Gold Beach Campground

This campground directory was developed to assist campers in planning an overnight stay in the Redwood National and State Parks area. This guide covers an area from Clam Beach (near Arcata) north to the Oregon border and east to Willow Creek and into Six Rivers National Forest. Campgrounds listed in this guide charge fees, unless otherwise noted.

Public Campgrounds - South

This section of the guide includes the southern area from the Humboldt County line south to Clam Beach and east to Willow Creek.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

• Elk Prairie Campground: 50 miles north of Eureka on Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway; off Highway 101. Sites: 75 RV or tents, trailers up to 24 feet, campers up to 27 feet. Facilities include nature center, bookstore, no hookups, showers, rest rooms, picnic area, trails, hiker/bicyclist sites, trailer dump station, handicap access, and evening campfire talks. Reservations: Call PARKNET at 1-800-444-7275. For site-specific information, call (707) 464-6101 ext. 5300.
• Gold Bluffs Beach Campground: 3 miles north of Orick via U.S. 101, then 5 miles west on Davison Road (gravel). Vehicles towing trailers; combined length must not exceed 24 feet and width must not exceed 8 feet. Motorhomes towing a vehicle -- combined length must be under 24 feet. Sites: 24 RV or tent. Facilities include solar showers, rest rooms, trails, hiker/bicyclist sites. For site-specific information, call (707) 464-6101 ext. 5300.
• Gold Bluffs Beach Environmental Sites: Register and pay fees at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center or at Gold Bluffs Beach entrance station in order to get directions and lock combination to the campground (involves a short hike from the parking area). Sites: 3 sites (maximum 8 people each for tent camping. Facilities include picnic tables, fire rings, pit toilets. No water, no trash cans (pack out all trash).

Redwood National and State Parks

• Freshwater Lagoon Spit : on U.S. 101 south of Orick about 2 miles. Day use permitted (no fee).

Other State Parks

• Humboldt Lagoons State Park: On U.S. 101 south of Orick. Self-register at Stone Lagoon Environmental Camps. Sites: 6 accessible by boat only. Facilities include pit toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, and bear poles. Phone (707) 464-6101 ext. 5300 (Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park) for site-specific information.
• Patricks Point State Park: Turn off U.S. 101 5-miles north of Trinidad, onto Patricks Point Drive. Sites: 124 family, group site with up to 150, hiker/bicyclist sites. Facilities include no hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, showers, beach access, hiking trails, evening campfire talks during the summer, Native American (Yurok) village, tide pools, whale-watching, surfing, bookstore, and group day-use area. For reservations, call PARKNET at 1-800-444-7275. For site-specific information, call (707) 677-3570.

Shasta Trinity National Forest

• East Fork; 6 miles west of Willow Creek on Highway 299. Sites are undeveloped; camp anywhere. Facilities are pit toilets and picnic tables; there is no water.
• Boise Creek: 1.5 miles west of Willow Creek on Highway 299. There are 17 sites with 3 additional for backpackers and cyclists. Facilities include water, garbage cans, picnic tables, year-round camp host, amphitheater, and an accessible toilet.
• Gray Falls: 12 miles east of Willow Creek on Highway 299. There are 33 sites. Facilities include flush toilets, amphitheater, water, and camp host during summer.
• Tish Tang: 8 miles north of Willow Creek on Highway 96. There are 40 sites with no hookups; maximum trailer length is 22 feet. Group sites available by reservation. Facilities include fishing access, swimming, four-wheel driving, and access to the Trinity River.

Humboldt County Parks

• Big Lagoon: 13 miles south of Orick on U.S. 101. Turn on Big Lagoon Road. There 26 sites. Facilities include flush toilets, boat ramp, picnic tables, fire rings, beach access. No showers or hookups. Call (707) 445-7652 for information.
• Clam Beach: Off U.S. 101 south of Trinidad just past the bridge over"Little River." There are 16 tent sites in the dunes near two parking lots. Facilities include water, picnic tables, pit toilets, beach access. No hookups. Call (707) 445-7652 for information..

National Park Primitive Camping

Backpack camping is allowed on the gravel bar of Redwood Creek past the first foot bridge all the way up to 1/4-mile on either side of Tall Trees Grove. Permits must be obtained from the Kuchel Visitor Center near Orick. Bear precautions for Redwood Creek: place all food and scented items, such as toothpaste, in the trunk of the car overnight OR hang items 200 feet from the tent, from a branch 15 feet up a tree, 10 feet out, and 5 feet below the branch. Also, bear-proof cannisters are available to borrow from the Kuchel Visitor Center. Secure all valuables before leaving your vehicle at the trailhead. Call 707-464-6101 ext. 0 for more information..

Public Campgrounds - North

This section includes the northern area from the northern Humboldt County line to the Oregon border.

State Parks

• Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park - Mill Creek Campground: 7 miles south of Crescent City on U.S. 101. Sites: 145 RV or tent -- RV length maximum 31 feet, trailers 27 feet. Facilities include showers, rest rooms, hiker/bicyclist sites, trailer dump station, trails, handicap access, but no hookups. For reservations, call PARKNET at 1-800-444-7275. For site-specific information, call (707) 464-6101 ext. 5113.
• Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park: on highway 199 at Hiouchi. There are 106 RV or tent sites; maximum RV length is 36 feet, trailers 27 feet. Facilites include showers, rest rooms, river sites, picnic area, trails, hiker/bicyclist sites, trailer dump station, handicap access, but no hookups. There is a group site for 50. For reservations, call PARKNET at 1-800-444-7275. For site-specific information, call (707) 464-6101 ext. 5113.

National Forests

• Big Flat Campground: 14 miles up South Fork Road off Highway 199. There are 30 RV or tent sites; maximum RV length is 22 feet. Facilities include rest rooms, fishing, swimming, picnic tables, and BBQ pits. No water, hookups, or garbage service. Pets allowed on leash. Open all year. No fee. Call (707) 457-3131.
• Grassy Flat Campground: 4 miles east of Gasquet on Highway 199. There are 19 RV or tent sites; maximum RV length is 22 feet. Facilities include water, fishing, swimming, rest rooms (vault toilets), river access, campground host, garbage service, and handicap site. No hookups. Open summer and fall. $8 camping fee. Phone (707) 457-3131.
• Panther Flat Campground: phone (707) 457-3131.
• Patrick's Creek Campground: 7 miles northeast of Gasquet on Highway 199. There are 17 RV or tent sites. Facilities include water, rest rooms, fishing, swimmng, hiking, river access, and handicap site. Pets are allowed on leash. $8 camping fee. Phone (707) 457-3131.

Del Norte County Campgrounds

• Florence Keller: 5 miles north of Crescent City on U.S. 101 and to Elk Valley Road west. There are 45 RV or tent sites. Facilities include rest rooms, water, horseshoe pit, volleyball court, and group picnic area. Pets okay on leash. Call (707) 464-7230.
• Ruby Van Deventer: on California 197, 4 miles north of Highway 199 intersection. There are 18 RV or tent sites. Facilities include rest rooms and water. Phone (707) 464-7230.

National Park Primitive Campgrounds

Campers must park in the parking lot and walk 1/4 to 1/2 mile to campsites. No fees. All have sites with fire rings and toilets. Use metal food caches where available. Call (707) 464-6101 ext. 5064.

Bear precautions for all campgrounds: place all food and scented items, such as toothpaste, in the trunk of your car OR in metal food caches where available OR hang 200 feet from your tent off a branch 15 feet up a tree 10 feet out and 5 feet below the branch. Bear-proof cannisters are available to borrow from information centers.

• DeMartin: park at mile marker 14.4 on the east side of U.S. 101 (1/2-mile hike in), at the north end of Wilson Creek bridge (3 miles to camp), or at the Hostel (3 mile hike in). There are 10 sites on the ridge. Potable water is available.
• Flint Ridge: Park on Coastal Drive as it crests and ocean-view ridge. Park on the west side (trailhead across road 1/4-mile in), or park at the trailhead on the north end of Coastal Drive at the Douglas Bridge parking lot (hike 4.2 miles in on Flint Ridge Trail -- poorly marked trailhead). There are 10 sites in an opening amongst redwood/spruce forest. You will find tables and fire rings.
• Little Bald Hills Horse/Backpack Camp: Park at the trailhead off the east end of Howland Hill Road. A campsite is located at 4.5 miles. Toilets, water, a horse bar, and fire rings are available.
• Nickel Creek: Park at the end of Enderts Beach Road, 4 miles south of Crescent City. There are 5 sites in a brushy creek canyon above the beach. No water.

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