Explore Mad River Campground in 360°
This campground has a full virtual tour with interactive campsite markers. Walk through every loop, inspect individual sites, and see the views before you book.
Launch Virtual Tour →📅 Check Campsite Availability
✅ Amenities & Features
.GOV.RECREATIONBack-inBathroomsBikingBoat LaunchBoat RampBoatingCampfireCanoeingDirtDogsLakeFamily FriendlyFirepitsFirst Come First ServedFishingForest ServiceHikingKayakingLaunch RampNational ForestPetsPrimitivePublic ParkPull-InPull-thruRiverRVScenicShadeSwimmingTentsTrailsTreesUS Forest ServiceWaterWildlife
📖 About This Campground
Mad River Campground is located on banks of its namesake river, about two miles south of Ruth Lake in the thickly forested mountains of northern California.
The campground offers multiple single-family campsites, available for tent and RV camping. Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A majority of the sites are adjacent to the Mad River. Tables and campfire rings are available at each site. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are also provided.
The campground is situated on a bluff overlooking the river among a forested area of oak trees and evergreen shrubs. Portions of the campground are capped with tall Douglas fir trees, providing ample shade. 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.
Fishing is a popular activity and anglers can expect to catch a variety of trout in the Mad River. Nearby Ruth Lake is open for boating, swimming and other water-related activities. A marina and boat ramp are available for easy lake access, and maps and directions to the marina are located on the information boards in the campground.