Go if
Weekday summer visits are the sweet spot: river swimming before late August (algae takes over after that), the trail off site 7 down to the Black Butte confluence, and oak shade that keeps afternoons cool. At $8, it's hard to argue.
Eel River Campground
3.7532 reviewsFeatured in:Swimming Camping California
Quick Facts
1,500 ftPrice
$8/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
15 campsites
Season
Seasonally open from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
RV Friendly
Get DirectionsQuick Facts
1,500 ftPrice
$8/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
15 campsites
Season
Seasonally open from...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
RV Friendly
Get DirectionsEel River Campground
$8.00 - $8.00 / night
Campsite Fees
Overnight use fee is $8 per night for a single campsite. Interagency Senior/Access Recreation Passes provide a 50% discount to single campsites only,...
Show more
Standard Site Fee$8.00
Get Notified When Available
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Campground Map
Eel River Campground
39.8247, -123.0844
Nearby places
Covelo (approximately 12 miles, travel time variable depending on road conditions).
Nearby supplies
The Black Butte Country Store is across from the Eel River Work Center and is within easy walking distance from the campground. They have hamburgers and a variety of other foods and drinks. Additionally, Black Butte River Ranch offers limited groceries, hot showers (for a fee), and equestrian facilities.
Weather at Eel River Campground
About Eel River Campground
RV details
Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist
Skip if
No potable water means hauling everything in, and weekend nights attract the kind of crowd that ignores quiet hours. Trailers over 24 feet will also fight the tight loop roads, though sites 7 and 10 are the friendliest pull-throughs.
From the U.S. Forest Service
Reference information about Eel River Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
Overview
<p>This campground is adjacent to the Eel River Work Center with river access. There is a path that leads to both the Black Butte and Eel rivers; it is fairly steep. There are 15 sites, #7 and #10 are “pull-throughs” and can accommodate larger trailers. Roads within the campground are very narrow with tight turns, and may not accommodate trailers longer than 24'. There are trees and shrubs throughout the campground. There is poison oak also. </p><p>The Black Butte Country Store is across from the Eel River Work Center and is within easy walking distance from the campground. They have hamburgers and a variety of other foods and drinks.</p>
About the campground
The elevation is 1,500 ft. The campground, a single loop in a stand of Valley and Canyon Live oaks, manzanita, and other trees, is on a bluff high above the Middle Fork of the Eel River. Located at the end of a paved roadway, the campground is adjacent to the National Historic Eel River Ranger Station and is considered an archeologically sensitive site -- no digging is permitted. The campground's Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) origin can be seen in the stone bases of the pedestal grilles. The first site at the campground's entrance (labeled overflow parking) may be available for large RVs if not used by a group. The campground is pack it in, pack it out. Neighboring Black Butter River Ranch offers limited groceries, hot showers (for a fee), equestrian facilities, and good conversation.
Seasons & access
Open April through mid-November
Facilities
Open April through mid-November Rate and Maximum Stay Permitted Rate: $8 per day Maximum Stay Permitted (days): 14 If you are into non-commercial rock hunting check out the area around Eel River Station and along Buttermilk Creek for Jadeite and Nephrite. And you’ll find beautiful Serpentine in the Fouts Spring Area. Mendocino National Forest 152 Campground Site Configuration No. RV Sites: 0 Open Sites: Yes No. Tent Sites: 0 Wooded Sites: Yes No. Combined Sites (Tent or RV): 15 Total Sites: 15 No. Tables on Sites: 15 Tent Pads: No No. Grilles on Sites: 15 Equestrian Camping: No RV Information Hookups: None No. RV Pull Throughs: 0 Waste Station: No Average Parking Apron Size: 10' X 38' Comments: The parking aprons are dirt with some low over-hanging branches. Facilities Flush Toilets: No Hot Showers: No Vaults: Yes Wheelchair Friendly Toilets: Yes Public Phone: No Playground: No No. Water Spigots (non-site): 1 No. Threaded: 0 Comments: Potable water is available at spigot located on fence between Eel River Ranger Station and campground. A dump station with potable water is available, for a fee, at Black Butte Ranch, across from campground.
RV information
The parking aprons are dirt with some low over-hanging branches.
Directions
From Covelo, CA, take State Rt. 162 north 1.1 miles to an intersection. Turn right, staying on Rt. 162, and go 2.2 miles to a "Y" intersectrion. Bear left, staying on Rt. 162, and go 8.3 miles to another intersection. Turn right and go 0.1 miles to campground on right. NOTE: State Rt. 162, a narrow two lane road, winds along the Middle Fork of the Eel River.
- National Forest
- Mendocino National Forest
- Ranger District
- Covelo
- Elevation
- 1,500
- Rate
- $8 per day
- Maximum Stay
- 14
- Open Season
- May 17, 2024
