Connectivity
No community carrier report is currently published for this campground.
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Mad River Campground
Six Rivers National Forest, California
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 is situated on a bluff overlooking the river among a forested area of oak trees and evergreen shrubs.
The campground offers multiple single-family campsites, available for tent and RV camping.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 40.403611° N
- Longitude
- 123.467222° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Drive-in
Site types
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
- Tent sitesCommunity report
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Drinking water
- FiresUse only when the current order allows flame
- Picnic table
- ADA access
- Alcohol allowedCommunity report
- Trash serviceCommunity report
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Pull-through sites
- Back-in sitesCommunity report
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Hiking
- Camping
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Potable water
- Site fire ring or grillUse only when the current order allows flame
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Standard Non-Electric
35 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Trailer
- Maximum people
- 8
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 35 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 2:00 PM
- Accessible sites
- 7 flagged accessible
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Base site allowance
- Season Dates: 5/21/2021 - 9/13/2021 • Daily rate $12/night • Extra Vehicle $5/night • Fee is due at entrance kiosk • Cash or Check made payable to USDA (United States Department of Agriculture).
- Reservation cutoff
- 4 days before arrival
- Maximum published vehicles
- 2 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 2:00 PM
- Food storage
- Mad River Campground's official facility record checked 2026-10-16 does not publish a food-storage method; confirm the posted rule with Six Rivers National Forest.
- Fire and stove use
- Mad River Campground's official facility record states: Tables and campfire rings are available at each site.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Next release
- Oct 18, 2027, 11:00 PM PDT
Published seasons & rates
The official source does not publish machine-readable seasonal rates. Confirm the final rate with the reservation provider before checkout.
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- First come, first serve
- Watch for poison oak
- Boat inspections for quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species are required at the Ruth Lake marina; an additional fee applies.
- Click here for more information about Six Rivers National Forest
- Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
Getting there & contact
Official directions
When traveling north on Hwy 101, do not turn off at the Zenia Road exit at Garberville. This will result in a 2-hour delay driving on winding back roads. Instead, continue north until you reach the Hwy 36 exit near Fortuna. Turn right, heading east for approximately an hour until you reach the town of Mad River. After you cross the bridge at the Mad River, look for the Mad River Road turn-off on the right. The sign will say Ruth Lake. Continue for 10 minutes to reach the Mad River Campground. If traveling on Interstate 5, turn at Hwy 36 at Red Bluff and head west for 2 hours until you see the sign for Ruth Lake at Mad River Road.
Facility contact
707-574-6233