Big Flat Campground
Big Flat Campground is a small, quiet campground bordered by Hurdygurdy Creek. Since it is far from towns and highways, it’s the perfect place to “get away from it all.” The campground is semi-open; trees shade some sites, others have part-shade. Shrubs and grass fill in between sites. There is a 14-day limit for occupying a campground, and pets on leashes are permitted. Picnic tables, fire rings, water spigots, trash service provided. There is no river access from the campground. Several nice South Fork river access points are within a half mile. Hurdygurdy Creek can be accessed from the campground as well as several points off of the “All Access Trail” (see Hiking below).
More like this: first-come in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | $8 per vehicle, $5 per extra vehicle |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Six Rivers National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations. Self register at campground entrance kiosk. Cash or check only. |
| Fees | $8 per vehicle, $5 per extra vehicle |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 41.6865° N, 123.9128° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTi Bar Flat Rx
23 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRoots & Shoots Rx: Or
25 mi from the campground
- PrescribedPatterson Rx
25 mi from the campground
- PrescribedOcfr Understory Rx
27 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 11.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Sims Flat Campground / Castella, CA / A Campground Fav!
Worth a stop
- 10.7 miForks River Access And Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 13.8 miDoe Flat Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miOld South Kelsey ↗7.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miChimney Flat ↗0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miOld South Kelsey Spur C0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miRedwood Flat0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miOld South Kelsey Spur B0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miOld South Kelsey Spur D0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Siskiyou Wilderness begins about 2.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 2.2 miSiskiyou Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 179,847 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Gasquet Ranger Station Historic DistrictHistoric district · Gasquet · 11.3 mi
- Redwood HighwayStructure · Klamath · 11.3 mi
- Radar Station B-71Building · Klamath · 14.3 mi
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Big Flat Campground?
No. Big Flat Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Big Flat Campground?
$8 per vehicle, $5 per extra vehicle
Source: Forest Service
Is Big Flat Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Big Flat Campground?
Big Flat Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Big Flat Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Mill Creek Campground (9.6 mi, seasonal), Panther Flat Campground (10.9 mi, partly first-come), and Jedediah Smith Campground (11.7 mi, seasonal).
Source: Campgrounds nearby