ABOUT PANTHER FLAT CAMPGROUND: This was our second stay at Panther Flat Campground, a National Forest Service located in the Smith River Recreation Area. The campground is not too far from Crescent City, California and the Jedediah Smith State Park section of the Redwood National Forest.
Panther Flat is a great campground. Both times we’ve stayed here have been off-season and only 32 campsites were open. Nevertheless, there were plenty of available campsites to choose from. Off-season, it’s first-come, first-served. In-season, reservations are required.
There is no dump station. Fresh water is available at spigots throughout the campground, but you can only dispense water into a bucket – not connect it to a hose, so it’s best to come with a full water tank. All sites are no hook ups. The campground is heavily tree’d – outstanding forest environment – and the sites are located between CA Highway 199 and the Smith River. There is an excellent Day Use Area by the River. Camping cost $7.50 per night, which was 50% off with the Federal Senior Pass. The row of campsites nearest the highway are fairly high in traffic noise (but this row has never been open when we were here). The two rows closest to the River have very little noise unless your neighbors are loud. Most campsites have privacy due to all the trees between sites. Many sites aren’t that level, and some sites are fairly short, but we found plenty we could fit in well: 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, & 17. The best sites are 13, 17, and 4.
Panther Flat Campground: Gasquet, CA 95543, (Highway 199 east from Highway 101 thru the small town of Gasquet, 2.5 miles east of the Visitor’s Center & Smith River National Recreation Area ranger station, at milepost 16.75), phone (707) 457-3131.
- 2017 – 10/27-11/02
- 2022 – 03/24-03/27