The Ultimate Guide to Humboldt Redwoods State Park Camping

It’s time to plan your Humboldt Redwoods State Park camping adventure—and we’re here to help! Our Humboldt Redwoods State Park Camping Guide provides information about camping options, activities, and everything you need to prepare for your getaway to this stunning natural destination. Let’s dive in and learn more about camping in Humboldt Redwoods State Park!

What to Expect While Camping in Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Step back in time among the ancient redwoods in this gorgeous park, sprawling on 53,000 acres—17,000 of which are old-growth redwood forest. Here inside Humboldt Redwoods State Park, you can traverse more than 100 miles of trails on foot, bicycle, or by horseback, or visit the South Fork of the Eel river for fishing, boating, picnicking, and swimming. As diverse in recreation opportunities as it is resplendent in beauty, this park guarantees an unforgettable camping experience!

The Complete Guide to Humboldt Redwoods State Park Camping

Open year-round, this majestic park offers a variety of camping options for families, groups, and equestrians alike! A picnic table and fire ring are included at each family campsite, with nearby drinking water, flush toilets, and hot pay showers. (Note: While RVs and trailers are allowed up to 24 feet, hookups are not provided at Humboldt Redwoods.)

Best Camping Spots

There are several campground options to choose from while camping in Humboldt Redwoods State Park:

Albee Creek Campground consists of 40 sites spread beneath redwood growth and across the prairie near Rockefeller Forest, with access to hiking and mountain biking trails and the South Fork of the Eel River. A favorite among many campers, this beautiful campground is typically open from May through mid-October.

For year-round campers, Burlington Campground’s 57 sites are available near the park’s visitor center inside a redwood grove just a short distance from the South Fork of the Eel River.

Hidden Springs Campground’s 154 sites are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day, offering a picturesque camping experience on a forested hillside a short walking distance from the South Fork of the Eel River.

From mid-April through mid-October, Hamilton Barn and Baxter Environmental Camps offer the opportunity for a more private campground experience while camping in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. These environmental camps, located about 50-200 yards from the gated parking area, provide picnic tables, fire rings, pit toilets, and untreated water. (Note: Pets are not allowed at environmental camps.)

For equestrian campers, Cuneo Horse Camp provides five family campsites each containing two corrals, as well as two group campsites—Group Site A, which can accommodate 65 people with 22 corrals, and Site B, which accommodates 25 people with 6 corrals. In addition, you’ll find fire rings, picnic tables, treated water, flush toilets, and coin-operated hot showers.

For groups, you have your pick of:

Williams Grove Group Camp, located near the South Fork of the Eel River, which hosts two adjacent group sites—one for 40 people and one for 60, which can be combined to accommodate 100; and Marin Garden Club Group Camp, which has one tent-camping-only site for 40 people.

(Note: Both group sites are open Memorial Day to Labor Day and offer picnic tables, fire rings, and flush toilets; campers can use hot pay showers at nearby Burlington Campground.)

For campers who prefer a more rugged wilderness experience, there are five trail camps available; you’ll find bear boxes and pit toilets on location, but there may not always be water. These camps are Johnson Camp, the easiest to reach, but notorious for mosquitoes; Grasshopper Camp, a strenuous climb to reach at the edge of a meadow just beneath Grasshopper Mountain; Whiskey Flat Camp, tucked beneath a cluster of old-growth redwoods; Hansen Ridge Camp, which boasts the best views of the King Range on the edge of the Pacific Ocean; and Bull Creek Camp, a solitary and hard-to-reach camp on upper Bull Creek.

There are also Hike and Bike accommodations in Burlington, Albee Creek, and Hidden Springs Campgrounds for those hiking and biking in the park!

Booking

Reservations can be made 6 months in advance and are highly recommended due to the popularity of these sites. Individual campsites are limited to 15 consecutive nights, and Hike and Bike sites are limited to 2 consecutive nights.

You can book your reservation online here or by calling 1-800-444-7275.

Things To Do At The Park

The primary draw of this state park is the exhilarating landscape it provides, with one-of-a-kind, up-close encounters with the breathtaking redwoods for which the park is named!

You can experience these giant beauties up close on one of the many drives through the park, particularly Avenue of the Giants and the pullover Founder’s Grove along the route; you can even drive straight through a naturally-cleaved redwood!

You can also enjoy their majesty on foot or on bicycle, or explore the prairies and groves via horseback; or, if you prefer maritime activities, take advantage of kayaking, canoeing, and swimming in the branch of the Eel River winding through the park.

Wildlife

As you traverse the magnificent redwoods, you may encounter a variety of creatures including Roosevelt elk, deer, squirrels, bobcats, black bears, and banana slugs; in the Eel River, fishers will find an array of salmon and steelhead trout (Note: Fishing is catch-and-release only in the park) and may even spot the rare Pacific lamprey! And of course, with the abundance of trees, there’s no shortage of birds! You’re likely to hear all sorts of different songs from a variety of species as you hike, bike, or drive through the redwoods.

(Note: Humboldt Redwoods is deep in bear country, so campers are urged to secure their rations and keep backpacks in reach at all times. It is imperative campers do not feed wildlife. In addition, visitors are required to watch this video on the impact of human food on park wildlife before visiting Humboldt Redwoods State Park).

Vegetation / Geography

While Humboldt State Park boasts a variety of stunning, scenic vegetation, including Douglas Fir, western hemlock, calypso orchids, redwood lilies, and more, it is truly the redwoods themselves that put this park on the map—with the oldest known tree in the park being a whopping 2,500 years old, and a mixture of old and newer growth throughout.

In addition to its famous forestry, the park is also home to beautiful, scenic cliffs, and the ocean views from Hansen Ridge Camp are particularly of note.

Make Sure To Bring

Before you set out for your Humboldt Redwoods State Park camping adventure, make sure your gear is ready to go! You’ll want to check your tent, first aid kit, and all other camping supplies to ensure everything is in good repair. Food storage is of premier importance in Humboldt Redwoods due to the prolific bear population; all food and trash must be stored in animal-proof containers, so make sure you have plenty on hand!

In addition, you’ll want to come prepared with sturdy footwear for hiking; appropriate swimwear and safety gear if you’ll be out in the water; well-maintained tackle if you plan to fish; and drinking water, layered clothing, and a park map for excursions beyond the campsite. Be mindful of ticks and mosquitoes among the trees and bring insect repellant, a hat, and tall socks/long pants.

Park Fees

There are some fees to consider when planning your Humboldt Redwoods State Park camping trip.

Camping fees include one vehicle and one legally towed vehicle. Additional vehicles will be charged a fee at the park.

· Burlington, Albee, and Hidden Springs Campsites are $35.00 per night.

· Environmental Camps are $20.00 per night.

· Trail Camps and Hike & Bike Camps are $5.00 per person, per night.

Reviews

Boasting a solid 5 out of 5 star rating, with most reviews ranging from Very Good to Excellent, Humboldt Redwoods is easily one of the greatest camping experiences in California! Campers have praised in particular the cleanliness, maintenance, and tranquility of the campgrounds—even the sites near the roads. In addition, the park has been lauded for its breathtaking views, easy accessibility, and even good cell service. Campers have found this park to be a historic treasure which many have, or will, visit time and again!

Final Thoughts on Humboldt Redwoods State Park Camping

We hope our Humboldt Redwoods State Park Camping Guide has helped you feel prepared to step into the ancient embrace of this forest for the adventure of a lifetime! Let us know in the comments what you’re most looking forward to about your camping trip to this timeless California treasure!

Check out more California camping recommendations here:

• 40 of the Best Places To Go Camping in California

• 21 Perfect Spots for Some California Lake Camping