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Big Sage Reservoir

Lake·Alturas·Inland lakes·No reviews yet
Season
Usually mid-May to late October
Size
Several thousand acres
Launch
Boat ramp, no fee
Boating
Motorized boating allowed
1 / 1
  • Boat launch
  • Fishing
  • Camping
  • Restrooms

About this lake

Big Sage Reservoir is a reservoir of several thousand acres in the Modoc National Forest northwest of Alturas, surrounded by juniper woodland and sagebrush.

On the water

The boating site has a boat ramp, and motorized boating and lake fishing are listed. There are no fees. Facilities open as weather allows, usually mid-May to late October. The Forest Service asks boaters to clean, drain and dry.

Camping

Big Sage Campground sits on the shore near the ramp. It's free, with a vault toilet and picnic tables but no water, so bring enough for drinking, cooking and putting out campfires. Dogs must be on a leash, and the camping limit is 14 days.

Getting there & access

Getting there

From Alturas take Highway 299 west 3 miles, turn north on Crowder Flat Road (County Road 73) for 6 miles, then right on County Road 180 for 3 miles to Big Sage Dam.

Golden mussels

The Forest Service asks every boater to clean, drain and dry boats, trailers and gear, never drain bilge or ballast into the lake, and check the lake's launching rules before visiting. California also requires a Mussel Fee Sticker on motorized boats used in fresh water.

Campground
Free; no water
Devil's Garden RD
(530) 233-5811

What's here

  • Launch

    Boat ramp near the campground

  • Fishing

    Lake fishing

  • Camping

    Free shoreline campground

  • Restrooms

    Vault toilets; no drinking water

Rules & official resources

  • California Boater Card required for all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, since January 1, 2025dbw.parks.ca.gov ↗
  • No fees; dogs on leash; 14-day camping limit; facilities open as weather permits, usually mid-May to late Octoberfs.usda.gov ↗
  • No water at the campground: bring water for drinking, cooking and drowning campfiresfs.usda.gov ↗
  • The Forest Service asks boaters to clean, drain and dry boats and gear and to contact each lake's managing agency for its launching and inspection rules before visiting; it lists no inspection station for this lakefs.usda.gov ↗

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Questions boaters ask

Yes, near the campground, with no fee.

Yes, for free on the shore, but there's no water.

Facilities open as weather allows, usually mid-May to late October.

No inspection station is listed for this lake. The Forest Service asks boaters to clean, drain and dry and to check launching rules before visiting.
Sources: fs.usda.gov · fs.usda.gov · dbw.parks.ca.gov · fs.usda.gov · Last checked Oct 21, 2026 ·
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