Mad River Campground
Mad River Campground is a national forest campground in California. Hookups: no hookups.
- Type
- National forest campground
- Location
- California
- Coordinates
- 40.40361, -123.46722
- Hookups
- No hookups
- Activities
- Camping, Hiking
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 707-574-6233
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Mad River Campground
Overview 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. Recreation 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. Facilities 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. Natural Features 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. Nearby Attractions The 13,800-acre Ruth Lake is about three miles south of the campground.
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- AmeriGas · 36 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 73 designated routes (186 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mad River Campground | Private campground | under 0.1 mi | $12 | — |
| Fir Cove Campground | National forest campground | 5.3 mi | — | No hookups |
| Fir Cove Campground | Private campground | 5.3 mi | $12 | — |
| Bailey Canyon Campground | Private campground | 5.6 mi | $12 | — |
| Bailey Canyon | National forest campground | 5.6 mi | — | — |
| Bailey Canyon Campground | National forest campground | 5.6 mi | — | — |
Open Mad River Campground in DryRig
Save it offline, check your rig's clearance on the drive in, and see what's nearby on the map.
Sources. USFS and BLM recreation sites, Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.