Knoxville Recreation Area
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Knoxville Recreation Area is one of the few places in California that protects serpentine habitats. The vegetation, birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians that thrive here are unusually rare, which makes the landscape feel different from most public lands. The terrain, weather, and outdoor possibilities are wide-ranging. Whether you prefer dispersed or semi-developed camping grounds, hunting or fishing, hiking or riding, picnicking or boating, you will find something that fits your style. This area suits RV owners who don't mind unpaved roads and are comfortable dry camping without hookups. There are no fees or reservations required to camp in Knoxville Recreation Area. All campsites operate on a first-come, first-served basis. You can reach the area from the north by taking Highway 29 and turning east onto Morgan Valley Road. You can also approach from the south via Highway 128 and head east onto Berryessa Knoxville Road.
Quick Facts About RVing in Knoxville Recreation Area
• RV Friendly: Yes • Max RV Length: Smaller to mid-size rigs recommended • Camping Type: Developed campground and dispersed camping • Reservations: No • Hookups: None • Dump Station: None on-site • Potable Water: Bring your own • Cell Service: None • Pets: Allowed under leash • Roads: Unpaved dirt and gravel roads • Best Season: Spring and fall
Why RV Travelers Love This BLM Area
• All roads and trails have two-way traffic • The area is open to camping and hunting year-round • Free, quiet, and uncrowded RV camping opportunities • Multiple fun activities available, including mountain bicycling, nature study, and hiking • Convenient access to nearby towns such as Lower Lake and Pope Valley • Easy access for camper vans and smaller rigs • Good basecamp for exploring the surrounding areas
What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
Long Canyon Loop Trail
The Long Canyon Loop Trail includes views of Blue Ridge in the greater Knoxville Wildlife Area. Popular with mountain bikers, it can also be hiked although it has some steep parts.
Length: 4 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Zim Zim Falls Trail
Featuring an up-close view of Zim Zim Falls, this trail also includes fields of wildflowers and dry valleys. Near Pope Valley, the Zim Zim Falls Trail also has come challenging inclines at its end, near the Zim Zim Waterfall.
Length: 7 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Fiske Creek Trail
The Fiske Creek Trail features a walking bridge over Fiske Creek plus scattered areas of woodland.
Length: 13.2 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Fishing and Boating
Multiple ponds, creeks, and lakes are found within the Knoxville Recreation Area, including Lake Berryessa and Clear Lake. Anglers can fish for species like catfish, brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, and kokanee salmon in Lake Berryessa, and some hot fishing spots along the lake include Capell Cove and Steel Canyon Inlet. Anytime you plan to fish in the area, be sure to obtain a valid California fishing license to comply with state fishing laws.
In the summer, boating and water skiing are popular on both Lake Berryessa and Clear Lake. Boat launching is offered at Pleasure Cove Marina for Lake Berryessa and at Konocti Vista Casino Resort, Marina, and RV Park for Clear Lake.
ATV and OHV Riding
Perhaps the top attraction for the Knoxville Recreation Area is off-highway vehicle riding in the North OHV Staging Area. Here, OHV riders can ride over rocks and hills on marked off-roading trails. A parking lot and vault restroom are included in this area, and all OHVs are required to be street licensed or have current off-highway vehicle registration stickers issued by the state of California.
Picnicking
When you want to have a picnic near the Knoxville Recreation Area, consider using the picnic site at the Eticuera Creek Day Use Area, which features picnic tables in pavilions that are free to use. You may also like to use the picnic tables at Highlands Park on Clear Lake, which has amazing views of the lake and include on-site grills.
Bureau of Land Management Camping
RV Camping 
If you'd like to go RV camping with full hookups near the Knoxville Recreation Area, try staying at Pleasure Cove Campground, which has water, electricity, and free Wi-Fi on Lake Berryessa. You can also take your RV to Canyon Creek Resort, also near Lake Berryessa, which has amenities like a pool, hot tub, and campsite patios on top of full hookups. Another great option is Spanish Flat RV Resort, a campground on its own peninsula of Lake Berryessa. Here, you can enjoy a secluded beach and go fishing or swimming in the lake within walking distance of your RV.
Developed Campgrounds
Lower Hunting Creek Campground is the developed campground in Knoxville Recreation Area, and it's free to use. Five sites offer shade structures, trash cans, and a vault toilet, and there are three additional overflow campsites. Keep in mind that there are no hookups or potable water in the area. For additional help, visit this comprehensive guide on finding free RV water fill and dump stations.
Dispersed Camping
There are three primitive camps in Knoxville Recreation Area: Pocock Creek, Cement Creek, and Cedar Creek. You can stay for a total of 14 days in any of the camps within a 28-day period. As a boondocker, you'll have sufficient space for privacy and easy accessibility at whichever location you choose. Remember the BLM leave-no-trace principles during your stay. For example, cutting or removing standing vegetation, whether live or dead, is strongly prohibited. If you are coming with a pet, it must be on a leash, and you must always pick up after it.
Is This BLM Area Good for Your RV?
Knoxville Recreation Area is well-suited for RV camping. The roads are unpaved, but they are generally maintained and wide enough for two-way traffic. You can park near the designated campsites and settle in without difficulty as long as your rig is prepared for dry camping conditions. Note that all vehicles coming into the grounds must be equipped with a properly installed muffler and a U.S. Forest Service-approved spark arrester. • Camper Vans: Camper vans are compact enough to easily navigate narrow, rocky dirt paths in the Knoxville Recreation Area. They also allow self-contained free camping without needing hookups. They are strongly recommended for RV camping. • Travel Trailers: Travel trailers are also a good option for RV camping because they give you a comfortable place to sleep and store your gear. However, unpaved paths such as Berryessa Knoxville Road or Dunnigan Hill Road may pose a risk of trailer damage. Avoid them if you can. • Fifth Wheels: Fifth wheels are generally not great for visiting Knoxville Recreation Area. The rough, unpaved access roads, muddy conditions, and dispersed campsites often lack sufficient space for trailer turnarounds. • Class A Motorhomes: Class A motorhomes are also not recommended. Their large size makes it difficult to navigate tight, uneven, and unpaved roads safely. The dispersed campsites also offer limited room for positioning a rig of this size. • Class B Motorhomes: Class B motorhomes are ideal for RV camping in Knoxville Recreation Area. They handle tight, steep, and winding unpaved roads better than Class A and C rigs. They are also self-contained, often featuring onboard power, a small toilet, water tanks, and a bed. • Class C Motorhomes: Class C motorhomes can work for Knoxville Recreation Area. They are smaller than Class A rigs and easier to handle on unpaved roads. Their self-contained systems make dry camping straightforward, and most visitors find them manageable for the available campsites.
Free Camping 
If you're looking for BLM camping near me, check out some of the campgrounds offered at the Knoxville Recreation area. Lower Hunting Creek Campground is an organized Bureau of Land Management campground that has five campsites with shade structures, three sites without, trash bins, and vault toilets. This campground can be found at the intersection of Dunnigan Hill Road and Hunting Creek Road. Other BLM campgrounds in the area include the Cedar Creek, Cement Creek, and Pocock Creek campgrounds, all of which have no facilities but do include marked campsites that you may use for free up to 14 days at a time.
RV Rentals Near Knoxville Recreation Area Plan your next adventure
Planning your Knoxville Recreation Area BLM trip
If you plan to ride in the OHV staging area at Knoxville Recreation Area, be sure to bring DOT-approved helmets for all riders as they are required when riding in this area. Anyone who wants to visit the area in the summer may want to bring sunscreen, too since there is little shade here.
When you want to camp at one of the BLM campgrounds, remember that you will have no water or electricity, so pack accordingly. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
What RV Travelers Should Know Before Arriving
Knoxville Recreation Area only offers opportunities for dry camping. This means there is no access to electricity, water, or sewer hookups. Therefore, make sure your RV is fully self-contained before you arrive, with all the systems you need for power, water storage, and waste management. Internet access and cellular service are very limited in the area. Arrive with offline GPS navigation and any maps you may need already downloaded. Let someone know your travel dates and expected return time. For any supplies you may need during your stay, nearby towns such as Lower Lake, Pope Valley, Winters, and St. Helena can help you restock food, water, fuel, and basic gear.
Leave No Trace 
Anyone who visits the Knoxville Recreation Area is required to follow the "Leave No Trace" principles put in place by the BLM. These principles include easy-to-follow tasks like picking up after yourself, leaving the natural environment undisturbed, and keeping your distance from any wildlife that you encounter. By following these guidelines, you can help keep this recreation area preserved for future visitors to enjoy as well.
Knoxville Recreation Area Location
To reach the Knoxville Recreation Area from Napa, begin on Lake Berryessa Road, which follows the west side of the lake. Once the road crosses Putah Creek, you may travel for seven miles to reach the Devilhead Road entrance or for 20 miles to reach the Dunnigan Hill Road entrance for the recreation area.
Ready to visit Knoxville Recreation Area? 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.
Plan Your Day at Knoxville Recreation Area
• Morning: Start your day with a morning coffee right outside your RV. Then warm up your body with short hikes through Long Canyon Loop Trail or Zim Zim Falls Trail. • Afternoon: After a hearty lunch, take your ATV or bike out onto the designated riding routes. The recreation area has long stretches of open terrain and winding dirt paths that are perfect for exploring. Alternatively, you can go fishing or boating on Lake Berryessa and Clear Lake. • Evening: Spend the quiet evening bird-watching as the light softens across the hills. As night settles in, transition into stargazing. Knoxville Recreation Area has very little light pollution, so the sky becomes clear and bright once darkness arrives.
Nearby Attractions
• Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument: Knoxville Recreation Area actually sits within Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, so you're already surrounded by some of the most scenic and biologically diverse landscapes in Northern California. From camp, you can explore more of the monument's rugged peaks, quiet valleys, and wide range of wildlife. • Clear Lake: Clear Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in California and a great option if you want more water-based recreation. The lake offers fishing, boating, kayaking, and long stretches of shoreline for picnicking. It's approximately a one-hour drive (36 miles) from Knoxville Recreation Area. • St. Helena: St. Helena is a charming town in Napa Valley known for its wineries, restaurants, and scenic drives. It is a comfortable 20-mile detour if you want a break from dry camping and would like to enjoy a meal, browse local shops, or take in vineyard views. You can try wine tasting at Beringer Vineyards, which is the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities exist in Knoxville Recreation Area campsites? The developed campground has vault toilets, trash cans, and shade structures, but no hookups or potable water. The three primitive camps have no facilities at all, so come prepared to be fully self-contained. Can I ride my ATV or OHV from my camp? Yes, but only under strict regulations. You must wear a D.O.T. approved safety helmet, use a muffler and a U.S. Forest Service-approved spark arrester, and stick to designated paths. Riding is more difficult during hunting season, so stay alert for other users on shared roads and trails. Do I need four-wheel drive? The roads throughout Knoxville Recreation Area are unpaved dirt and gravel, and some sections get rough and rutted. A four-wheel-drive RV or tow vehicle will handle these conditions more comfortably and safely, especially after rain, when the terrain can turn muddy and difficult to navigate. Can I have a campfire? Campfires are typically restricted due to the high wildland fire danger in the area, and the dry, serpentine terrain makes it especially sensitive to sparks. Smoking is often limited to an enclosed vehicle, a building, or a developed recreation site during these restrictions. Portable gas, propane, or liquid-fuel stoves are usually still permitted. Check current fire restrictions before your trip since rules change with conditions. How long can I stay at Knoxville Recreation Area? You can stay up to 14 days within any 28-day period at any of the primitive camps or the developed campground, then need to move on or wait until you're outside that window to return.
Rent the Right RV for This Trip
The best RV types for visiting Knoxville Recreation Area are Class B motorhomes and camper vans, since smaller rigs handle the unpaved roads and tight dispersed sites more easily. Renting an RV also means you can pick one that's already set up for dry camping, with the power, water, and waste systems you need, rather than adding those upgrades to a rig you tow yourself. Spring and fall are the easiest seasons to visit, since winter rain can leave the access roads muddy and hard to navigate. Browse RV rentals in Napa to find your setup for this trip to Knoxville Recreation Area.