Marin Group Campground operates as a single-group reservation site for up to 40 people, open only Memorial Day through Labor Day. The 24-foot campsite sits under old-growth redwoods in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, offering picnic tables, fire rings, flush toilets, and bear lockers. Showers require a 3-mile drive to Burlington Campground. The $135 nightly fee buys your group exclusive use of this redwood grove, though you'll need to book months ahead during peak summer.
Marin Group Campground is a group tent camping facility accommodating up to 40 people. It is not open to RVs or trailers due to space constraints.
The Sinkyone people lived in these redwood groves for thousands of years before European contact. The campground now sits within a state park created by 20th-century preservationists who protected one-third of Earth's remaining ancient redwoods from logging. Weather and SeasonsThe campground opens Memorial Day and closes Labor Day, limiting use to summer. Expect daytime highs in the 70s to low 90s°F with nights cooling to the 50s–60s°F. Morning coastal fog typically burns off by midday. This narrow seasonal window avoids the park's October-through-May rainy season, which drops 60-80 inches annually. Winter temperatures range from 50-60°F days to 20-30°F nights, but the site stays closed.
ElevationSituated in the sweet spot of the redwood ecosystem, the campground rests in the coastal fog belt below 2,000 feet where these magnificent trees reach their full potential. This elevation creates the perfect cocktail of moisture, temperature, and protection that allows redwoods to soar skyward and live for millennia.
Natural Features and SceneryAncient coast redwoods tower over the campground, some exceeding 300 feet. The understory layers in sword ferns and native rhododendrons beneath the canopy. Filtered light shifts through the grove throughout the day, creating moving patterns on the forest floor. The site sits at 253 feet elevation where coastal fog meets the redwood belt. The Eel River runs nearby, accessible for swimming and fishing during summer flows.
Geological RegionMarin Group Campground sits within one of Earth's most remarkable ecosystems—the old-growth redwood forests of Humboldt Redwoods State Park, home to one-third of the planet's remaining ancient redwoods. This coastal region tells a dramatic geological story, shaped by the powerful forces where tectonic plates meet near Cape Mendocino. The seismic activity that makes this area geologically fascinating also creates the fog-laden conditions and rich alluvial soils that sustain these botanical skyscrapers. Here, at elevations below 2,000 feet, the marriage of ocean influence and mountain protection creates the only place on Earth where coast redwoods can thrive in their full majesty.
Scenic ViewsThe campground provides views of majestic redwood trees reaching over 300 feet in height, forming a cathedral-like canopy. Nearby, the South Fork of the Eel River adds to the scenic beauty.
Lodging & AccommodationsThis campground is exclusively for group tent camping and does not offer lodging accommodations like cabins or lodges.
Programs & ActivitiesPark-led interpretive activities such as nature walks, Junior Ranger programs, and campfire programs are available during the summer season.