Hickey Campground

Open — Open year-round. No online reservations available; first-come, first-served only. High winter water levels may make some park areas and hiking trails inaccessible when seasonal bridges are removed.

About

Hickey Campground sits within Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area, marking the southern entrance to California's famous redwood belt along Highway 101 in northern Mendocino County. The campground offers 64 pet-friendly sites nestled beneath towering redwoods along a two-mile stretch of the South Fork Eel River. The river features calm shallows, deep holes, and riffles ideal for swimming, kayaking, and fishing when water levels are safe. The park encompasses over 1,000 acres with approximately 10 miles of trails winding through steep canyon bluffs, second-growth forests, and pockets of virgin redwoods. The Grove Trail provides access to old-growth stands, including the impressive 225-foot Captain Miles Standish Tree, estimated to be over 1,200 years old. The area's history dates to 1922 when it began as a 40-acre campground, named in honor of Edward Ritter Hickey, a lumberman's son who died caring for victims of the 1918 flu epidemic. Located 1.5 miles north of Leggett and about 180 miles from San Francisco, the campground is accessible year-round via a paved entrance road suitable for any street-legal vehicle. High water during winter can make some trails and areas inaccessible when seasonal bridges are removed, but at least one campground remains open. The park offers restrooms with showers, drinking water, and picnic areas.

Directions

Located 1.5 miles north of Leggett on Highway 101, just west of the Rock Creek overcrossing. The park entrance road is paved and accessible to any street-legal vehicle.

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