Tent camping near Gualala, California offers a unique combination of coastal and redwood forest experiences within the coastal fog belt. Summer fog often blankets the coast during morning hours, burning off by mid-day with temperatures ranging from 55-75°F. Road access to many campgrounds requires navigating steep, single-lane routes that can be challenging in larger vehicles or after dark.
What to do
River activities: At Paul M. Demmick Campground, campers can enjoy creek access from a small day use area. "There's a river nearby and a small trail (less than a mile?)" notes Bobby J., who appreciates that the site is "only a 20 ish minute drive to the coast."
Beach access: Willow Creek Environmental Campground provides access to the Russian River and nearby ocean beaches. Jason C. describes it as "a cool little campground right on the Russian. It's kinda tucked away and not too busy, which made it perfect by my book."
Floating and paddleboarding: Many campgrounds offer river recreation opportunities. Christopher M. describes that at Schoolhouse Canyon Campground, "The beach along the river is for the camps private use and their is a company the will rent you stand up paddle boards ($50 for two hours or $100 per day)."
Wine tasting: The Gualala region sits near Sonoma wine country. Rosina A. mentions that Bullfrog Pond campground is "a close drive to the Russian river" and notes "You can do some tough hill hikes through the Oaks or easier hikes through the Redwoods."
What campers like
Peaceful settings: Many campers value the quiet atmosphere at Schoolhouse Canyon Campground. Christina F. notes it's "Quiet (due to the rules), clean and both Chris and his wife work hard every day to create an excellent experience for their guests."
Private beaches: Several campgrounds offer exclusive river access. Nathan H. mentions Schoolhouse Canyon has "a private beach just for guests of the campsite right across river road. Wood for sale and tubes available for rent."
Redwood shade: Bullfrog Pond Campground offers sites under redwood canopy. Cyrel T. notes "There is a camp host at site 4 and the grounds are maintained quite well. Even the bathroom is a normal bathroom and kept clean."
Star viewing: The distance from city lights makes for excellent night skies. Jason C. says of Willow Creek Environmental Campground, "The stars at night are fantastic, and Jenner and Guerneville are close enough so you can run out and pick up anything you might have forgotten to pack in."
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Some campgrounds in the Gualala area close during winter months. At Paul M. Demmick, Avery R. reported, "They were closed!" adding that the site closes "sept 2 until May."
Limited facilities: Many environmental campgrounds have minimal amenities. Jason C. notes Willow Creek has "no real amenities to speak of except for a composting toilet and a faucet for water located by the path in."
Advance planning required: Campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. MarinMaverick advises that at Bullfrog Pond "you will need a permit for the backpacking sites but they are first come first served sites."
Challenging access: Pomo Canyon Environmental Camp and other environmental sites require hiking in. Elliot M. describes it as a "Beautiful redwood forest. Very quiet. Trails to the coast."
Tips for camping with families
Shallow river spots: Several campgrounds offer kid-friendly water access. Amber D. says of Schoolhouse Canyon, "The beach is across the street and through a little trail but we'll worth it. Very nice water for floating and swimming, with a cute little beach area to keep your stuff."
Playground availability: Bu-Shay Campground offers unexpected amenities for children. Joshua H. notes, "Our young kids had a great time playing on the playground which was an unexpected bonus."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Some sites offer wildlife encounters, though Paul M. Demmick was noted by L as being "mostly devoid of wildlife. We saw one Scrub jay and one ground squirrel while we were there and no bees, butterflies, or insects. And there was absolutely no birdsong. Very odd."
Food storage requirements: Animals may take unattended food. L cautions at Paul M. Demmick, "Don't leave your food out overnight on the picnic table or that ground squirrel will spirit it away."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup availability: Some campgrounds near Gualala offer partial hookups. Scotty B. notes of Duncans Mills Campground, "full hookups and well maintained campground along with a decent rec center."
Site leveling challenges: Many tent campgrounds accommodate small RVs but may have uneven terrain. Cyrel T. says of Bullfrog Pond, "The site vary in size and many are on a hill so they are not exactly flat."
Dump station locations: Some sites offer sanitary dumps. Cathy explains at Duncans Mills, "You can pay to have your Honeywell dumped if not at a full hook up."
Access road restrictions: Many campgrounds have narrow, winding access roads. Corey O. warns about Bullfrog Pond having a "One lane road access that would be intimidating at night."
