Campground

Sand Camp

Crescent City, California

4.2(23+)

About

Sand Camp isn’t an official campground, but it’s in the Six Rivers National Forest, where free camping is allowed anywhere more than a quarter-mile from any kind of developed area (such as official campgrounds or highways) or private property, more than 50 feet from any roads, and more than 200 feet from any trails, meadows, or bodies of water. It’s actually pretty difficult to find places that meet all those requirements and are easy to drive to. Dead-end dirt roads sometimes work, but not all of them are drivable and have suitable campsites. Sand Camp is one of the places that meets the requirements and is easy to get to. It’s popular enough that a large parking lot with a vault toilet and a big “Sand Camp” sign was added a few years ago. But despite the name, it’s not actually a campground; it’s a river access point for boating and fishing. So there aren’t any defined campsites, water, or other facilities, just two or three flat spots in the woods with fire rings that campers have made out of rocks (and that are, in fact, about 200 feet from the river). Still, even though it’s crude, it’s right next to the river, it’s in a quiet area well away from busy roads, and it’s completely free. Camping isn’t allowed in the parking lot, so it’s not possible to overnight in an RV. The camp is in the rugged Smith River gorge seven miles south of Highway 199 and Jedediah Smith Redwoods. The forbiddingly steep and rocky gorge doesn’t look anything like the lush woodlands of Jed Smith; it has a much dryer look with no redwoods. The site is also pretty isolated. There’s a store in the tiny town of Hiouchi, and more stores a 30 minute drive away in Crescent City. A free permit (available online) is required to light a campfire or use a gas stove, and stays of more than 14 days are not allowed. There aren’t any reservations, but the area does fill up on summer weekends. If it’s full, there’s a real National Forest campground, Big Flat Campground, another 15 minutes’ drive up the r