Dispersed Camping in Del Norte County, California
Showing 40 locations in Del Norte County.
Alder Camp Road Dispersed Corridor
A scenic mountain-side dirt road corridor winding alongside the Klamath River and leading toward the Redwood National and State Parks boundary. Dispersed camping is found along various turnouts and at the trailhead. While parts of this corridor lie within tribal reservation land where local consent should be verified, other sections sit on National Forest land where dispersed camping is permitted. Be aware that black bears are highly active in this corridor.
Anglers Cove
A quiet, rustic, seasonal RV and dry camping option situated along a scenic creek near the Klamath River. Standard sites include picnic tables and fire pits, with close proximity to coastal redwood attractions. It operates as an older private campground where hospitality is highly praised.
Big Flat Campground & Hurdygurdy Creek
A quiet U.S. Forest Service camping area along the scenic Hurdygurdy Creek. This location features a basic developed campground with spacious sites and nearby dispersed options along the creek.
Buck Creek Camp
A primitive hike-in campsite located along the South Kelsey Trail near Buck Creek. This site requires a backcountry hike and offers secluded wilderness tent camping.
Chinook RV Resort
An older RV resort featuring level grassy sites directly adjacent to the river and highway. The property offers full hookups, coin-operated laundry, and basic amenities, but is noted for older, rustic facilities.
Creek next to the Bridge
A stunningly beautiful gravel pull-off situated directly next to a rushing mountain stream. Hidden down a steep paved descent immediately off the main road, this spot features an incredible natural 'bathtub' pool in the creek. The noise of the rushing water perfectly masks any nearby traffic. This dead-end area features a large gravel lot and a small, secluded tent spot tucked beneath the trees.
Crescent City KOA
A well-maintained commercial campground set amidst coastal redwood trees, offering spacious tent sites and full-hookup RV spaces.
DeMartin Campground & Trailside Corridor
An overnight corridor located along the redwood coast, centered around the hike-in DeMartin Campground and adjacent highway pullouts. The official campground provides designated walk-in sites along the Coastal Trail, while nearby pullouts offer scenic coastal vistas.
Eightmile Camp
An isolated walk-in backcountry camping spot located deep within the Klamath National Forest corridor.
Elkhorn Bar Camp
A rugged wilderness camp located along the river bar, requiring a hike to access.
Flint Ridge
A scenic gravel trailhead parking area serving the Flint Ridge backcountry trail. While tent campers can hike 0.25 miles up the path to dedicated sites with a toilet and bear-proof food storage, self-contained campervans often utilize the gravel pull-off. Highly scenic overlook with ocean vistas, though accessed via a narrow, rough, dirt-and-gravel one-way road.
Florence Keller Recreation Park
A scenic park and campground nestled under young redwood trees, offering peaceful surroundings just off the highway. This county-run park features campsites equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, with walking trails woven throughout the giant trees.
Forest Road 15N39 Dispersed
A scenic mountain corridor along Forest Road 15N39 and Horse Creek Road leading to the South Kelsey Trailhead. This rugged area offers primitive pull-outs inside the Smith River National Recreation Area, though vehicle camping is strictly prohibited within the designated trailhead parking lot itself.
Golden Bear RV Park
A highly rated, modern, and paved RV park with 52 sites open year-round next to the water. It offers premium, newly upgraded amenities and full utility hookups on a level, parking-lot style layout.
Grassy Flat & Smith River Corridor
A scenic riverfront zone adjacent to the Grassy Flat Campground. It features a large gravel overlook and dispersed pull-offs along the wild Smith River. Portions of the gravel area are occasionally used for active forest management or road construction staging. Dispersed camping is allowed outside the developed campground footprint, offering scenic river access and direct views. This zone offers an excellent alternative when the primary campground is closed seasonally.
Grassy Flat Campground
Shady and peaceful developed campground set amidst Douglas fir and hardwood forest along the wild and scenic Smith River. The campground features single-family sites equipped with tables and campfire rings. Vault toilets are available, but there is no running water. The site provides a wonderful base for swimming, rafting, and exploring the nearby redwood groves.
Jedediah Smith Campground
An iconic developed campground set amidst majestic old-growth redwoods on the banks of the Smith River. It features standard campsites, group areas, and a hike-and-bike section, with access to swimming, pristine nature trails, and campfire programs.
Kamp Klamath RV Park
A highly-rated, professionally managed RV park and campground offering spacious grassy sites close to the Redwoods. Known for outstanding hospitality, a well-stocked general store, and hot showers.
Klamath Camper Corral
A expansive, older campground situated right off the highway with large grassy meadows. It offers a large volume of standard hook-up RV sites and rustic dry-camping tent spaces.
Klamath River RV Park
An attractive, family-run RV park situated right on the banks of the Klamath River. Guests can enjoy scenic waterfront views, clean modern bathhouses, and a morning coffee service.
Lighthouse Cove RV Park
Basic seaside RV park offering full hookups, beach access, hot showers, and laundry facilities. Also provides a paid dump station and fresh water fills for non-guests. High-value property should be heavily secured due to reports of opportunistic theft.
Lower Lake Farm Camp
A peaceful, private farm camping option offering full hookup RV sites nestled close to the coastal redwoods. Stays must be reserved in advance through private hosting platforms.
Marie Gold Campground
A developed camping area situated close to Highway 101, offering easy access to the stunning coastal redwoods.
Mill Creek Campground
An exceptional developed campground tucked deep inside Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, offering secluded spots surrounded by towering maple trees and second-growth redwoods. Campers have access to beautiful hiking trails and Mill Creek itself, with excellent amenities including flush toilets and pay showers.
Nickel Creek Campground
A scenic backcountry campground nestled along Enderts Beach Road in Redwood National and State Parks. This walk-in campground provides an immersive coastal redwood experience just a short hike from the beach.
North Fork Campground
A quiet, remote developed campground bordered by the North Fork of the Smith River, surrounded by steep and rocky serpentine landscape and recovery from the Biscuit Fire. Ideal for river rafting access and exploring local jeep trails, featuring beautiful spring wildflowers.
Ossagon Creek Trail Camp
A primitive hike-in or bike-in trail camp located along the Ossagon Trail in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Ideal for backcountry backpackers looking for a coastal redwood experience near the beach.
Panther Flat Campground
A heavily wooded developed campground situated directly along the scenic Smith River within Six Rivers National Forest. The campground features highly spacious, shaded sites with modern facilities and convenient river access for swimming, rafting, and fishing.
Patrick Creek Campground
An iconic, historic developed campground built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, featuring charming masonry steps, hand-built rock walls, and sunken campfire rings at the confluence of Patrick Creek and the Middle Fork of the Smith River.
Patrick Creek Road Dispersed
A scenic corridor of dispersed camping sites nestled along Patrick Creek Road and the Smith River. This area features multiple river-adjacent pull-outs, level spaces, and primitive fire rings under a lush forest canopy, though some surrounding areas show signs of recent wildfire burn recovery.
Redwood Harbour Village RV Park
Developed RV park located directly across from the harbor beach area. Features full utility hookups, clean restrooms, laundry facilities, and an automated online check-in system. Sound of crashing waves and sea lions is common overnight.
Redwood Meadows RV Resort
A quiet private RV, tent, and yurt park located a short walk from the Smith River and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Features large lots, full amenities, laundry, and a small convenience store.
Redwood RV Resort
This spot features a clean and peaceful developed campground setup tucked away behind a mobile home park entrance. Beautiful sites are nestled under mature trees, offering full hookups and a quiet atmosphere.
Riverside RV Park
A clean, quiet, and well-maintained seasonal RV park situated in a string of resorts directly along the scenic Klamath River. Guests enjoy clean amenities and premium riverfront views.
Ruby Van Deventer County Park
A beautiful, budget-friendly county campground situated right under majestic redwood trees and alongside the Smith River. This spot serves as an excellent fallback option when national park sites are fully booked, offering shaded sites and direct river access.
Sand Camp
A rustic river access site on national forest land offering flat gravel space and primitive tent camping spots along the river. While some signs restrict camping in the asphalt parking area, the forested sections and riverbanks provide space for low-profile setups and tent campers. It features a vault toilet but has no water or hookups.
Summit Valley Camp
A remote backcountry campsite situated in the pristine wilderness of the Six Rivers National Forest.
Tolowa Dunes State Park Horse Camp
An official state park equestrian campground nestled within Tolowa Dunes State Park. Ideal for horse packers and campers seeking direct access to Pacific coastline trails and quiet dunes.
Urban Stealth Parking (Crescent City)
This zone consolidates various street parking options, public lots, and commercial plazas in downtown Crescent City. Many spots are concentrated near parks, the ballpark, and regional businesses, making them useful for overnight vehicle sleep setups. Be aware that local transient activity is common, and some areas have specific commercial limitations.
Wilson Creek Road Dispersed Pull-Off
A large gravel pull-off nestled along the bend of Wilson Creek Road just off the main coastal highway. Tucked behind a large dirt and rock berm, this area provides excellent visual protection and sound dampening from passing coastal traffic. While the terrain is mostly sloped with only a few level parking spots, it serves as an excellent overnight layover with seasonal glimpses of the ocean.