Facilities

Club House

Laundry Room

Swimming Pool

Hot Tub

Fitness Center

Game Room

Rec Hall

Pavilion

Exercise Room

Restroom/Shower

Restroom Only

Shower Only

Restaurant

Groceries

RV Supplies

ATM Machine

WiFi

Dog Park

Cocktail Lounge

Dog Washing Station

Pit Toilet

Snack Bar

Play Ground

Sites

Water

20 Amp

30 Amp

50 Amp

Sewer

Cable TV

Services

Escort to Site

Self-Service RV Wash

Metered LP Gas

Firewood

Fishing Supplies

Pet Supplies

Onsite Rentals

Worship Services

Golf Carts

Fishing Guides

Onsite RV Service

Staffed RV Wash

Fishing Licenses

Complimentary Breakfast

Recreational activities in or near the park

Recreational Activities

Archery Range

ATV Riding

Biking

Boating

Body Of Water

Casino

Climbing

Dock

Driving Range

Fishing

Golf

Heated Pool

Hiking

Horseback Riding

Horseshoes

Kayaking

Lawn Bowling

Mini Golf

Paddle Boats

Pickle Ball

Putting Green

Ramp

Sauna

Shuffleboard

Snow Sports

Splash Pad

Swimming

Tennis

Wading Pool

Water Slide

Water Sports

Water Umbrella

Whitewater Rafting

Policies

RV Age Restrictions

Pets Welcome

Pet Restrictions

Pet Restriction on Quantity

Pet Restriction on Breed

Pet Restriction on Size

No Pets

Tent Camping Allowed

Folding Tent Campers Allowed

No Tents

No Overnight Guests

<h2>Overview</h2><p>Panther Flat Campground, nestled within the <strong>Six Rivers National Forest</strong>, serves as the premier destination for travelers exploring the Smith River National Recreation Area. This well-maintained facility offers a peaceful retreat among towering evergreens and is one of the few campgrounds in the region that remains <strong>open year-round</strong>. It provides a quintessential Northern California forest experience for those looking to disconnect and enjoy the sights and sounds of the coastal mountains.</p><h2>Location & Surroundings</h2><p>Located just east of Gasquet, CA, the park sits on a scenic terrace overlooking the <strong>Middle Fork of the Smith River</strong>. The surroundings are characterized by a dense canopy of Douglas fir, madrone, and oak trees, providing ample shade and privacy between sites. Because it is situated within the <strong>Smith River National Recreation Area</strong>, the air is crisp, and the atmosphere is defined by the proximity to the emerald-green waters of the last major undammed river system in California.</p><h2>Amenities & Park Features</h2><p>While the experience is primarily rustic, the park offers several essential comforts for RVers. There are 38 campsites available, with features including:</p><ul><li>Accommodations for <strong>RVs and trailers up to 40 feet</strong> in length.</li><li>Access to <strong>potable water and flush toilets</strong> throughout the loop.</li><li>Individual sites equipped with a paved parking spur, picnic table, and fire ring.</li><li>On-site <strong>coin-operated showers</strong> which are a rare luxury for forest service campgrounds.</li></ul><p>Note that there are no hookups, making this an ideal spot for those prepared for dry camping in a lush forest environment.</p><h2>Nearby Attractions & Things to Do</h2><p>The primary draw is the <strong>Smith River</strong>, famous for its crystal-clear water and opportunities for swimming, kayaking, and world-class salmon and steelhead fishing. Just a short distance away, the <strong>Darlingtonia Trail</strong> offers a unique look at rare carnivorous plants native to the area. Additionally, the park serves as an excellent base camp for visiting the <strong>Redwood National and State Parks</strong>, where visitors can hike among some of the tallest trees on Earth within a short drive.</p><h2>Who This Park Is Best For</h2><p>This destination is perfect for <strong>outdoor enthusiasts and nature photographers</strong> who prioritize natural beauty and river access over resort-style amenities. It is an ideal fit for families looking to spend their days by the water and for RVers who enjoy a <strong>traditional forest camping experience</strong>. If you prefer the tranquility of a secluded woodland setting and do not mind the lack of electricity or sewer connections, Panther Flat provides an unmatched sense of place in the heart of the Six Rivers.</p>



Six Rivers Panther Flat Gasquet is a small, rural community located in the Six Rivers National Forest in Del Norte County, California. The area is known for its stunning views of the Smith River, the Klamath River, and the Pacific Ocean. The area is also home to a variety of wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, and bald eagles. The area is popular for camping, fishing, and hiking, and is a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts. The area is also home to a variety of restaurants, shops, and other amenities.

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Six Rivers/Panther Flat

Experience Panther Flat Campground in Gasquet, CA. Located in Six Rivers National Forest, this park offers river access, showers, and sites for 40-foot RVs.

Panther Flat Campground | Gasquet, CA

It’s nice and well cared for by the camp hosts but the road noise ruins it. It’s not in the old growth redwood trees either so doesn’t quite hit the mark for camping in this area. Sites feel a bit close together as well.

The cleanest campground we’ve stayed in.
Sites are fairly private. You can hear the rushing river always.
There’s a great cafe down the road.

Clean Campgrounds, welll kept sites with fire ring. Clean bathrooms with showers.  Self pay at front of Campgrounds that honored national parks disable pass with half off camping fee.  Camp host was present but non intrusive.

Great campground with decent space between campers. Has restrooms and showers in two locations, with the showers being coin operated so bring some quarters.

Fantastic base camp for Six Rivers adventures! We stayed at Panther Flat and it exceeded expectations! At just $15/night, this hidden gem offers incredible value with clean flush toilets and hot coin-operated showers (50¢ for 3 minutes—rare for Forest Service!).

Our spacious site (#16) was surrounded by towering Douglas firs with privacy from lush huckleberry bushes between campsites. The short 3-minute walk to Smith River's crystal-clear swimming holes was perfect for cooling off after exploring nearby redwood groves. Highway 199 creates some road noise, but the pristine river access and proximity to Redwood National Park make it worthwhile.

Camp host kept facilities immaculate. Note: book through Recreation.gov for summer; first-come first-served off-season.

One of the cleanest campgrounds I've stayed in. I still had cell service but my boyfriend didn't. Nice large sites and parking spots.

There was a standing dead tree with bring green marking. I reported it to the host and the FS showed up and removed the flagging. Said it was a "watch tree" and not a remove tree. It was in striking distance of 2 tent pads and 2 tables.

Really beautiful campground. The whole thing is protected by a bluff so even if there is a lot of wind on the highway, the campsite itself is calm. Each site is clean and spacious but with enough foliage that you get decent privacy. And bathrooms are really nice, they have flush toilets, motion-sensor lights at night and are kept quite clean. And there is a cute creek a 5-minute walk away. Was really impressed with this one, highly recommend!

Fabulous campground. Sites are nicely separated. If you can get a spot closest to the river, you’ll have less road noise and more sounds of the river. It even has showers but bring quarters.

Came here in 2024, had a lovely, lovely time. The site is clean, the showers are hot, and the location is divine. But we visited again this year and had a drastically different experience. We stayed Tues-Monday. The only day that didn't have hours, literally hours, of noise coming from a gas-powered leaf blower was Sunday. It echoed through the campground making it hard to hold a conversation. It drove us out of our campsite to seek peace elsewhere on more than one day. When it happened Wed-Fri, I thought maybe they were preparing for the weekend but it happened Saturday morning too starting at 9am. I go camping for peace and quiet of the wilderness, not endure the fluctuating roar of a 90 decibel leaf blower for hours on end. Sad to say, we won't be returning because I won't risk our much anticipated vacation being ruined by this nuisance again.

Excellent, well maintained National Forest campground near the Smith River.
Clean restrooms with pay shower.
Some sites will accommodate an RV up to 30 feet, such as our 30' travel trailer.
The current hosts worked hard at keeping the campground nice.
My only minor complaint is that I wish they allowed reservations all year, as our trailer length makes planning ahead often less stressful.

Very clean,  peaceful,  and fairly quiet.  By 9:30pm there was only the wind and the river to be heard.  Restrooms were very clean and modern.  Camp spaces were roomy and separated so there was a sense of privacy.  Camp host was present and readily available.  Beautiful campground over all.

This stay was unplanned, but Panther Flats could become a planned stop, even a destination visit in the future.

Nice place to camp. Lots of trees to help keep it cool on hot days. Good swimming hole pretty crowded but nice for swimming. They need to develop another trail the the first swimming hole could not find a way to it. The trail was washed out. Was a bummer no running water other than the flush toilets this season but the camp host had a large tank of water we could fill our containers with.

Reviews

Six Rivers/Panther Flat