wilderness area is home to many wild animals and birds. You need to view them at a distance and don't follow or confront the animals. If you are building a campfire in this desert land, do it within the provided fire rings in the campsites. Also, keep the fires small and allow them only to burn when you need them. This way, you'll minimize the negative impact of fires on the desert environment. Lastly, carry your trash with you and leave the wilderness area clean to preserve the environment and avoid pollution.

Cedar Roughs Wilderness Location

Visitors can access Cedar Roughs Wilderness either from Winters or Rutherford. From Winters, take State Hwy 128 west. Then turn right on the Lower Chiles Valley Rd, and then right on the Chiles Pope Valley Rd for several miles until you get to Pope Canyon Road. From Rutherford, take Hwy 128 east. Go left on the Chiles Pope Valley Rd for a couple of miles until you reach Pope Canyon Road.

Ready to visit the Cedar Roughs Wilderness? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night, where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.

Nearby BLM Locations

See All BLM Campsites by State

Alaska

Arizona

California

Colorado

Florida

Idaho

Maryland

Montana

Nevada

New Mexico

Oregon

South Dakota

Utah

Wyoming