Patrick Creek Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. Opens May 17, 2025 and operates through September 19, 2025. Reservations available via Recreation.gov but recommended mainly for summer weekends and holidays. Walk-in campers can self-register at the entrance during operating season.

About

Patrick Creek Campground sits at the confluence of Patrick Creek and the Middle Fork of Smith River in the Six Rivers National Forest of northern California. The campground has special charm, with historic stone walls, steps, restrooms, and sunken campfire circles built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. These structures provide a glimpse into the Depression-era craftsmanship that shaped many of America's public lands. The 13 campsites are situated on a flat about 30 feet above the river, nestled among mature Douglas fir trees with huckleberries and other shrubs filling the spaces between sites. Sites 7, 8, 9, and 12 offer river views looking down over a fence and vertical bank. A short 0.2-mile paved universal-access trail provides wheelchair access from the campground to a barrier-free fishing platform at the confluence of Patrick Creek and the Smith River, with a small gravelly beach below. Another trail leads to a shallow river area with a sandy beach. The Smith River offers excellent fishing for salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout. Popular activities include fishing, swimming, sunbathing, and rafting. While there are no trailheads at the campground, nearby trails including Elk Camp Ridge, High Dome, and French Hill are all within 10 miles. Sandy Beach River Access, located one mile west, offers a larger beach and swimming hole. Highway 199 borders the north side of the campground.

Directions

From Highway 101 north of Crescent City, travel east on Highway 199 for 22 miles to the campground. From the Smith River NRA Visitor Center in Gasquet, turn left on Highway 199 and travel 7.5 miles east.

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