Panther Flat Campground

Six Rivers National Forest — riverside, fishing

Location: GASQUET, CA, CA

Price: From $15 per night

Price range: $15–$30 per night

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (145 reviews)

Season: May through October

Panther Flat Campground sits in the vast Six Rivers National Forest in northern California. This shady, secluded campground is just steps from the Smith River, which is famous for its bright blue waters and scenic pathway through the forest.Popular activities include swimming, sunbathing, rafting and fishing in the Smith River. Anglers enjoy healthy fishing populations of salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Showers, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/panther-flat-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Panther Flat offers shady, secluded camping steps from the scenic Smith River with excellent fishing for salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout. Campers consistently praise it as one of the cleanest campgrounds they've visited, with private sites and good swimming holes.

Wildlife alert: North American River Otter, Gray Fox, California Quail, Oregon Aquatic Garter Snake, Northwestern Garter Snake, and California Mountain Kingsnake documented in the area.

Insider tips for Panther Flat Campground: Book early as this is a popular federal campground. Cell service is available at some sites but not guaranteed throughout the campground. Large sites and parking spots provide good spacing between campers.

Skip Panther Flat Campground if: You need RV hookups—only self-contained RVs are suitable.. You prefer to visit outside May through October when the campground is closed..

Best time to visit Panther Flat Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only..

Nearby campgrounds: Grassy Flat Campground (GASQUET, CA), Patrick Creek Campground (GASQUET, CA), Bear Basin Lookout And Cabin (GASQUET, CA), Ludlum House (Gold Beach, OR).

Cell Phone Coverage at Panther Flat Campground

Cell signal at Panther Flat Campground (GASQUET, 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.

CamperWatch›CA›Panther Flat Campground
Panther Flat Campground — photo 1
Six Rivers National Forest — riverside, fishingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Panther Flat Campground

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GASQUET, CA, CA★ 4.3 (145 reviews)From $15/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Panther Flat Campground sits in the vast Six Rivers National Forest in northern California. This shady, secluded campground is just steps from the Smith River, which is famous for its bright blue waters and scenic pathway through the forest.Popular activities include swimming, sunbathing, rafting and fishing in the Smith River. Anglers enjoy healthy fishing populations of salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout.

Best for:AnglersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV45 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking Water
Recreation
Picnic TablesShowers
Family & Pets
Flush ToiletsFishing

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups—only self-contained RVs are suitable.✕ You prefer to visit outside May through October when the campground is closed.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early as this is a popular federal campground.

Cell service is available at some sites but not guaranteed throughout the campground.

Large sites and parking spots provide good spacing between campers.

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally during these months only.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: North American River Otter, Gray Fox, California Quail, Oregon Aquatic Garter Snake, Northwestern Garter Snake, and California Mountain Kingsnake documented in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
707-457-3131· Six Rivers National Forest
Getting there →

From Highway 101 north of Crescent City, California, take highway 199 east for 16 miles to the campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#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, speakable
How much does Panther Flat Campground cost per night?+
Panther Flat Campground costs $15–$30 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Panther Flat Campground open?+
Panther Flat Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Panther Flat Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Panther Flat Campground?+
Panther Flat Campground can accommodate RVs up to 45 feet.
How do I make reservations at Panther Flat Campground?+
Panther Flat Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Panther Flat Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Panther Flat Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Panther Flat Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Panther Flat Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$15 /night★ 4.3 (145)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Panther Flat Campground cost per night?+
What season is Panther Flat Campground open?+
Does Panther Flat Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

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