Oak Bottom Campground
It is situated on a shaded and gently sloping hillside in the expansive Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests, far from highway noise and city distractions. NEW: Each reservable campsite now has its own bear-resistant food storage locker, as do most of the first-come first-served campsites. Campsite List calendar starts at the next available reservation dates.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in California · reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 25 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
25 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 003 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 004 | Back-in | 23 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 005 | Back-in | 38 | Gravel | Full | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 006 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | Back-in | 28 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 008 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 009 | Back-in | 32 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 011 | Back-in | 28 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:30 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Accessibility | Site 013 is listed accessible |
The campground offers 25 single-family sites. Each site is equipped with a bear-resistant food storage locker, picnic table, and fire ring with grill. Some sites have vintage rock stoves as well. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. A campground host may be available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Highway 96, take Salmon River Road/Forest Highway 93 for 2.3 miles to Oak Bottom Campground.
| Nearest town | Orleans, California |
| Coordinates | 41.3772° N, 123.4514° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Please note this is not oak bottom campground at whiskeytown lake.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedSrf 2026 Rx Implementation
7 mi from the campground · 500 acres
- PrescribedPatterson Rx
8 mi from the campground
- PrescribedLeary Rx
13 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRoots & Shoots Rx: Or
16 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 ↗ | 19.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Etna Creek Outfitters ↗ | 29.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Oak Bottom Campground - Whiskeytown NRA, CA
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miSalmon River Trail1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miWooley Creek ↗26.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.1 miBlue Hole0.07 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miRed Wing Mine1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miSomes Mt. Trail ↗7.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miMouth of Wooley0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.8 miWooley Creek 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
Six Rivers National Forest begins about 1 mile away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1 miSix Rivers National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,273,949 acres
- 3.5 miMarble Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 225,114 acres
- 14.1 miTrinity Alps Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 537,357 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
Natural features
The campground loops around a forested hillside of mixed Douglas fir and hardwood forest at a 700-foot elevation. Large deciduous trees provide ample shading for multiple sites within the campground, and a variety of wildlife makes its home in the area.
Recreation
Located near California's Salmon River, the campground is popular with whitewater enthusiasts in the spring. Many challenging rapids ranging from class 3 to 5 are available. Swimming is also popular in the summer and numerous river access areas are a short drive or walk from the campground. In the fall, salmon and steelhead trout fishing in the nearby Klamath River is known to be some of the best in the state.
Nearby
The small town of Somes Bar is 2.5 miles from the campground. Propane, groceries, and tackle are available at a general store.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Oak Bottom Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Oak Bottom Campground?
Check-in 2:30 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Oak Bottom Campground have?
25 sites, including 25 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Oak Bottom Campground?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Oak Bottom Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Oak Bottom Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Oak Bottom Campground?
Site 013 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Oak Bottom Campground?
Located near California's Salmon River, the campground is popular with whitewater enthusiasts in the spring. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Oak Bottom Campground?
Orleans, California. The small town of Somes Bar is 2.5 miles from the campground.
Source: Getting there
What if Oak Bottom Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Pearch Creek Campground (5.9 mi), Nordheimer Group Sites (7.1 mi, partly first-come), and Nordheimer Main Campground (7.2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby