Red Bluff, California Campground and Recreation Area

Backroads are difficult to find along I-5 in the central valley of California. The sea of wildflowers that John Muir saw in the 1870's has been replaced by farms, irrigation canals and roads that are not of the backroad variety. But here and there remnants remain of what once was the natural central valley.


This site managed by the Mendocino National Forest offers 488 acres along the Sacramento River just 3 miles from downtown Red Bluff. There are paved walking and bicycling trails as well as a 30 unit campgroung. The level ground makes it a great place for bicycling of easy walks.

The large trees along the nature trail give a glimpse in the past. It is a great place to stroll and imagine how much our world has changed in the last 150 years.

The Forest Service has a 30 unit campground among all the trails. The standard site is $16 with the Golden and Interagency Senior and Disabled passes accepted for a 50% discount as of today!

There are sites that offer water and electricity for $25 a night, but the discount passes are not accepted for those sites.

The campground is slightly worn and from some of the sites you can see the diversion dam and equipment used for maintenance. This gives the campground a slightly industrial feel.




As with most Forest Service campgrounds the fees are rather high for the value recieved. However, in this campground those with larger rigs can camp in most of the sites and even open up their slides!! This campground does provide a good place to camp in the northern end of the central valley from which to explore. It is also close to Red Bluff and Redding for those that need urban services.


Lots to explore and do in the area that we will cover in additional posts. If your traveling through Red Bluff take the exit to the Recreation Area for lunch. The roads are wide and there is plenty of room for turning around rigs.


The Forest Service web site for the area is: www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino/recreation/rbluff.