Tent campsites near Crescent City, California sit within Six Rivers National Forest and the Smith River National Recreation Area, areas receiving over 100 inches of annual rainfall. The region features a mix of developed and primitive camping options set among coastal redwoods and alongside rivers where temperatures rarely exceed 70°F even during summer months. Most sites require visitors to navigate unpaved forest roads, with access becoming limited during winter and early spring.
What to do
Swimming holes exploration: Several camping areas along the Smith River offer exceptional swimming opportunities. At North Fork Campground, campers can access a beautiful swimming hole directly from their site. "The river is very chilly. Great on hot summer days," notes one camper, who mentions filtering water directly from the river.
Stargazing in remote locations: The distance from urban light pollution creates ideal night sky viewing conditions. At Sand Camp, one visitor reports: "The sky was dark and clear, perfect for stargazing. The few other people camping there were quiet and friendly."
Fishing for trout: The Smith River system provides quality fishing opportunities. At Ludlum Campground, a recent visitor mentioned: "We met a kid that was fishing the river and claimed to have caught some nice trout."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campgrounds in the region often feature good separation between camping areas. At Flint Ridge Backcountry Site, recent vegetation changes have created more seclusion: "The 8 campgrounds are relatively spread apart for privacy. Unfortunately it appears the only composting toilet is in campsite #1 so you have go to their camp."
Uncrowded camping experience: Many campers appreciate the solitude available at primitive sites. One camper at Sand Camp noted: "We showed up at 7p and there was one other person there. So not very popular."
Access to clear water: The Smith River system is known for its pristine water quality. As described by one camper: "Super epic and remote. River is beautiful. Bathrooms."
What you should know
Navigation challenges: Several campgrounds have reported issues with GPS coordinates and finding the actual sites. One Sand Camp visitor warned: "These coordinates lead us to private property, a driveway to a couple of houses. Maybe there was something a little further, but it was all blocked off."
Wildlife concerns: Prepare for insects during warmer months, particularly at riverside locations. At Ludlum Campground, campers report: "The biggest downside was the mosquitos. Tons..... of mosquitos."
Security considerations: Some remote camping areas have experienced theft issues. At Ludlum Campground, a ranger warned campers about "a white, windowless van and told us that they had been stealing gear for the past year or so."
Tips for camping with families
Short hiking options: Families with young children can access less strenuous camping spots. Flint Ridge offers accessibility with minimal hiking required: "We chose Flint Ridge for our permit because of its accessibility to the road and main attractions through the park... We also only had to 'hike' a short ¼ mile from our parking spot to the campsite."
Nature hazards awareness: Parents should monitor children around certain plants. At Flint Ridge Backcountry Site, one camper warns: "Be warned there is tons of poison ivy even in the campground."
Primitive bathroom facilities: Most tent sites around Crescent City offer basic toilet facilities. At Sand Camp, visitors report: "The toilet was a basic pit toilet, but it was fairly clean as far as those go."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV accessibility: Most primitive tent sites near Crescent City aren't suitable for larger vehicles. At Free-Your-Mind Camping, one RVer reported significant access issues: "The 3 mile gravel road was awful, rutted, washboard, steep has hell. Barely made it up there with a 4WD Tacoma truck pulling the trailer."
Parking limitations: Several campgrounds prohibit vehicle camping in parking areas. One visitor to Sand Camp noted: "The sites are walk to (very short), and there are signs saying no camping in the parking lot, violators will be fined. We didnt want to chance sleeping in our van because it seemed like a place that would be patrolled."
Small trailer considerations: Even with high-clearance trailers, forest roads present challenges. Consider disconnecting before navigating to campsites as "The entrance into the campsites was narrow and it would have been next to impossible to turn around in there."
