Norcross Campground
Completely destroyed in the Panther Fire in 2008, Norcross Campground and Horse Camp has been rebuilt and reopened late in the season in 2009. The refurbished campground has 4 large horse corrals, plenty of horse trailer parking, new campsites and restrooms. Water is available for horses but not for human consumption. There are two main trails out of Norcross heading into the Marble Mountain Wilderness; the Elk Creek Trail and the Kelsey National Recreation Trail along Bear Creek to Bear Valley and Bear Lake. The Elk Creek Trail can be ridden or hiked as 4 different loops with a variety of destinations and mountain lakes.
More like this: first-come in California · free in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No fee |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Klamath National Forest |
| Fees | No fee |
| Rules | Do not tie horses to trees, living or dead. Do not tie horses to corral rails or posts. Keep horses away from the creek. Avoid damage to creek bank. Carry water to horses in corrals. Water and garbage service are not provided. Bring enough water for drinking, cooking and washing as well as extra water to drown campfires each day. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 41.6459° N, 123.3091° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTi Bar Flat Rx
14 mi from the campground
- PrescribedPatterson Rx
15 mi from the campground
- PrescribedSrf 2026 Rx Implementation
27 mi from the campground · 500 acres
- 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
| Outdoor gear | Etna Creek Outfitters ↗ | 25.2 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 38.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Blue Compass RV ↗ | 50.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 0.1 miNorcross Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.8 miParadise Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miBear Creek Trail/ Kelsey NRT ↗6.5 mi trail · national_recreation_or_other
- 1.1 miElk Cr.-Sulph. Sp.to Rainy Jct2.9 mi trail
- 1.2 miGranite Creek ↗8.4 mi trail
- 1.2 miRainy Lake ↗7 mi trail
- 2.4 miJohnson'S Hunting Ground ↗7.6 mi trail
- 2.6 miTickner Hole (Tickner Creek)4.2 mi trail
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miNorcross Trailhead ↗Klamath National Forest
- 1.1 miSulphur Springs Trailhead ↗Klamath National Forest
- 2.2 miBear Lake Trailhead ↗Klamath National Forest
- 2.4 miJohnsons Hunting Ground Trailhead ↗Klamath National Forest
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
Marble Mountain Wilderness begins about 0.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.9 miMarble Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 225,114 acres
- 10.2 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
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
How much does it cost to camp at Norcross Campground?
Nothing. Norcross Campground is listed as free. No fee
Source: Forest Service
Is Norcross Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Norcross Campground?
Norcross Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Norcross Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Sulphur Springs Campground (1.1 mi, first-come), Lovers Camp (9.3 mi, first-come), and Curly Jack Campground (10.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby