Best Northern California Camping?

[milani74]

Hi all,
Looking to car camp with friends and family in the Redwoods later this summer and would like some suggestions. What campground offers some privacy, ability to have fires, and as close to a river/water?
Looking at recreation.gov, it looks like Panther Flat, and Grassy Flat campgrounds fit the bill, but it's impossible to see how close the campgrounds are to each other. How busy is the Redwood Natl Forest in late summer? Our friends are driving an RV so roughing it wont be an option, but finding a spot along a secluded river would be for us.

Thanks in advance!

 

[eisman]

The river in the campground at Redwoods Natl Park is a bend with a rocky beach (unless it's changed recently). There are not a lot of trees near the river. It can get busy; you need to call and talk to the local rangers and they can tell you what their reservations look like.

About an hour up the road (north) is Jedediah Smith State Park (by Cresent City). I like it a lot better. It's nearer to the ocean and has better trees. It's also a State Park and not as busy with out of State tourists.

If you want to be right on the beach you can stay at Del Norte or Prairie Creek State parks. Again, you may have to check and see if they're open (CA being broke has closed a lot of places). Humboldt (south of Eureka is nice too).

You probably won't get much fog at Redwoods, but you will at Del Norte. Be prepared for cool wet weather even in the summer. On the other hand, it can get upwards of 100 during the day.

 

[milani74]

Thank you Eisman for the suggestions. How much room is it between the camp spots at Jebediah? We're thinking about getting reservations for a few nights so we have a destination to arrive at, then scout for a better, more secluded area to camp. Honestly, I'm not sure how foggy we want it. I'd be ok with clear skies and cooler weather at night.

 

[eisman]

That fog bank lives off the northern California coast all summer long. I used to drive over from Napa to Ft Bragg just to watch it come in. It can be clear, but fog is more common. All those travel poster photos of the misty coast are shot in the summer. The fog usually burns off by 1100, and comes in between 4pm (rare) and midnight; usually after dark as the land cools down. It's kind of cool to see the fogbank (which gets a couple hundred feet high) sitting a couple hundred yards off shore.

The fog can roll inland all the way to I5. Here's a shot of it coming into the Napa valley from the direction of Santa Rosa.

I don't remember how many spaces there are at any campground. JS is good sized, not too small. What I liked about that, apart from a lack of crowds, was the rainforest atmosphere (more so than at Redwoods. Take wet weather gear; it's always damp and wet in the coastal redwoods. If you want dry, go to Sequoia (my favorite over Yosemite).

 

[eisman]

I shuld probably add this...36 and 299 are very twisty, winding roads. Great in a car, but a lot of work in anything bigger. In SEPT you'll miss most of the tourist traffic. There are some good wineries south of Eureka (if you're into that). I you want to walk in the trees Six Rivers is good too.

 

[Modoc ED]

eisman touched on it briefly but please note that CA has basically de-funded State Parks. Of the ones that remain open and operational, they do so on a hit-and-miss basis. Although they post hours of operation and days they are open, it's sort of a crap-shoot. A lot of it comes down to whether or not a ranger is available to open/man a gate to open and keep a park opened. Don't bet on anything and if I were asked to send a deposit for a campsite, I wouldn't do it. My best advice is to start out on your trip and play it by ear so to speak. There are several private camp grounds along that route. More expensive yes but at least they operate with some certainty.

If you have a choice use 299. It's pretty twisty between I5 and the coast but very doable. 36 is really really twisty (all the way between Susanville and the coast) and can put you and your passengers hearts in your throats as in some areas it is very narrow especially when you meet a logging truck or two or more along the way. It's doable but a touch more dangerous. If you're traveling 36 in an RV, slow down.

Get one of those Campsite books from Camping world or the Good Sam Club. I know a lot of people gag at the thought of a KOA campsite but there are a few very nice ones along the Redwood route.

Oh, I forgot. If you're traveling through National Forest areas keep your eyes open for federal campsites. No reservations but most have open spots throughout the spring/summer. Pick a site and leave your money in special boxes they have set up at most entrances. Cost are very reasonable.

One last thing. Many of the CA State Parks that haven't been closed that used to be open 24/7 are now daylight only parks.

Such a shame that these parks have been basically abandoned by CA.

 

[JCavSD]

The river in the campground at Redwoods Natl Park is a bend with a rocky beach (unless it's changed recently). There are not a lot of trees near the river. It can get busy; you need to call and talk to the local rangers and they can tell you what their reservations look like.

About an hour up the road (north) is Jedediah Smith State Park (by Cresent City). I like it a lot better. It's nearer to the ocean and has better trees. It's also a State Park and not as busy with out of State tourists.

If you want to be right on the beach you can stay at Del Norte or Prairie Creek State parks. Again, you may have to check and see if they're open (CA being broke has closed a lot of places). Humboldt (south of Eureka is nice too).

You probably won't get much fog at Redwoods, but you will at Del Norte. Be prepared for cool wet weather even in the summer. On the other hand, it can get upwards of 100 during the day.

I'm with you on your recommendations. In that area I'd rank Prairie Creek (Elk Prairie Campground) as no. 1 and Jedediah as no. 2. I like the cooler weather, the hike to the beach, and fern canyon, from Elk Prairie. Jedediah has larger sites and many are quite private. Probably been 4 or 5 years since I've been to either.