How to Camp in Redwood National Park

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Redwood National Park extends over a vast 206 square miles. The only accommodations in the park are a spartan youth hostel that is open only part of the year, making camping a necessity for those who want to make long stays among the redwoods. The park has several campgrounds of differing types, and choosing where to go might require a process of elimination. Furthermore, regulations between certain campgrounds differ, so a little research is necessary before pitching a tent.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

Decide if you want to haul all your camping gear on a middling hike of one to three miles to the campground or not. Some campsites (Little Bald Hills, Nickel Creek, DeMartin, Flint Ridge and Elam) are some distance from the road and must be hiked to.

Step 2

Check at least a few weeks in advance for campsite reservations, and perhaps several weeks in advance during the summer months. While it is unlikely that every campsite in the park will be occupied, they are spread over a huge area and looking around for a vacancy can prove to be a problem.

Step 3

Stop and apply for a permit if you are camping at Miner's Ridge or Ossagon Creek. These can be had at the Prairie Creek Entrance Station. No permits are required for the sites listed in Step 1.

Step 4

Fishing for steelhead.

Skip directly to Redwood Creek if your camping trip is also a fishing trip. Be sure to reserve a campsite as far in advance as possible, as this is an enormously popular campsite. You can venture out to other fishing sites from here, but it is the one campsite in the park that is also located directly on a fishing site. Permits for this site can be had Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center.

Step 5

Get a California Sport Fishing license before arriving at Redwood Creek, if fishing is on the agenda. They do not issue them there.

Step 6

Do not stay for more than five consecutive days. The aggregate annual camping limit is 15 days. For example, this makes for a maximum of three camping trips of five days each.

Step 7

Keep your camping party down to eight or less. If you have more than eight people, you need permits for two campsites.

Step 8

Store all food in the bear lockers provided by the park.

Step 9

Gather firewood in the forest from dead and fallen trees, but do not gather more than 50 pounds per day. Gathering mushrooms is strictly forbidden.

Step 10

Do not bring pets, motor vehicles or guns into the campground. Also, do not start any campfires outside of designated areas.

Resources

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

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