Backcountry Camping

Backcountry camping is allowed in eight designated backcountry campgrounds.

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Backcountry Camping Details

Backcountry camping is allowed in eight designated backcountry campgrounds. A free permit is required for overnight use of all backcountry campsites and is available from the Kuchel Visitor Center, the Crescent City Information Center, and the Hiouchi Information Center. The backcountry campgrounds, from north to south, are Little Bald Hills Camp, Nickel Creek Camp, DeMartin Camp, Flint Ridge Camp, Gold Bluffs Beach Camp, Elam Camp, 44 Camp, and Redwood Creek. Some campgrounds have amenities such as picnic tables, food caches, pit toilets, and fire pits. None of the backcountry campgrounds have potable water, so visitors need to bring water or the ability to treat water depending on the location of hiking. Elam Camp is the only backcountry camp with a corral for pack animals. Little Bald Hills Camp: There are five sites and all allow hikers, bikers, and horse packers. There are fire pits, bear-proof lockers, toilet, picnic tables, a non-potable water spigot, horse trough, and a corral for pack animals. Bring drinking water. Nickel Creek Camp: There are five sites open to hikers, with picnic tables, fire pits, bear-proof lockers, and a pit toilet. Bring drinking water or purify from the stream near by. DeMartin Camp: There are 10 sites open to hikers, with picnic tables, bear-proof food lockers, fire pits, and a toilet. Bring your own water. Flint Ridge Camp: There are 11 sites open to hikers. This campground has picnic tables, bear-proof lockers, fire pits, and toilet. Bring your own drinking water. Gold Bluffs Beach Camp: This campground has one designated backcountry site that can hold up to eight backcountry hikers. The site has picnic tables, food lockers, fire pits, drinking water, a restroom, and a solar shower. Since this is also a driving access site, a $5 fee is charged upon arrival. Elam Camp: There are three sites; all allow horses and have picnic tables, bear-proof lockers, fire pits, a toilet, and non-potable water (users should treat water from the nearby creek). There is a corral for up to 12 pack animals. 44 Camp: There are four sites in this campground, which has picnic tables, bear-proof lockers, fire pits, a toilet, and non-potable water (users should treat water from the nearby creek). Redwood Creek: There is space for up to 50 people in dispersed camping. This camping area is on a gravel bar along the river, 1.5 miles from the Redwood Creek trailhead. There are no amenities in this area, but water from the river can be treated.

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