USDA Forest Service · California
Patrick Creek Campground
USDA Forest Service · California, United States · in Smith River National Recreation Area
- Sites
- 13
- Hookups
- 13 no hookups
- Season
- May 24 to September 13
- Max RV length
- 45 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 873 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- PATRICK CR C.G. (NFSR 17N64) · asphalt · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Six Rivers National Forest
- Nearest town
- GASQUET
- Address
- PO BOX 228, GASQUET, CA, 95543
- Phone
- 707-457-3131
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Historic Sites, Swimming
12 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Patrick Creek Campground sits at the confluence of Patrick Creek and the middle fork of Smith River in the vast Six Rivers National Forest of northern California.
The campground has a special charm, with steps, rock walls, restrooms and sunken campfire circles built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Recreation
Popular activities include swimming, sunbathing, rafting and fishing in the Smith River, which is just adjacent to the campground. Anglers can expect healthy fishing populations of salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout.
Visitors also enjoy hiking, horseback riding and biking in the area. There are no trailheads in the campground, but Elk Camp Ridge, High Dome and French Hill trailheads are all within 10 miles of the site.
Facilities
The campground offers multiple single-family accessible campsites, available for tent and RV camping. Tables and campfire rings with grills are provided. Accessible flush toilets and drinking water are also available.
Natural Features
Patrick Creek is located in a mature forest of Douglas firs in the northernmost part of California. A popular historic lodge and restaurant lie just across the highway from the campground.
The Six Rivers National Forest lies east of Eureka in northwestern California, stretching southward from the Oregon border for about 140 miles. U.S. 101, the famed "Redwood Highway," parallels the inland Forest along the coastline. The Forest is just east of the Redwood National Park.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56° | 39° | 31° | 70° | 1 of 11 |
| February | 53° | 39° | 20° | 76° | 4 of 11 |
| March | 56° | 40° | 27° | 80° | 4 of 11 |
| April | 60° | 43° | 29° | 79° | 1 of 11 |
| May | 68° | 50° | 40° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 78° | 55° | 43° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 62° | 52° | 103° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 90° | 65° | 55° | 104° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 58° | 48° | 102° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 73° | 52° | 42° | 87° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 60° | 46° | 35° | 75° | 0 of 10 |
| December | 53° | 39° | 19° | 70° | 2 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Grassy Flat Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 19 sites
- Panther Flat Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 39 sites
- Bear Basin Lookout and Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 1 sites
- North Fork Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
- Big Flat · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.