Mad River Campground
Six Rivers National Forest — lakeside, hiking
Location: Bridgeville, CA, CA
Price: From $20 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)
Season: May through October
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. 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
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/mad-river-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Mad River Campground offers quiet riverside camping in the thickly forested mountains of northern California with excellent fishing opportunities for trout and nearby water recreation at Ruth Lake. Google reviews consistently praise its peaceful atmosphere and solitude.
Wildlife alert: Townsend's Big-eared Bat, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Green-winged Teal, Steller's Jay, American Goshawk, Northern Alligator Lizard, California Mountain Kingsnake, Western Fence Lizard
Insider tips for Mad River Campground: Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand Continue north on Hwy 101 past Zenia Road exit to avoid 2-hour delay on winding back roads Bring a self-contained RV—no hookups available at most sites
Skip Mad River Campground if: You need RV hookups (none available). You visit outside May-October (seasonal closure). You prefer staffed campgrounds (minimal on-site monitoring reported).
Best time to visit Mad River Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Fir Cove Campground (Bridgeville, CA), Forest Glen Guard Station (WEAVERVILLE, CA), Skunk Point Group Campground (Big Bar, CA), Hayden Flat Group Campground (Big Bar, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Mad River Campground
Cell signal at Mad River Campground (Bridgeville, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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. 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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with high demand
Continue north on Hwy 101 past Zenia Road exit to avoid 2-hour delay on winding back roads
Bring a self-contained RV
no hookups available at most sites
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
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
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Six Rivers National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Six Rivers National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Mad River Campground cost per night?+
What season is Mad River Campground open?+
Does Mad River Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Mad River Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Mad River Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Mad River Campground?+
What season is Mad River Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
Nearby Campgrounds
Own a campground nearby?
List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.