Glamping in Carlotta, California offers creek-side stays within mixed conifer forests at 131 feet above sea level. The area receives 47 inches of annual rainfall, creating a consistently damp microclimate that supports diverse plant life throughout the camping season. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing while summer days reach into the 90s.
What to do
Swimming holes access: 1/4 mile hike required at Boise Creek to reach creek pools. "It's about a 1/4 mile hike down there. Creek is absolutely beautiful. Not great for swimming but good for a quick dip in the pools," notes Claire B.
Explore Victorian architecture: Drive 30 minutes from campgrounds to Ferndale's preserved downtown. "Walked around Ferndale and had great Mexican food. The coffee shop in town was super cool and cozy," shares Maureen F. from Humboldt County Fairgrounds.
Bigfoot hunting opportunities: The region claims status as Bigfoot capital of the US. "I'm sitting here right now drinking coffee by the fire with cell service. Haven't gotten to see Bigfoot yet, but definitely will get a picture if I do," writes Timothy, who stayed at Boise Creek.
Beach combing at Sue-meg State Park: 90-minute drive north offers coastal access. "We picked one near Agate beach where we spent the morning beach combing and eating wild beach strawberries. Later we checked out the Indian village and Wedding Rock," reports J.d. E. from Agate Campground.
What campers like
Tent camping beneath redwoods: Sites tucked among old-growth trees provide natural shelter. "This is a really cool campground for tent campers. The sights are engulfed by giant redwoods and surrounded by ferns, moss and rainforest," says justin from Emerald Forest Cabins & RV.
Spacious sites for groups: Some campgrounds accommodate larger parties with room to spread out. "Great for family and big groups! Quiet spot right off the highway... I've camped here with 14+ high school students and it was great. Safe, protected and not a lot of trouble to get into," shares Kate A. about Emerald Forest.
Moderate-priced glamping options: Many sites offer affordable glamping. "The tent sites are $30. There's also a dump station (free for campers), a laundry room, and free showers," reports Laura M. about Stafford RV Park.
River proximity: Several glamping options include river access. "We stayed in the group site with friends a while back... the river is nice earlier in the year before the water warms and it fills with algae. theres swimming and hiking on site as well as the ranger station to explore," writes Paul H. about Boise Creek.
What you should know
Road noise affects sleep: Many campgrounds sit near highways. "This is a precise point where due to the grade of the road, every. Single. Passing. Semi. Downshifts, and there are plenty that go by all night... I kept getting jolted awake by that unmistakable, obnoxious gurgling of exhaust," warns Bryson B. about Boise Creek.
Limited WiFi connectivity: Despite advertised internet, reception varies. "The place advertised 'limited wifi' and for us it totally did nothing. Was hoping to work a bit on the laptop but even though I was connected everything just timed out," shares Jesse E. from Redcrest Resort.
Iron in water systems: Some campgrounds have discolored water. "The water jug we had filled with their water was full of rusty red residue at the bottom, ick. And that's with using a filter," cautions Laura M. about Stafford RV Park.
Tight RV spaces: Many RV sites lack adequate spacing. "The sites are close together, short, with roots coming up in the road and parking areas, and sharp angled turns to get into your spot. A lot of spot have over hanging tree limbs," notes stephanie about Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly recreation options: Some sites feature dedicated play areas. "Site #17 is a Pull through site. Some look like permanent resident but quiet n stay to themselves. Children's play area was nice," notes Jenni C. from Redwood Coast Cabins & RV Resort.
Enclosed, secure sites preferred: Security considerations matter for families. "Quiet campground without a river running through. Self check in and check out never even talked to anyone. It felt like just camping in the woods alone," shares Suzanne P. about Grizzly Creek Redwoods.
Bathroom proximity considerations: Choose sites based on facilities access. "The bathrooms are far away from the tent camp areas," warns aidan L. about Emerald Forest, noting this could be inconvenient for younger campers.
Low-cost glamping option: Budget-friendly alternatives exist. "$12 for tent $25 for RV. Nice campground, a lot of space. Hot shower present. $5 for the shower if u do not stay in the camp," advises Oleksii L. about Humboldt County Fairgrounds.
Tips from RVers
Dump station quality varies: Inspect facilities before use. "I suggest requesting a spot with full hookups. Used the RV dump as I left. It's by far the worst RV dump that I've used. It works, but needs a complete rebuild," cautions D37 at Humboldt County Fairgrounds.
Road access challenges: Larger RVs face route limitations. "Hwy 36 from the 101 is very curvy with lots of narrow areas and very few turn offs," warns stephanie about access to Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park Campground.
Low-clearance considerations: Tree cover affects site accessibility. "The sites are close together, short, with roots coming up in the road and parking areas, and sharp angled turns to get into your spot. A lot of spot have over hanging tree limbs. We made it in our spot because our camper is super low profile during travel mode," advises stephanie.
Check-in procedures vary: Plan arrival timing carefully. "I must admit, we arrived after dark and left by 8 am. The folks were great on the phone and set us up for a after hours arrival," shares Michael C. about Redwood Coast Cabins & RV Resort.
