$100 / night

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Established Camping

Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

62 Reviews

Warning 4 Alerts are In Effect

There are 4 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

Codes for access to your cabin are printed on the Sales Receipt (confirmation letter). If you have off-season reservations or if you are an after-hour arrival, State Park staff may not be available to assist you with your reservation. You are responsible for cabin access, and the access code is found on your Sales Receipt (confirmation letter).

Maxium allowable stay is thirty (30) nights per calendar year per park, with no more than fifteen (15) of these nights permitted during the summer season.

Starting May 1st- Sept 30th permits will be required to enter all locations within the Gold Bluffs Beach Day use areas, including the popular Fern Canyon parking area. Permits will be free and will be available online only on the Redwood National and State Parks website, <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nps.gov%2Fredw%2Findex.htm&data=04%7C01%7CSusan.Smith%40parks.ca.gov%7Cab19dd08bec8484081b308da06af5bae%7C06fd3d24656448018226b407c4d26b68%7C0%7C0%7C637829647463954955%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=x2t4jAQL0ygLSaDXziw7rfzbt8mXrtDkMOsr%2FdRLvpM%3D&reserved=0">https://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm</a>. A day use fee of $12.00 (cash or check only) will be charged upon entry, or visitors can also use their California State Parks or national Park service Day-use passes.

Meadow Cabin Colony:  No mattresses are provided on the beds.

About

Meadow Cabin Colony

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Location

Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is located in California

Directions

Located 50 miles north of Eureka and 25 miles south of Crescent City on Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway off of Highway 101.Elk Prairie Campground is located at the southern end of the Parkway.

Address

127011 Newton B. Drury Parkway
Orick, CA 95555

Coordinates

41.36384308 N
124.0209279 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Unknown
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Good

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Cabins

Features

For Campers

ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
WiFi
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups

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$100

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General Info

Reservations

Bella H.

Guide

Reviewed Mar. 21, 2024

One of my favorites!

This was tied for my favorite redwoods campsite. We stayed for 1 night in march and it was almost entirely booked so I would reserve a spot. It was a little buggy in the woods but not too bad. The prairie itself was really beautiful especially at dusk. The surrounding woods is exactly what you look for when going to redwoods.

Site57

Month of VisitApril

(7) View All

Jake R.

Traveler

Reviewed Nov. 5, 2023

Great spot!

Perfect spot right by so many incredible hikes. The campground is secluded and you aren’t on top of everyone which is nice.

Month of VisitNovember

Whitney W.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 2, 2023

Elk and lupins everywhere!

My friend and I stayed here on our bike tour from Seattle to San Diego in 2019 and it was great. We stayed at a hiker/biker site under a tree. There were elk and lupins all over the prairie—it was so beautiful! I highly recommend.

Month of VisitJuly

John B.

Scout

Reviewed Nov. 26, 2022

Wet … And Beautiful

Stayed near Thanksgiving. First day was absolutely beautiful. Second day — despite the weather forecast — had light rain all day and night.

Camp spaces are nicely marked, with a table, fire-pit, bear locker. Couldn’t buy firewood there despite what’s said in the literature.

Had a small cargo trailer and a free-standing canopy, so the rain wasn’t really an issue.

SiteElk Prairie campground

Month of VisitDecember

JP C.

Ranger

Reviewed Sep. 30, 2022

Nice Biker/hiker sites

In August 2019 we rode from Seattle to Santa Barbara, staying most night in hiker/biker sites. Elk Prairie was our first campground in Redwood National State Parks. Biker/hiker sites were nice, picnic tables and bear boxes but was missing the USB charging station we had found in most Oregon state park. We did not see any elks during our short stay(one night) here but had seen quite a few on our way there just before entering Redwood National State Parks. From the campground you can get to some very nice(not technical) hiking trails that will allow to appreciate and the huge trees found here.

SiteHiker/biker

Month of VisitSeptember

(8) View All

mario

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 21, 2022

Close since Aug 2022

Because they do not have running water had to close

Month of VisitOctober

Eric G.

Legend

Reviewed Sep. 20, 2022

Close to redwood

This is a nice campground with little campsites. We had a 21’ travel trailer and could barely fit down the roads in campground. Very dark because of trees. Not solar friendly. Showers and flush toilets. Potable water.

Site2

Month of VisitOctober

(5) View All

April C.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 23, 2022

My favorite place to camp

I try to go to different places. But this is my favorite place to camp. Always clean, most sites feel private, clean restrooms and showers. So many hikes right around the campsite. On the first Saturday of the month, Newton B Drury Pkwy is closed, and everyone rides their bikes up and down the Pkwy. You are guaranteed to see elk and moose.

Month of VisitApril

HandL C.

Ranger

Reviewed Jun. 22, 2022

Your RV Will Not Fit

I know that recreation.gov let you reserve the site. I know that it looks DELIGHTFUL on paper. Trust me though, unless you have a small class C or a van, or a TINY teardrop trailer, you're going to have a bad day parking your rig. Both entrances into the main loop are steep, narrow, and crooked. The sites are shorter than promised and challenging to back in to. All this for no water, no electrical. Fun! Oh, but the trails are nice...

Sitesites #12 and #32

Month of VisitJune

(4) View All

Kirsten

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 2, 2022

Magical place to stay along the Redwoods

Wonderful place to stay among the Redwoods if you don't mind being without hookups and love the all nature experience. Our site was right next to the creek!

SiteC50

Month of VisitJune

Kristine B.

Guide

Reviewed May. 15, 2022

Green and Gorgeous

Loved this campground. Some sites sacrifice size for awesome water feature. I had a large site but no direct access. There is a trail that starts at the campground that leads you to direct water access. Each site had its own bear box. Lots of elk, chipmunks, ducks and these large aggressive blue jays. No bears seen directly but there was recent claw activity on my bear box.

Site58

Month of VisitMay

(5) View All

Brian K.

Scout

Reviewed May. 10, 2022

Peace and quiet in the trees

Beautiful, private campsites carved into a mixed forest of redwood, fir, and maple trees. There are some truly fine sites along Prairie Creek and a handful of unique sites skirting the meadow that might not be for everyone (they’re much less private).

An abundance of awesome hikes give you the chance to wander amongst old growth redwoods — one of the greatest privileges nature offers.

If you have a pup like me, it’s tough to beat Cal Barrel Road, a rad 180 out that’s around 6 miles round trip. Since it’s technically a road, dogs are allowed! The entire hike winds through stunning upland old growth, starting near the famous Atlas Grove. It’s a rare opportunity to hike through ancient redwoods with your furry friend.

Closest supplies are in Orick and quite limited, though it’s its can be found, so it’s all good.

Site50

Month of VisitOctober

Olivia A.

Guide

Reviewed Apr. 26, 2022

Green and GORGEOUS!!

What an amazing place to stay. It was a little chilly and wet from the rain. It was my first time camping in the rain but was still absolutely amazing. Pack for the colder weather if you’re visiting in April. There are a lot of banana slugs to see and mushrooms to find. The hikes throughout the redwoods are breathtaking. It was the perfect place to unplug from the world.

Very quiet! Would love to stay again in the summer.

Site42

Month of VisitMay

(7) View All

Mea H.

Ranger

Reviewed Apr. 12, 2022

Guaranteed elk sightings!

[Internet. No Verizon or T-Mobile signal in the campground. You might get a blip by the park entrance but the park entrance also has a wifi station you can park near and use.]

PROS

→ Lots of sites on the creek! → Provides a wonderful outdoorsy camping experience. → On Fridays (and perhaps Saturdays too) you can walk to the visitor center and catch a ranger guided tour. → You are guaranteed many elk sightings. → The bathrooms and showers were clean.

CON

→ The showers are quarter operated at 25¢/minute. The water pressure is very low and the shower rooms are chilly. The water is warm. Not all showers have signage on how to operate the shower. Put a quarter in and pull the shower handle towards you.

4.5 stars - As always, the shower gets me. But as always, I mark 5-stars on my 4.5 star reviews since I believe it’s a great campground overall and don’t want my shower obsession to affect the rating at all.

—————————— [Rig. Mercedes Sprinter. 22 feet]

Dump station? - No Water fill? - No but there are water spigots Clean site? - Yes Clean bathroom? - Yes Flush toilet? - Yes Showers? - Yes but they are 25¢/minute Laundry? - No Dish washing sink? - No

Site13

Month of VisitMay

Dana V.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 14, 2021

It's so quiet

We stayed at one of the hike into camp sites. The hike in isn't very far at all but it's separated with from the other campers that it creates a peaceful and private environment. There is a specific campsite that you can really hike into, that one is a 3 mile hike and you have to call ahead to reserve that space. But our little hike (a few hundred feet) was wonderful. The forest was so quiet and peaceful I've never experienced such a quiet forest. There were showers, bathrooms, lots of hiking spots, fire pits, near by pond for fishing, and a little cute town 20 min drive away. I will definitely be coming back to this camp site again.

Site45

Month of VisitAugust

Nathaniel S.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 18, 2021

Camp under the Redwoods with a view of the Pacific

I camped here many, many years ago. In fact, it was over two decades ago. We spent a night here as part of a road trip that took us up the Pacific Coast all the way to Seattle. I had just moved to California from the East Coast, and the sheer size of the country north of San Francisco (where I was living at the time) blew my mind. We had a hike-in site, but I can't seem find on the current maps which one it was exactly. Again, this was over 20 years ago. But we checked in at the Prairie Creek visitors center. I remember this clearly, as we were given a bear canister for our food, which was the first time I'd ever had to use one of these. When I'd go camping back east, I'd just hang my food in bags. But the ranger was adamant we'd want this canister for the site we'd be camping at. More on this later.

The hike in was about 2 miles and took us deep into ancient groves of Redwoods. At the time, I thought this was the most beautiful spot on Earth that I'd ever visited. It's still probably in the top 10, maybe top 5. The site itself was on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. It was your typical California state park primitive site with a picnic table and fire pit. We made dinner and listened to the waves crashing on the beach below. It was July, and we had daylight until almost 9PM. It was actually sunny that evening, which at the time didn't strike me as unusual, but that's because I was a newcomer to the state. Fog is very common along the northern California coast, so even in summer, it can be quite cool - indeed almost downright cold. I'd like to think that we came prepared with warm clothes and layers, but we probably didn't (again, I was a recent transplant from the East Coast and still associating summer with hot and humid weather.) We were were lucky it happened to be a warm and balmy day.

Now, about that bear canister. I loaded all our food and toothpaste into it and placed it about 50 yards away from the tent. I recall thinking that this was purely precautionary - there was very little chance a bear would actually come to our site. I was wrong. At about 2AM, we heard a large creature walking around the campsite. I admit that I panicked for a moment or two. I had no idea what I was supposed to do. But then I remembered that black bears do tend to be timid, and will often be scared off by loud noises. For reasons I've never been able to explain, I grabbed my flashlight, jumped out of the tent, and started making barking sounds, like a dog. As embarrassing as that is to admit, the bear ran off into the woods. I barely caught a glimpse of it. We obviously didn't sleep too well after that, but as the morning broke we began to convince ourselves that there was no way we were actually visited by a bear. It had to be an elk. When I returned the canister to the ranger, he disabused me of that notion. If we had heard something loud enough to wake us in that part of the park, it almost certainly was a bear, he said. Over the next 25 years, we'd camp in areas with lots of bears (Yosemite, King's Canyon), and we'd see bears often, but this remains the only time a bear would actually come to our site while we were sleeping.

Per my rating system, this is an easy 5-stars as the Redwood National Forest and the CA state parks within it are some of the most beautiful spots on this planet. You can easily spend a week or more exploring the area. I've not returned to this specific spot since that July night so many years ago, but I've visited several of the other state parks in the area. Having written this, perhaps it's time for me to see if I can find this particular site again. That would be a fun adventure.

Month of VisitAugust

Nicole A.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 16, 2021

Lots of elk!

We reserved the last site in the campground. It was great. Bathrooms were a little far away, but there was plenty of room. 4 family shower rooms. You can get creek side spots just below us. Hiked from camp. Saw elk in the prairie. Like someone else said, close to Fern Canyon.

Site58

Month of VisitAugust

(4) View All

Susan R.

Ranger

Reviewed May. 27, 2021

Absolutely Beautiful

Wonderful campground in the redwoods. Lots of good sites, mostly mostly in the northern loop. Plenty of hiking trails around and elk everywhere!! Fern canyon is just a short way up the road and a definite must hike!! We will be returning here often

Site59

Month of VisitJune

(15) View All

Lady L.

Guide

Reviewed May. 25, 2021

Beautiful and tranquil

I didn't expect there will be actual elk there. I woke up to bunch of elk in front of my tent! Beautiful hikes, nice camp host and camp spots are in nice wooded area, some are by the creek, lots of privacy.

Month of VisitJune

Charles

Traveler

Reviewed May. 11, 2021

Redwoods Magic

Excellent facilities, stunning location, great hiking. Spot 20 is secluded, choose wisely here! One of the few sites I've wanted nothing more than just stay and hang.

Site20

Month of VisitJune

Julie W.

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 29, 2021

Incredible camp site

Beautiful! Showers and bathrooms. Awesome spots to roam around and check out the site. Can’t see main road from site. Good amount of space between spots.

We camped spot 40 and would absolutely want it again!

Site40

Month of VisitMay

Sophia B.

Guide

Reviewed Apr. 12, 2021

Stargazing wonder!

I really love this campground, especially because of how lush all the plants are. Some sites back up to the small river running through the park, and the lush vegetation give some privacy which is a huge plus! This park has TONS of trails, you will certainly not run out of things to do. I did the ~8 mile hike to Fern Canyon in the rainy winter and it was beautiful.

Star gazing in the clearing right before the campground is spectacular on clear nights, and the last time I was there a family of deer were grazing next to us while we stargazed. I have stayed here 2 times and each time I was very happy I did!

Month of VisitJanuary

(5) View All

Eric R.

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 8, 2021

Amazing Experience

Nothing compares to camping out amongst Sequoias. It's a great site. Coin showers are little cold, but run the sink faucets until they're hot and then start your shower. Your neighbors will be very close, but the foliage makes you feel slightly secluded at night especially. Each site is compact for tent camping... You'll be able to fit two 4-person tents comfortably. Firewood is $10 per person. Access to some amazing redwoods hiking trails are a short walk through the grounds. I didn't have cell service at all. Bring walkies for the trails.

Lisa S.

Ranger

Reviewed Nov. 17, 2020

Stay Here

Well screened and large campsites with tables and fire rings Mine was in the FF (first come, first served) section on the creek. There are well maintained hiking trails through out the magnificent Redwoods forest and excellent trail signage Showers and toilets clean. Friendly,helpful staff. Stayed mid-Nov. for two nights at $33 per.

(6) View All

Tami S.

Scout

Reviewed Oct. 24, 2020

Gorgeous state park

Stayed here last weekend and it was absolutely magical. Word of advice, unless you want a small amount of light into your campsite, avoid site 30 as it is right next to the bathrooms (which were super clean by the way) and there is a large light outside of it and there is a clearing from that site to the restroom so the light isn’t blocked at all. It can also be quit noisy, and the walk up to the bathroom is right next to your campsite so there is a lot of foot traffic. Otherwise great place to camp.

MarinMaverick

Legend

Reviewed Sep. 20, 2020

North Coast Camping At It's Best

I love to return to this place. It has campsites in a redwood forest along a small stream. And then there is a meadow in front where the elk come down to graze. They have benches all around the meadow so you can watch the elk from a safe distance.

There are miles and miles of trails through old growth (and second growth) redwoods.

Magical. You can hike to the beach, pick up a section of the coastal trail, or simply visit different groves of redwoods.

It can be damp here - think beach and redwoods, so be prepared fro dampness.

Siate ahe typical tables, fire rings and food lockers. Clean rest room and coin showers as well.

You can strike out north to the mighty Klamath River, over the hill to the Fern Canyon or hang with the elk.

Month of VisitOctober

(7) View All

Laura G.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 4, 2020

Redwood Giants in a Quiet Setting-Elk Praire Campground

First of all this is Not Gold Bluffs Beach. This is Cal state park adjoining Praire Creek next to a quiet meadow often featuring Elk. It is located off hwy 101 and in the midst of a pristine redwood forrest with well groomed trails. We have RV trailer and the sites are private, quiet with bear boxes and fire pit with water spigot. No other amenities- no Dump Station. Didn’t matter to us.. we were content to park,sleep, and walk the trails in the am. Lovely.

MarinMaverick

Legend

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2020

Redwoods Retreat

Long, sometime harrowing downhill to get to the park. Beautiful redwood grove with large campsites and a lot of space. All the site I saw were under the redwoods so well shaded. Have regular ameneties and all seemed well maintained.

We did a lot of hiking here - there are waterfalls and ponds to find.

Month of VisitJune

(4) View All

Jason K.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 16, 2020

Simply amazing!!

Was here for 3 nights and couldn't have been better. weather is great with all the shade provided by the beautiful trees. Plenty of hiking!!

Crystal C.

Legend

Reviewed Apr. 1, 2020

Great Access To Forest Hiking

When traveling to the Redwoods there are so many amazing campgrounds to visit. I have been to the Elk Prairie area once before but was not able to camp so made sure that on my most recent trip to make it happen.

One of my favorite locations within the Redwoods the campground itself is only a short distance to some of my favorite trails in the area.

You cannot go wrong at $35 a night to be in the direct footprint of the gigantic tree canopies in an area known widely for the frequently traveled paths of some of the forests most majestic elk herds.

The campground comes with all the basics, fire pits and picnic tables are located at each of the sites. The sites range in overall sizing with some large enough to fit smaller RVs but many designed for the smaller set up such as my tent.

While the ground is cleared, much like the rest of the location the soft wooded padding of the forest floor made for a comfortable place to settle in for the night. One thing you will want to remember when staying at this location is rain.

Rain seems to come and go frequently and can occur without any warning. While staying here I was periodically inundated by the persistence of rain both light and heavy.

While staying at this campground there are many benefits related to the overall location itself. Unlike many who will search for parking in small lots, you will have the built in benefit of having access to parking and thus some of the best entry points to trails. In addition, there is a small museum and Ranger Post at the entry to this camping area which makes for easy access to maps and additional restrooms.

However with all the benefits there are a few disadvantages as well including the lack of cell and internet service. This is only a disadvantage if you do not have a offline map. Come prepared and you will not struggle at all and will be at an advantage.

(13) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park have RV hookups?

According to TheDyrt.com, Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park has water hookups and sewer hookups.

Are fires allowed at Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Does Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park have wifi?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park does have wifi.

Is there cell phone reception at Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is good.

How hard is it to get a campsite at Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park?

Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, try setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts

Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park?

There are 4 campsites at Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts