Steel Bridge Campground

BLM's Redding Field Office manages Steel Bridge Campground along the Trinity River outside Douglas City, California, where sites sit close enough to the water that the river functions as the main draw for most visitors. Access requires navigating a road that looks, at first, like it's heading the wrong direction. Keep going. Reviewers consistently note the approach feels wrong before the campground comes into view, and the road surface warrants caution for longer vehicles. RVs are capped at 20 feet.

The campground is primitive in practice: pit toilets, no potable water on-site, and sites that provide some spacing without full privacy. A camp host is present and, according to multiple visitors, actively shares information about the surrounding area. Wildlife sightings are common, including eagles, deer, and squirrels along the river corridor. A short trail at the end of the campground follows the Trinity, and fishing draws a steady stream of day visitors even when the campground itself is occupied. Campers report the site stays well maintained.

"Lots of wildlife (Eagles, deer, squirrels) and well maintained," notes Liza P. from a spring 2026 visit. There is also a free area with a table and outhouse just before the campground gate, worth knowing if the main sites are full. Campers wanting developed amenities nearby might consider Douglas City Campground, roughly 2.6 miles southwest, which offers a different setup along the same stretch of river.