Panther Flat Campground

Panther Flat Campground

About this campsite

Overview

Panther Flat Campground sits in the vast Six Rivers National Forest in northern California. This shady, secluded campground is just steps from the Smith River, which is famous for its bright blue waters and scenic pathway through the forest.

Recreation

Popular activities include swimming, sunbathing, rafting and fishing in the Smith River. Anglers enjoy 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. A Botanical trail to a unique Darlingtonia bog is just a mile away.

Facilities

The campground offers multiple single-family sites and at least one double site, available for tent and RV camping. It is one of the most modern campgrounds in the area and has some of the largest parking aprons. Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Campsites are equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible flush toilets, coin-operated hot showers and drinking water are provided. The Visitor Center at the Gasquet Ranger Station provides free maps and brochures of the area.

Natural Features

Set in a mature forest of Douglas fir, cedar and Pacific madrone trees, the campground is a short walk from the pristine Smith River. The river boasts up to Class 5 whitewater rapids. The region, thick with vegetation, is also freckled with huckleberry shrubs.

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.

Nearby Attractions

California's Redwood National Park and the Pacific Ocean are within 20 miles of the campground.

Annual events include Gasquet Raft Race in July and Del Norte County Fair in August.

Location

PANTHER FLAT CAMPGROUND•CA

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

TODAY🌫️

32° / 20°

💧 1%

TUE☀️

33° / 21°

💧 1%

WED☀️

34° / 17°

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THU☀️

34° / 17°

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FRI☁️

34° / 17°

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Nearby Campsites

within 50km

3.8 km away

GRASSY FLAT CAMPGROUND

Overview Grassy Flat Campground borders California's northern Redwood Highway in the expansive Six Rivers National Forest. This shady campground provides ample sightseeing and recreation opportunities and is just steps away from the wild whitewater of the Smith River, which is famous for its bright blue waters and scenic pathway through the forest. Recreation Popular activities include swimming and sunbathing, rafting and fishing in the Smith River, which is just steps from the campground. Anglers enjoy 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 provides multiple single-family sites for tent or RV camping. Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible vault toilets are provided. Water is not available at this facility. Natural Features Grassy Flat is located in a Douglas fir and hardwood forest. Smith River boasts up to Class 5 whitewater rapids. The region, thick with vegetation, is also freckled with huckleberry shrubs. 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. Nearby Attractions Madrone Flat, located across the bridge, provides excellent river access. Various state parks, providing scenic exploration opportunities, are just a short drive from the campground. Annual events in the area include the Gasquet Raft Race in July and the Del Norte County Fair in August. A small airport is about 6 miles away, in the town of Gasquet.

7.7 km away

PATRICK CREEK CAMPGROUND

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.

12.6 km away

Little Bald Hills Camp

Campground: Little Bald Hills Camp. Operated by National Park Service.

14.0 km away

Jedediah Smith Campground - Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Situated in a magnificent old-growth redwood grove on the banks of the wild and scenic Smith River, this campground offers hiking trails, swimming, fishing, and seasonal campfire programs. Cabins available.

15.3 km away

North Fork Campground

North Fork Campground is a quiet, semi-shaded, remote campground bordered by the North Fork of the Smith River. This is a perfect place to “get away from it all” and to stay before rafting the Wild North Fork. The campground is also popular with four-wheel-drive groups who enjoy driving the jeep trails and back roads of the area. The landscape surrounding the campground is dramatically steep and rocky. The vegetation is sparse due to the serpentine soil which stunts plant growth. The Biscuit Fire swept through the area in 2002, burning much of the vegetation in the surrounding area. Spring and early summer bring beautiful wildflowers to the area including the fragrant western azalea and beautiful blue brodiaeas. The campground is within the North Fork Smith River botanical area, which harbors many rare plants adapted to the serpentine soil. Access to the North Fork of the Smith River is ¼ mile west of the campground at the North Fork river access (also known as Brown's Flat and Major Moore's). There are some nice pools but the water is very chilly and the shoreline is very cobbled except for a small patch of sand at the upstream end. It is a good place to sit on a rock and soak your feet on a hot day. Click on the "Photos and Multimedia" link on the right sidebar to view a photo of the North Fork river access.