Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233708
When Chekaka Recreation Area Lake Mendocino reopens
Chekaka Recreation Area Lake Mendocino's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
0
Openings · last 90 days
18
Only 18 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Dec 31, 2026 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 105 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18 – Dec 31, 2026): 10 open for online reservation · 3 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative) · 92 unavailable (cause unspecified).
Where the open windows are
90.5% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation. 10 of 105 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Dec 31, 2026Not open online90.5%
Open reservation dates10 / 105
Reserved (of online inventory)0 / 10
Weekday openings7
Weekend openings3
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 7 fall on weekdays and 3 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Dec 2026October shows no online availability. 0 of 31 tracked reservation dates are open there — 31 unavailable.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 1 day-use unit| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 0 | None open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked date. Christmas: no online availability on any tracked date. New Year: no online availability on Thursday.
Availability by day-use unit
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Unit | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| OVERLOOK GROUP PICNIC SITE | 10 |
This day-use unit currently has 10 reservation dates available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Sep 21
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
October0 of 31 · unavailable
The next bookable date is Sep 21; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
10 available reservation dates across 1 day-use unit at Chekaka Recreation Area Lake Mendocino, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
All 1 day-use unit with current availability
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| OVERLOOK GROUP PICNIC SITE | 10 | 10 dates | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
About Chekaka Recreation Area Lake Mendocino
Overview
Chekaka Recreation Area is situated on Lake Mendocino in California's Mendocino Range, where redwood forests meet wine country. There is one reservable picnic pad in the Overlook Day-Use Area. Chekaka Campground has been permanently closed.
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.
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 3-mile Shakota Trail that begins at the Overlook Day-Use Area and offers beautiful views of the lake.
Lake Mendocino also offers two disc golf courses that can be found near the Overlook Day-Use Area on the south end and the Pomo A Day-Use Area parking lot on the north end. The rolling terrain is heavily wooded in some areas, making for challenging tunnel shots with obstacles around most pins.
Facilities
The old Chekaka Campground is permanently closed to camping. The Overlook Day-Use Area group picnic site in the Chekaka Recreation Area is available for reservations.
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 throughout the summer, offering fresh produce, local wines, arts and crafts and live music.
1 monitored unitDay usePets OKMax party 50
Getting there
From the South (San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Ukiah): Follow Highway 101 North towards Ukiah. Approximately 2 miles north of Ukiah, take the Lake Mendocino Dr. exit and turn right. Turn left at North State St., then right again onto Lake Mendocino Dr. Chekaka Recreation Area is at the top of the hill. Take a slight left before reaching the Coyote Valley Dam to visit the Overlook Day-Use Area. From the North (Eureka, Willits, Fort Bragg): Follow Highway 101 South. Approximately 17 miles south of Willits, take the Lake Mendocino Dr. exit and turn left. Turn left at North State St., then right onto Lake Mendocino Dr. Chekaka Recreation Area is at the top of the hill. Take a slight left before reaching the Coyote Valley Dam to visit the Overlook Day-Use Area. 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 5 miles after the Potter Valley turn-off, continue onto Highway 101 South. Take the Lake Mendocino Dr. exit and turn left. Turn left at North State St., then right onto Lake Mendocino Dr. Chekaka Recreation Area is at the top of the hill. Take a slight left before reaching the Coyote Valley Dam to visit the Overlook Day-Use Area.
1160 Lake Mendocino Dr., Ukiah, CA 95482-9404707-467-4200
BikingBoatingFishingHiking
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-233708 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-233708 · Chekaka Recreation Area Lake Mendocino · Ukiah CA5 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Chekaka Recreation Area Lake Mendocino?
Reservations for Chekaka Recreation Area Lake Mendocino are made through Recreation.gov. 90.5% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation; 10 of 105 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 18 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick the unit on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Chekaka Recreation Area Lake Mendocino?
Campsite Sniper detected 18 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Which month has the most availability at Chekaka Recreation Area Lake Mendocino?
September 2026, with 10 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 13.
When is the next open date at Chekaka Recreation Area Lake Mendocino?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.