Free camping near Smith River, CA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Smith River, CA there are 22 camps: 12 free, 10 fee. The closest is Winchuck, 6.9 miles north of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Winchuck, 6.9 miles out. One of them is a camp Dave has slept at. The circle crosses a state line: CA and OR.
Who manages them: 21 on the Forest Service; 1 on Federal.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchuck | 6.9 | Free | Salmon Creek (stream) | 5.6 mi to Winchuck | — |
| Ludlum Campground | 8.0 | Fee | — | 7.4 mi to Harbor | — |
| North Fork | 10 | Fee | — | 9.9 mi to Gasquet | — |
| Del Norte CountyDave slept here | 10 | Free | North Fork Smith River (river) | 0.1 mi to Rockland | — |
| Panther Flat | 13 | Fee | — | 2.5 mi to Gasquet | — |
| Eighteen Mile | 13 | Free | Eighteenmile Creek (stream) | 2.8 mi to Gasquet | — |
| Grassy Flat | 14 | Fee | — | 4.8 mi to Gasquet | — |
| Miller Bar | 14 | Fee | — | 7.4 mi to Harbor | — |
| Griffin Bridge | 15 | Free | Middle Fork Smith River (river) | 5.5 mi to Gasquet | — |
| Nook Bar | 15 | Fee | — | 9.0 mi to Harbor | — |
| Little Redwood | 16 | Free | Little Redwood Creek (stream) | 9.3 mi to Harbor | — |
| Patrick Creek | 16 | Fee | — | 7.1 mi to Gasquet | — |
| Redwood Bar | 16 | Fee | — | 10.0 mi to Harbor | — |
| Coon Mtn. Shelter | 16 | Free | Kelly Creek (stream) | 6.2 mi to Gasquet | — |
| South Fork Lower | 18 | Fee | — | 12 mi to Brookings | — |
| South Fork Upper | 18 | Free | Panther Creek (stream) | 10 mi to Carpenterville | — |
| Cedar Rustic | 19 | Free | Dry Lake (water) | 8.9 mi to Gasquet | — |
| Horse Flat | 19 | Free | Hurdygurdy Creek (stream) | 9.1 mi to Gasquet | — |
| Red Mountain Prairie | 19 | Free | Moores Creek (stream) | 14 mi to Rockland | — |
| Ore Grande | 20 | Free | Hurdygurdy Creek (stream) | 10 mi to Douglas Park | — |
| Big Flat | 20 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Gasquet | — |
| Humboldt Spring | 25 | Free | Mislatnah Creek (stream) | 13 mi to Carpenterville | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Smith River, CA, not a driving distance — a camp four miles out across a canyon can be an hour of road. Cost is the audited three-state verdict on each camp's own record: free, fee, or unpriced where we could not confirm a price. A blank column is a gap in the record, not a statement that the thing is absent. Camps come from state and federal agency records, not from a visit, except the ones marked. Seasons, permits and fire rules change: confirm with the managing office before you go. Found a fee where we show free? Tell us on the contact page.