Hidden Springs Campground sits on a forested hillside in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, offering 154 campsites beneath coast redwoods near the Avenue of the Giants and the South Fork Eel River. Sites run $35 per night and include picnic tables, bear lockers, fire rings, and access to flush toilets and coin-operated showers. The campground is seasonal and close enough to swimming holes and trailheads that you can walk to both.
Hidden Springs Campground offers family camping with individual sites nestled in the redwoods. Amenities cater primarily to tent camping, but RVs are allowed without hookups.
The Sinkyone people lived on this land for thousands of years before the area became a state park. Hidden Springs provides access to Rockefeller Forest, the largest remaining old-growth coast redwood forest on the planet. Weather and SeasonsSummer brings the best conditions: daytime highs in the 70s-80s°F, evenings cooling to the 50s°F, and fog drifting through in the mornings. This is when the river is warmest for swimming and trails are driest for hiking. Winter temperatures drop to the 20s-30s°F at night with 50s°F during the day, and the rainy season from October through May dumps heavy precipitation that keeps the forest soaked. Layering helps year-round since fog can cool things down fast even in summer.
ElevationThe campground's hillside location creates a naturally terraced environment where each campsite enjoys its own unique perspective of the surrounding forest. While specific elevation measurements remain elusive, the gentle slope provides excellent drainage during winter rains and creates intimate camping spaces nestled among the trees.
Natural Features and SceneryCoast redwoods tower over the campground, their trunks rising into a canopy that filters sunlight down to a floor of ferns and sorrel. The South Fork Eel River runs nearby, with swimming holes accessible from camp. Dense understory vegetation creates natural barriers between many sites, though poison oak is common enough that you'll want to watch where you step. The forest here benefits from heavy winter rain and summer fog, part of the climate mix that sustains the tallest trees on Earth. At 443 feet elevation, the campground sits low enough that temperatures stay moderate year-round.
Geological RegionHidden Springs sits at the heart of one of Earth's most remarkable forests, where geological forces and climate create perfect conditions for redwood giants. This coastal California wonderland thrives on a unique combination of heavy winter rains, summer's cooling fog, and year-round moderate temperatures. Beneath your feet, the land occasionally trembles with reminders of the powerful Mendocino Triple Plate Junction nearby - the same tectonic forces that helped shape this dramatic landscape over millions of years. Here, geology, climate, and biology converge to sustain the planet's tallest living things in their last great stronghold.
Scenic ViewsCampers enjoy views of lush redwood forests. Some campsites, such as Site 86, are elevated, offering partial vistas of the forest canopy.
Lodging & AccommodationsNo lodge-style accommodations are available. Camping options are primarily family campsites with limited group camping facilities nearby.
Programs & ActivitiesInterpretive exhibits, nature walks, Junior Ranger programs, and campfire programs are offered during the summer season throughout Humboldt Redwoods State Park.