California / Del Norte County / Six Rivers National Forest / Smith River National Recreation Area

Panther Flat Campground

Open — Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not accepted during winter months but are recommended for summer weekends and holidays when the campground frequently fills.

About

Panther Flat Campground is the largest and most popular campground in the Smith River National Recreation Area, featuring 38 campsites on a flat about 50 feet above the Middle Fork of the Smith River. The campground sits within a mature forest of Douglas fir, cedar, and Pacific madrone trees, with lush huckleberry bushes filling the spaces between sites. Highway 199 borders the south side of the campground. While the campsites themselves don't offer river views, a short three-minute walk down a trail leads to the adjacent Panther Flat Picnic Area, which provides excellent river viewing and access. The picnic area features grills, water, a horseshoe pit, and eight picnic tables, with two short paths leading to swimming holes, including one with a small sandy beach. The Smith River is famous for its pristine bright blue waters and offers world-class fishing for salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout, as well as whitewater rafting opportunities with up to Class 5 rapids. The campground is one of the most modern in the area, with some of the largest parking aprons suitable for RVs. It offers flush toilets, coin-operated hot showers, and drinking water. Nearby attractions include California's Redwood National Park and the Pacific Ocean within 20 miles. Hiking opportunities abound, with Elk Camp Ridge, High Dome, and French Hill trailheads all within 10 miles, and a botanical trail to a unique Darlingtonia bog just a mile away.

Directions

From Highway 101 north of Crescent City, take Highway 199 east for 16 miles to the campground. From the Visitor Center in Gasquet, turn left on Highway 199 and travel 2.5 miles east.

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