Richardson Grove State Park — Attraction in Fort Bragg

This is a very special place. I am a preferred primitive camper. I do not usually stay in established campgrounds. But this one is an exception. Good hot showers, flushing toilets, great location (literally right off the 101, between Piercy and Garberville. Piercy store and gas station is literally 2-3 minutes away from the campground. The store has ice, beer, cigarettes, candy, ice cream, coffee, first aid stuff, milk, half and half, eggs, water, the basics. It's pricey but convenient. garberville is just 10 minutes to the north.) A little road noise on the east side of the Madrone campground, from the cabins to the sites that face the Hwy (just 1-2 spots past spots 69/70). A few good spots that can fit large RVs/trailers. Flat and long. But mostly better for tent or smaller trailer camping. Lots of water spigots, throughout the campground. Water used to be great, smells of chlorine in the past couple of years. No access issues. All paved and no 4x4 needed. I've been camping here at least a dozen times, since 2017. If you can make it during the off season (week after Labor day thru the week before memorial day), you might feel like you have the whole place to yourself. Otherwise, it will be busy. It is open year round and they are doing first come first serve with check in at the ranger booth upon entrance to the campgrounds, even though the state website says no availability, when trying to make a reservation. Just show up. They take cash and checks. During the week, they always have open spots. Weekends can get chancy. No RV dump station, that I've ever seen but I've never really looked either. A few wheelchair accessible sites but most all have a bit of elevation. Sites are treed and have bear food boxes and picnic tables and fire pits with a grate. Lots of good trails. Easy river access. Beautiful redwoods and history. If you don't camp here, at least stop by and check it out for a while. Day pass is only $8 and camping is like $35-40/night. Cabins are about $80 a night and have electric and heat, I believe. Need to bring your own bedding and they don't have private restrooms. Cute little primitive buildings with heat and electricity. Not worth it, to me, unless it was pouring down rain. Not enough amenities to stay there vs camping. Just my opinion. Have a great day! Hope you enjoy Richardson's Grove. It's worth the...

I have been stopping here for 45 years.

There is good camping, a few good walks and great day use facilities. The river is wide and full if rocks with a nice swimming hole.

Overall, the park is relatively small with old growth redwoods that are impressive. For me it is a meditation just to walk among the trees surrounding the visitor center. There are educational signs along the interpretive trails. The visitor center is a nice former lodge with exhibits that the kids are allowed to touch. At times they have "junior ranger" activities for them.

Both of my boys have spent time there back when they were small enough to pick up and put on a fallen tree to run along it.

I wrote that 6 years ago. Same opinion.

I would like to add a recommendation for the Durphy Creek Trail. It is an intermediate to advanced effort to do the whole 6 mile loop that is worth the effort. Be warned , the park is at 700' and the trail goes up to 1,500'. It took me 3 hours.

If you want a more mellow hike, the first mile in from the Durphy Creek trailhead runs along the creek without a lot of up and down. Just before the trail starts to go uphill in switchbacks there is a picnic area with no services, but with some benches. Note that this part of the trail has zero road noise.

It is as nice a redwood hike as you will find. There are great trees, undergrowth of brush, sorrel, lots of ferns, moss, lichen, fungus etc along two creek beds. That includes some older redwoods (including an old growth chandelier right on the path) and up the hill there is a mix of pine, the odd madrone and some things that look leftover from farming days. It is steeper on the Durphy Creek side. For a more spread out climb, go up the lookout trailhead near campsite #59. The top is wooded, so there are no panorama views up there, but there are such views on the way up, especially on the Durphy Creek side. The whole thing offers stunning glimpses of nearby hills and steep ravines with tall redwoods coming up from them. There is some wildlife in there, but I saw little...

Richardson Grove State Park is a scenic and historically significant park located in Humboldt County, California, USA. Here's an overview of its key features:

Historical Information: Richardson Grove has a rich history, as it was once part of a vital transportation route during California's early days. It served as a passage for wagon trains and stagecoaches during the late 1800s.

Geography: The park is nestled within the Coast Range mountains of Northern California, along the South Fork of the Eel River. It covers approximately 1,800 acres and is known for its towering old-growth redwood trees, some of which are over 300 feet tall.

Wildlife: Richardson Grove is home to a diverse range of wildlife. Visitors may encounter black-tailed deer, raccoons, squirrels, and a variety of bird species, including owls and woodpeckers. Additionally, the Eel River supports fish species like steelhead trout and salmon.

Flora: The park is renowned for its lush and ancient redwood forest, dominated by coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), some of which are centuries old. These trees create a majestic canopy and provide a unique habitat for various plant species, including ferns, mosses, and lichens.

Environmental Considerations: Preservation of Richardson Grove's old-growth redwoods has been a major environmental concern. Proposed highway expansion projects have raised questions about potential impacts on the delicate ecosystem and the redwoods themselves. Conservation efforts aim to strike a balance between maintaining access and protecting the natural environment.

Overall, Richardson Grove State Park is not only a place of natural beauty but also a testament to California's history and a focal point for ongoing conservation efforts to protect its ancient redwoods and...