Best Campgrounds near Somes Bar, CA

Somes Bar, California sits at the confluence of several distinct camping ecosystems within the Klamath National Forest and Six Rivers National Forest. Campgrounds like Pearch Creek and Dillon Creek operate seasonally from May through October, offering both tent and RV accommodations with basic amenities including drinking water and vault toilets. The Nordheimer Group Sites in Six Rivers National Forest provide options for larger gatherings, while Klamath Riverside RV Park caters to those seeking full hookups. Most established campgrounds in the area are situated along rivers, particularly the Klamath and Trinity Rivers, providing opportunities for fishing, swimming, and wildlife viewing within a landscape dominated by dense forests and mountainous terrain.

Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many campgrounds accessible only via narrow, winding forest roads that may challenge larger vehicles. As one camper noted, "It is a pretty long drive down basically single lane roads to get to the campground, and you should make sure you have all supplies as no stores or supplies are close by." Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most sites, particularly those deeper in the forests. The camping season typically runs from late May through mid-October, with some facilities closing earlier depending on weather conditions. Bear activity is common throughout the area, requiring proper food storage in all camping locations.

Riverside campsites receive consistently positive reviews, with the Smith River and Klamath River locations being particularly popular. "The campground was nice and clean, we were situated on the river side with the Smith River in our backyard," reported one visitor. Many campgrounds feature coin-operated showers, with rates typically around $1.50 for 6 minutes. Campers frequently mention the helpful nature of camp hosts, with one noting that hosts were "so amazingly nice, even gave me wood for a fire to keep the mosquitos at bay." Privacy between sites varies considerably, with some campgrounds offering well-separated sites while others place campers in closer proximity. Wildlife sightings, particularly elk and deer, are commonly reported throughout the region's campgrounds.

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Best Camping Sites Near Somes Bar, California (203)

    1. Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

    71 Reviews
    Orick, CA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 464-6101

    $35 - $100 / night

    "This was my favorite campground in our northern california tour. Campimg among the redwoods, so quiet and shady we slept in late each morning."

    "There are also INCREDIBLE day trips into California’s interior, Indian history, little known parks and trails everywhere."

    2. Pearch Creek Campground

    5 Reviews
    Orleans, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 627-3291

    $10 / night

    "Nice site that are a little too close together, but that seems the norm in California. The camp hosts were so amazingly nice. Even gave me wood for a fire to keep the mosquitos at bay."

    "The creek runs next to the campground which provides wonderful water sounds all night. Swimming in the nearby Salmon River is a great way to spend a hot July day."

    3. Oak Bottom Marina RV & Campground — Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area

    5 Reviews
    Somes Bar, CA
    1 mile
    Website

    $10 / night

    "The lakeside sites are off the road and a short walk from the parking area. Be sure to get a cart from the camp host or you'll have to hand carry everything in. Cell coverage was excellent here."

    "Whiskytown Lake is a great recreation lake, from boating, swimming to fishing. Oak Bottom is shores are surrounded by pines and manzanita. It has a pretty large campground with tent and dry RV sites."

    4. Oneil Creek - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

    1 Review
    Somes Bar, CA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 493-2243

    5. Klamath Riverside RV Park

    1 Review
    Orleans, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 627-3239

    "The park had a little bit of everything… river views, wooded trails, huge fire pits, full hookups, etc."

    6. Gold Bluffs Beach Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

    42 Reviews
    Orick, CA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 444-7275

    "One of the best campsites in California. You should start at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and hike out to this campground."

    "Redwoods State Park is beautiful with campgrounds that are basically next to the trails, secluded and surrounded by trees. There is nothing not to like about this place. Worth the drive."

    7. Nordheimer Group Sites — Six Rivers National Forest

    1 Review
    Forks of Salmon, CA
    8 miles
    +1 (530) 627-3291

    $50 / night

    8. Dillon Creek Campground

    2 Reviews
    Somes Bar, CA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 629-4136

    $10 / night

    "There is access to the stream which has a nice swimming hole, if you don’t mind the cold. The campground is quite with absolutely no cell service, which is great if that’s what you are looking for."

    9. Kamp Klamath RV Park and Campground

    35 Reviews
    Klamath, CA
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 482-0227

    $40 - $70 / night

    "Once set up, the camp side was very close to our neighbors. Expect no privacy. Perhaps they should put up a patrician of lattice or something between the sites.  The utilities are somewhat confusing."

    "Location, location, location. "

    10. Klamath River RV Park

    28 Reviews
    Klamath, CA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (707) 482-2091

    $35 - $65 / night

    "It’s a great location and close to parks/trails. Full hookup, riverfront sites available, clean bathrooms/showers, camp store, camp cafe open on weekends for breakfast, group fire pits."

    "It is right off of the highway so you do have traffic noise.  This park is super close to Trees of Mystery which we explored for a couple of hours.  Overall, we would stay here again."

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Recent Reviews near Somes Bar, CA

822 Reviews of 203 Somes Bar Campgrounds


  • J
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Aikens Creek Recreation Area

    Aikens Creek Dispersed

    Seems to have been a legit National Forrest campground that is no longer maintained. But it still has camp sites and a little further in there is dispersed very close to the river. It was secluded and great.

  • Sarah S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    middle fork smith river

    Middle Fork Smith River

    This is a cute spot and we stayed here for 3 nights. Plenty of space between the other campers (up to 5 one night). There is an overlook to the river at the dead end of the road and you can hear people enjoying that view but nothing that would really disturb you. There is a trail that leads straight down to the river! Plenty of room for swimming and fishing. Would definitely stay here again. It’s about a 15 min. drive to the Jedediah Redwoods, which if you haven’t seen…IT’S A MUST!! We dropped our trailer at the information center for the Redwoowds, visited in the forest for a few hours, picked up the trailer and came right back to this spot with no problems.

  • laura U.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Panther Flat Campground

    Lovely and Well Maintained

    Ihave an access pass bc I'm disabled and the very helpful host helped me get settled. Sites are level, clean, and close to bathrooms and showers. Though other campers are close, it feels private and safe.

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Lacks Creek BLM

    Secluded (but with chamber toilet)

    This is a beautiful campground, though not the best roads to access. We were the only people here on Labor Day weekend

  • Sarah S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Patrick Creek Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful creek camping

    This little spot is such a gem. The reviews are correct in the fact that it can be a tight fit. My husband and I were the only camper here when we stayed so we didn’t experience that as a problem. It is a bit steep coming down but since we were the only ones we had plenty of room to back the camper where we wanted. The creek is absolutely clear, a bit chilly but stunning. I would definitely recommend this spot and would absolutely come back for another stay. If you miss this spot or it’s too full there are plenty of other dispersed campsites farther up. Might not be as much room for campers or splashing around in the river but you’ll still access to the river. We came late August.

  • Tine H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Heart of the Redwoods Cottages & RV

    Heart of the redwoods base camp

    Easy in and out. Small number of sites. Right off the 101. Full hook ups. Numerous trails located within 5 miles of site. Took our dog.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Elk Country RV Resort & Campground

    Cool spot for a night

    Not bad for an RV park! It’s super close to everything you wanna see on the 101 and the area is beautiful.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Mad River Rapids RV Park

    Standard RV park

    Clean bathrooms and showers thankfully. This is good for a quick one night stay. Otherwise it’s just a standard RV park with a ton of people crammed together

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Hayden Flat Campground

    Good for a quick stop

    Camped here on a Monday night and no one stopped in. Love it when that happens. Clean bathrooms and running water


Guide to Somes Bar

Campgrounds near Somes Bar, California range from riverfront locations to forested retreats with elevations varying from 450 to 1,200 feet. The region experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F from June through September, while winter brings significant rainfall. Most sites don't offer cell service, requiring campers to prepare for digital disconnection during their stay.

What to do

Hike through redwood forests: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park offers trails directly accessible from Elk Prairie Campground. As one camper noted, "We were able to hike a bunch on the campground (very accessible), drive to Fern Canyon, and visit Jedediah Smith all in 3 days."

Wildlife viewing: The region hosts diverse wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly at dawn and dusk. "We saw so many animals: elk, a bear, scrub jays, chipmunks, tadpoles, rabbits, deer, etc." reported a visitor at Elk Prairie Campground.

River swimming: Pearch Creek Campground provides excellent swimming options during summer months. "Swimming in the nearby Salmon River is a great way to spend a hot July day," one camper mentioned. Another added, "Great place to cool off with the river near the sites and plenty of pools to splash in."

What campers like

Riverside camping: The confluence of rivers creates prime waterfront camping. At Klamath River RV Park, "Spring for a river view site and you'll have the most gorgeous view of the river and mountains," one visitor advised. Another mentioned you can "Fish from the bluff."

Secluded settings: Most campgrounds offer a sense of isolation despite varying site spacing. At Kamp Klamath, "Really loved how quiet it was here, lots of foliage creates a very secluded feel. Easy walk to where the Klamath River meets the Pacific Ocean."

Cooling water features: Cold, clear creeks provide relief during hot summer days. At Pearch Creek, campers appreciate that "the creek runs next to the campground which provides wonderful water sounds all night." Another visitor described the water as "very clear and cold, its amazing feeling when its hot out."

What you should know

Remote location challenges: Campgrounds require preparation due to isolation. At Gold Bluffs Beach Campground, visitors warned, "Hellish road to get there but worth the trip... It is a pretty long drive down basically single lane roads to get to the campground, and you should make sure you have all supplies as no stores or supplies are close by."

Fire restrictions: Fire regulations vary by season and location. At Dillon Creek Campground, while fires may be permitted during certain periods, summer fire restrictions often apply due to high wildfire risk.

Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be prevalent, especially near water sources at dusk. One Pearch Creek visitor mentioned camp hosts "gave me wood for a fire to keep the mosquitos at bay." Another camper at Dillon Creek noted, "The mosquitoes are abundant in the early evening."

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly water play: Several campsites offer safe water access for children. At Dillon Creek Campground, "There is access to the stream which has a nice swimming hole, if you don't mind the cold." The creek provides shallow areas appropriate for supervised children.

Playground access: Some campgrounds include play equipment. Klamath River RV Park offers "a small play structure with swings for the kiddos. Which my daughter enjoyed."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children often enjoy animal sightings common throughout the area. At Elk Prairie Campground, "We saw so many animals... We were able to hike a bunch on the campground (very accessible)," making it suitable for families with varying hiking abilities.

Tips from RVers

Site access considerations: RV sites vary significantly in accessibility and size. At Elk Prairie Campground, one RVer cautioned, "Well shaded campground, but with tight turns and smallish sites relatively close together. Even with a small (16') camper, we had to unhitch to fit."

Service limitations: Limited hookups require self-sufficiency. One visitor to Klamath River RV Park appreciated that despite limitations, the park offers "Full hookup, riverfront sites available, clean bathrooms/showers, camp store, camp cafe open on weekends for breakfast."

Weather preparation: The region's climate demands proper equipment. An RVer at Kamp Klamath warned, "Beware this is considered a rain forest so your rig will really get a water test at the right times of the year."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Somes Bar, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Somes Bar, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 203 campgrounds and RV parks near Somes Bar, CA and 15 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Somes Bar, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Somes Bar, CA is Elk Prairie Campground — Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 71 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Somes Bar, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 free dispersed camping spots near Somes Bar, CA.

What parks are near Somes Bar, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 parks near Somes Bar, CA that allow camping, notably Six Rivers National Forest and Redwood National Park.