Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Garberville, CA has a lot to offer. Garberville is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Garberville camping trip.
"A pay by the day and rangers will enforce. Dress in layers. Nestled in with large pieces of driftwood trees acting as berms between your campsite and the beach sand."
"When we were there a few years ago, there was no water available because illegal pot growers had "poached" the park's water for their crops, forcing the BLM to shut down the water system."
"The road itself is rough and could be very unsettling for anyone trying to do this trip in a vehicle without good off-road clearance. The ruts can be big and cause bottoming out of street cars."
"The road in is a long and windy road but the site is worth the drive. We got there at night but the windy road did not deter us. Camped on the beach with the woods to our backs."
"Campsite had access to a few different foot paths which we didn’t explore too far down but certainly seemed nice. Pit toilets were fine by pit toilet standards."
$300 / night
$20 / night
"If you're looking for a hidden, out-of-the way campground oasis that will provide privacy, solitude and an intimate experience within the best of what nature has to offer, than look no further than Baxter"
"We did a west coast camping road trip around September. Once we hit red wood national park, all site were booked. But we ended up at the state campground and it was great!"
"Excellent weather in August. Chilly at night if wind starts to blow. I love the remoteness of this place, it is California's lost coast."
"we stayed there the last weekend in may and enjoyed the mild weather and the lack of other campers. the views of the cove are great and provide decent fishing from the bank. we were in for a show with"
TravelerGreat place to just get away and do some mountain biking. Minimal services available bring what you need and leave no trace. very quiet, 9 sites and no crowds. Be aware this is bear country and no bear boxes available. Also note that the mosquitoes are relentless. The vaulted toilets are clean and well kept. The Paradise Royal Loop is worth the drive I rate it as a moderate trail the climbing can be a challenge when the trail is covered in leaves….slippery! I do not recommend trailers or large RV’s.
GuideWe came here in early October 2020 for a Friday - Monday trip. The campsite is large and spots are spaced out. Due to COVID a lot of sites were closed, which made everything feel very spaced out.
The area is beautiful. The campsite it self has tons of beautiful redwoods and ferns on the property. It was beautiful to just sit and admire the scenery.
Bathrooms and showers were clean and the campsites were across the street from some short but beautiful hikes.
The visitor center was closed but right next door. The area to check in did sell wood and we noticed a lot of staff throughout our trip.
The campsite was super quite and very peaceful.
We brought our dog which was great. Lots of trees and lots of shade. I think almost every site was shaded. Bring your hammocks because there was plenty of locations on each site to set them up. I would be aware that many of the upper sites are on a slope.
Each site came equipped with a fire ring/grill, picnic table and bear box.
We had the best time and went a little ways up north to go fishing outside of Fortuna. We actually caught a fish this time :) Fishing near the campsite was not recommended due to the low water level. However, their were plenty of options just a short drive away.
We stayed at site #35 which was large but had a slope. However, we were able to find two kind of flat spots to put tents and it was totally fine.
Legend
GuideWe’ve been camping up and down highway 101 for about two weeks now, and this was by far our favorite place! We practically had the place to ourselves! The trees are absolutely massive and gorgeous. The river is clean, and relaxing. Swimming here is so fun! Cold, but refreshing! Plenty of space for our two tents, grated on the fire pits and fire wood available. Very easy drive to get to it and super easy to find. Come check this place out! Remember to follow Leave No Trace Principles though!
TravelerThe campgrounds are pretty open, with little privacy, but that’s not what you’re there for.
The drive is intense, but manageable in good weather in a fwd Mazda 3. Mattole Rd from Weott is far better in terms of the road condition, but Mattole Rd to Ferndale is absolutely breathtaking. I wouldn’t attempt either with a large rig or trailer.
The lost coast is absolutely breathtaking. You’ll get 4 seasons of weather in a day, so plan accordingly. A short walk outside of the campground reveals incredible scenes.
The campgrounds are first come first serve. We snagged the last spot around 3PM on a Tuesday afternoon.
THERE IS NO WATER. Pack in what you need.
TravelerYou're literally in the Redwoods. They provide a picnic table, fire pit and food storage boxes. The restrooms were okay, I didn't bother with the showers which were coin operated. My only real complaint is that for a state park, the fee was pretty high.
RangerThere are a variety of campsites and campgrounds in this park. Some tent only, some RV/tents, and also some tent only (walk-in sites). There are four separate campgrounds. Plenty of greenery, blackberry bushes, lush tree shade, and excellent restrooms equipped with showers as well. The park boasts its seal watching area
GuideWe chose Pomo based on other reviews on TheDyrt. I picked site 47 out of the three that were left when I was searching for a place near Fort Bragg. Although it looks like the site is in the middle of the town, the sites are very private, many nestled between thick brush (blackberries!) and many back far enough from the road that it seems like you're boondocking. Our primary reason for choosing a coastal site was for comfort. It was still over 95 degrees inland, but a very comfortable 65 along the coast.
Almost all the RV sites are gravel, with the exception of a couple smaller ones, and the tent sites. There is a single bathroom complex, and the men's restroom was great...tiled with multiple stalls, large glass windows and CLEAN! I didn't check the showers out, but I'm assuming the same level of detail and finish also apply there.
It appears the sewer system doesn't cover all the sites, so the further back in the campground you go, there won't be any (an educated guess on my behalf). I walked through the campground, and most the RV sites have a power pedastal and water, a nice wooden picnic table and a fire ring. Internet access is available throughout, and when I ran speedtest I was getting 170Mbps down, which is incredible.
Make sure you look through the pictures of each site on the reservation page. They all are slightly different in size, privacy, and whatnot. There are several sites that "share" a common open space if you're in a group, and a large group area which looked to have 5 or 6 sites all comingled.
For tent camping, there is a large, open line of grass near the front of the campground, which doesn't really offer much protection from the sun. BUT...there is a loop at the back of the campground that has at least 10 grassy tent sites under a thick cover of pine trees. It's isolated by a path from the other RV sites, and I was really impressed by the area! If I were still tent camping, this would no doubt be my go-to tent site.
The nights were quiet and dark, and the staff friendly. They have 1 dump station, a fish cleaning station, propane and the office has a bunch of DVD movies available (not sure if for rent or free use).
Overall an excellent site and we were glad to find it, and will probably use this as a staging point for future treks further up the coast! I'll include some pictures of the site (I never include personal/family pictures because this is a campground review site, not a family album!)
GuideThis campsite was great. Bear boxes and fire rings with access to a great swimming hole. We were also located across the 101 from the Peg House which is worth the stop.
Tent camping near Garberville, California, offers a unique blend of stunning natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape into the wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Garberville, CA is King Range Conservation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 33 tent camping locations near Garberville, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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