Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area

I stopped on a whim and am extremely glad I did. The staff was very nice and very friendly, the sites are huge and clean. There are big open spaces and great hikes. I came during the blue-green algae bloom so no swimming for me or the dog, but it was still absolutely beautiful. I'll definitely be back.

Standish-Hickey is a small park with tons of campsites for tents, RVs, trailers, and adventure vans. It has showers, very clean bathroom facilities, ample water spigots, and tons of receptacles for waste disposal. It is an ideal spot for families looking for something easy right off Highway 101. Just be sure to bring earplugs for sleeping, because you will hear highway traffic.

It’s October 9 and we’re almost alone here. Great place for a one-nighter: right off 101, huge trees all around, right on the Eel river (tho the hike down looks pretty taxing). Clean bathrooms and plenty of water spigots and trash receptacles scattered among the campsites. The road noise is the reason for the 4 stars. Good ATT cell signal.

My wife and I camped for 2 nights at Rock Creek campground. While it has potential to be a really cool place, it seems in disrepair in my opinion. I will say the restroom facilities and staff were great though. But on to the negative. Redwood camp, which seems to be the most convenient for distance to recreation and more seclusion, has been closed as there is no longer a bridge to get there, so you're left with the two other camps to the north, Rock Creek and Hickey, which are really close to hwy 101 (our camp was probably 60') and quite the downhill trek to get to the river for some recreation. The sound of Harleys and big rigs kinda dampens the getting away from the traffic experience of camping. Additionally, the trails are in disrepair and require crossing the river to get there. Mill Creek Falls trail, for example, is permanently closed. I hiked up to Standish Tree and back real quick, but could tell the trail was hardly ever used. I will say we made the best of it (the swimming area is 👍), but the traffic noise, and difficulty getting down to the river and the trails made the experience just OK. So if you're looking for seclusion and relaxing recreation, you may wanna look elsewhere. I really hope they get the place up to snuff. I'd love to camp down at Redwood camp and give it another go in the future.

Quickly stopped by here while driving down the 101 and was surprised by just how beautiful the area is. There's quite a bit offered here, including three fairly large campgrounds, some hiking trails, and swimming in the river that runs through the area. I would highly recommend at least stopping by and spending some of the day here if you're not wanting to stay longer to camp.

Loved it here. Not a full camp site but did hear some Hella scary screams which may have been mating calls from a mt lion or vixen fox which is what I was told.

The Standish-Hickley State Recreation Area is a nice place to spend a half or full day at. There is a nice river to relax at with a swimming pool and some hiking trails. Not overly busy and just relaxing.

Gorgeous area. Each campsite has a large fire ring, bear box, and picnic table. The site has running potable water in many places, garbage and recycling bins, and full running water bathrooms (no vault toilets or porta potties) and showers. Staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. There are several hiking trails and some river swimming available. Lots of interesting critters to look at, if you're into that kind of thing. Highly recommended.

This place is a Hidden GEM Iykyk I've been coming here for over a century(this life and previous life ofc) and each year it just keeps getting better and better. The memories you'll make are priceless and last forever If you're thinking of going up North too "connect" with nature don't contemplate it...JUST DO IT, you'll thank yourself later my friends. Love yourself and your neighbors. Have a great day YALL!

The campgrounds were very clean, camp hosts were very nice and helpful. Only down side was there was no hot water in the site we stayed in when we went, but they claimed the other site had hot water if we wanted a short walk to the showers.

I think they are racist here especially the park rangers!! 1st we booked multiple campsites due to our large family so we followed the rules to make sure only 3 cars per campsite and the right amount of people per campsite. Of course we want to hang out with each other, we're outdoors trying to enjoy the beautiful weather and stars and there's about 20-25 of us with kids so we congregated to 1 area for dinner, s'mores and laughs!! Quiet time is 10pm so we try to lower each others voices but it's hard being 20-25 of us WITH KIDS!! Around 1030 park rangers comes up out of no where while we're around the fire screaming and yelling at us like we just robbed the bank!! YOU GUYS NEED TO SHUT THE HELL UP AND CALM DOWN!!! The only warning they ever gave us through the night!! Knowing we was probably loud due to our number of people we apologize and said ok we'll be quiet. Then they try to say we cannot congregate in 1 area and told us if we don't be quiet we'll get kicked out, so after that aftermath most of us went to our campsite only 4-5 people stayed at that area. But after walking around EVERYONE IN OTHER CAMPSITES WERE CONGREGATED IN 1 AREA!! 1 area had almost the same amount of people!!! After that they never came back to check us or nothing, after that "warning" we split everyone went to sleep. Next day comes around 1pm while we're cooking lunch and hanging out another park ranger comes and tells us we're getting kicked out!!! Why we asked she tries to tells us lies saying after the warning we got told again to quiet down...1 lie. Then she said we were confrontational with other campsites...2 lies and then tries to tell us we threaten the park rangers .... 3 lies!! What a joke!!! I mean guys were outdoors and it was 20-25 of us other people were just as loud as us I guarantee but it was because we're minorities they kicked us out the next day after just 1 warning and multiple lies she tried to tell us why we're getting kicked out, told us if we don't leave we'll get a misdemeanor, she said leave willingly or forcefully!!! Knowing we have kids with us we just left!! But I highly recommend don't go here if your a minority. Even 2 of our neighbors told us we didn't do anything wrong we was soo nice to our neighbors and vice versa so it wasn't no complaint from the neighbors it was the racist park rangers!!! Don't go here!!!

Very nice campground with friendly host who is on top of running this campground. One star off for a lot of mosquitoes. I can't speak to the off-summer season.

What a beautiful way to disconnect and reconnect! It's been over 10 years since I went camping and the thought of it intimidated me. Well, I packed up the car and started the gorgeous drive up. It was absolutely worth every moment. The check in was easy and the staff were so nice and knowledgeable. Set up shop upon arrival and walked down to the lake. Oh how magnificent! The water was warm!!! It's a nice hike back up, 10 minutes of straight incline but it's really manageable. Bring only the things you don't mind carrying up. I didn't shower but the bathrooms were clean. The shower uses quarters that you can get at the check in. The crappy part? Mosquitoes!!!! Bring a lot of repellent. You're in their house, so gear up!!! Some neighbors partied past quiet time which kept my friends awake. Make sure to go on a hike but also remember, repellant! Get out there and make those memories

Beautiful walk down to the river amazing trip Sindee is amazing and full of joy also the river is a nice area

Preface: I had a great conversation with the State Park employee at the entrance station before heading home. They are already working on improvements to the park, starting with the number of cars allowed. The downsides: It's deep summer and the campground is full. At a good campground with a good layout, this isn't a big deal. At SH, the sites are very close together, and currently allow way too many cars and people at each (smallish) campsite. We were three people, one car and were flanked on every side by at least 8 people, 4 cars and several dogs. This site literally sits on the side of 101 - I'm not sure how this is legal. Seems like a gigantic hazard (car veering off road, drunk person running into road, etc). These sites should be closed forever and allowed to grow over. And then there's the noise...do you know what an 18 wheeler whooshing down a 2 land highway sounds like at 4 am omg Quiet hours - I never saw the camp host driving around & many camps stayed loud long after 10 pm Upsides: The swimming hole is ~fantastic~! Store/restaurant/music walking distance from camp Great for kids Surprisingly few critters Lots of garbage cans that were well maintained/frequently emptied

We booked our site a few months in advance for an annual camping trip. The guys have been coming to this camp site for nearly 10 years. Upon our arrival we were shocked to discover that only 1 car is allowed per site now! When we booked, it still said 2 cars and the past has always been 2. We weren't too pleased about that and that the entrance only takes cash. I booked a premium site as we had 10 people in our party. Spot 65 is pretty awesome. Tons of space for all the tents and equipment! When it came time to cook, we were shocked to see our fire pit didn't have the grill grate! You can't simply just walk over to another site and borrow theirs as they are chained to the pit. We few of us walked back to the entrance to request one or how we could obtain one. We were greeted by a young man named Ellis who seemed like he was having a rough night. He just told us "no. There's nothing that can be done" and that was that. Seemed very odd. Next morning we go back, poor Ellis is there again but this time much friendlier and writes down what we needed and said he'd pass the message to the ranger. It took half a day but we finally were able to cook! Bathroom maintenance was atrocious. Toilet paper constantly ran out and the men's bathroom was just destroyed. I know the park can't control people's bodily functions but we kept seeing staff come by, walk around the restrooms, then leave. This happened 3 times in an hour. Very odd. All in all, we still like this place due to location and river access. This time just didn't hit the nose on the head.

Another great state park in northern Mendocino county, with day use areas and overnight camping with developed sites, restroom and shower facilities. The maintained trails are nice and easy access to the waterfront. The Eel river is a short hike and a moderate trail down to the water. The 101 passes right through the park and spaces closer to the roadway obviously are a bit noisier than further into the park. Though I have never experienced any "road noise" issues within the park itself. Park rangers and service personnel are always close by during the tourist season, not so much in the off months. There are also children's activities and nature docents in the park with schedules as to what, when and where in the park during the tourist season. There is a convenience store literally across the roadway with all of the basics one morning got expect to see along with "tourist" souvenirs and as well, the world famous Peg House with some of the best burgers and sandwiches around. This is a great park to get out into the redwoods and spend some time with Mother Nature, and during the season some great water to swim and enjoy along with multiple nice sites to camp. Definitely worth a visit and stay, whenever you're in far northern Mendocino county. 4.5 Stars - rounded up for the great place it is. 00543

Where do I even begin? I started my trip out going with a few friends who were looking for an adventure, but didn't know where to go. We stumbled upon this place and looked at some reviews. Of course we had to come! When we arrived, I was greeted by this extremely friendly gentleman named Ellis. I cannot tell you enough about how great this guy is. He greeted us with the friendliest and kindest smile and answered every question we asked, and so professionally. I overheard some other campers filing complaints with him (small complaints to say the least) and he handled them with such poise and professionalism. Even so, he was still very friendly towards my friends and I, and helped us with everything we could've asked for - and more! The campgrounds here are incredible. They take such great care of you. The beauty it has to offer is beyond extraordinary. If you're looking for somewhere to go to reconnect with nature, I highly recommend it. I've never had a more relaxing, spur of the moment, hiking/camping trip. Thank you Standish-Hickey, and thank you Ellis, for making this trip a memorable one. We will be back! We are already planning our next visit!

This is hands down the best campground I have been to in Northern California. The water is amazing. You can jump off ledges into the river or sit in your tube and chill. Cindra the campgrounds keeper is so sweet and accommodating. She makes our visit great everytime. There are plenty of showers and bathrooms. Amd right across the street is a store amd little food stand.

Alright, here's a list of tips/general info. 1. The campsites are average size. Two tents on each max. 2. Nearby each site is a water facet and bathroom. 3. Ice/wood can be purchased across the highway, also a wonderful gal named Sindee sells firewood and makes rounds in the campground so if you didn't bring any it's sold for $8 for a small bundle. 4. This is a noisy campground. Sites are close together and the ones bordering the highway get to listen to live music at the bar across the highway until last call. 5. The watering hole is a big reason why people go here. It's amazing. Remember to not bring glass down there like so many people were stupidly doing while we were there. 6. Since it's a hike in and out, be sure to pack accordingly. Lightweight items and shade are a must. 7. Look out for one another. Lots of sketchy people getting way too drunk will be there. Watch your kids.

Just returned home from a trip at Standish. The trip as usual, was great. I've been coming here for years and have had only 1 issue with a group of campers (12+ in 1 site) on stuff till 3 am. This trip though, I was amazed that 1 sitr next to us, was only occupied by 3 children (11 or under)... the adults were 2 camp sites down. At 6am on Friday morning, these kids come running through my family's site, being extremely loud. I ended up just getting up and telling these kids "y'all need to shut up!! Its 6am and people are asleep!!!"

A privately operated unit of the state parks... There are 3 campgrounds, 2 of which are along US101. Like camping next to a highway? You get a $5 discount if you camp next to the highway. The campground across the Eel River is more money and most sites are tent oriented since much of the parking is on an incline. Don't expect the usual State Parks cleanliness and order at a privately operated unit. No state rangers on site so rules are not as enforced as in state run campgrounds.. The staff was friendly and low key. A nearby CalFire station is available for emergencies

My friends and I went camping here over the weekends. I loved that the lake is only 5 minutes away and you can just walk to it! We enjoyed our camping site! Wish we weren't by the bathroom but overall we had a great time! The rangers keep the place clean and come everyday to check the bathroom. Thank you!

Standish-Hickey Campground - We chose this campsite so we could be closer to Eel River. The campsites are a little smaller than Redwoods. The road is narrow too so parking is a bit of a challenge especially if your group has more than 2 cars. The park rangers were awesome enough to waive us 2 car passes. Its not quiet here, people play loud music and you're gonna hear cars driving by. It's also very busy in regards to foot and vehicle traffic, people are out and about. Bug spray is a must! Spray everything. Spray your entire body, including hair and face, chairs, and tents inside and out. Didn't spot any snake so yay! Didn't spot any wildlife at all come to think of it... maybe because people were so loud. The rest rooms are sadly filthy. I believe this is a problem with all campground restrooms in California though, never actually been in one that's clean; the showers are ok. Spigots are in between campsites as well. There's poison oak all around, just have to watch where you're going mostly. Bring enough ice and firewood! The campground ran out of firewood and our ice melted so we ended up buying ice and firewood across the street and it was indeed expensive, theme park price high. The ice was good quality though, didn't melt fast. The firewood however, was terrible and didn't really keep our pit going. Eel River - the trail is a VERY steep 1/2 mile hike if you're coming from this campsite. I was told "it's not that bad." (Note to self: consider "not bad" as something really difficult from now on.) When we got there, the river was pretty but a little crowded so we headed out half a mile more from where all the people are. The water is clear and not too cold. It's perfect for a few hours of dipping when the sun is blazing. There's fish in the water so if you're afraid of fish lingering onto your legs, settle where the crowd is. It got really cold when the sun started to set and trees began providing shade. I'd give Eel River 4/5 stars. We started heading back and climbing up is the hardest. I can't comprehend how people wearing Havaianas do it like it's a walk in the park or beach. Maybe their flip-flops have magic striding powers?? It took my fat bum a while to hike back up but my friends were all very supportive and waited for me. Although they kept saying they were just resting whenever I catch up with them, I think they were trying not to make me feel bad for being so slow and having difficulty hiking haha I made it up though, took a long while, a lot of breaths, buckets of sweat and achy muscles. So if you're like me, a nap-flix and food person, don't be afraid to go outside sometimes. I know hiking is hard but still try to do it anyway. Why? Because nature is lit af! And this Eel River trail is worth the visit. Maybe try a different campground though... towards Redwoods.

Stayed here again after many years and this time brought my little one and friends! We were at the hickey campground site 48 which is very spacious and fully shaded. Site 50 would be good if combining 2 groups. The walk to the swimming spots is pretty steep for kids and you can not bring a wagon. It was interesting getting our group of 7 kids under 5 down but we did and enjoying a long day swimming! Bathrooms stayed fairly clean. We can wait to be back

My Grandparents took their kids here ... my parents took us every year ... now I take my family and friends ... It's so beautiful !!! All the Redwoods, the river, the great walking trails, the (mostly) private camp sites. the weather is almost always perfert for swimming !! Call ahead to the Ranger's station tho ... the bridge to the lower camp ground is seasonal, and you don't want to be stuck camping on top ... Request REDWOOD LOOP !!!! (lower camp ground) Showers are coin op. Zero shade at the Swimming Hole, so bring your easy up. The only down side to camping here ... is the walk to the swimming hole is kinda long ... especially if you are totting ice chest, and chairs, and floats, and umbrellas ... but it's alllll worth it !!!!!!!!

My family and I camped at Standish-hickey state recreational area in min-June 2022. It was our first at Standish-Hickey and the first time venturing further north from Willits, the drive was decent and not too busy which is quite a change because we usually camp at Lassen which can take forever to get there. Once we got to Leggett, the turn into the campground was pretty quick up the road and not marked very well, the sign for the campground were a bit recessed back into the trees so it was hard to see it until you were almost right on it. I had to stop pretty quickly (towing a trailer) to not miss the turn (also there is no turn lane for traffic to get around you). At the entrance, rangers greeted us and we're very helpful and friendly. As we drove through to our site, we noticed that a lot of the sites were pretty close together but we had friends at our site next to us so that wasn't that big of deal. We stayed at site 80 and 82, site 80 was a back in site and 82 was a pull through which I took because I have a camper trailer. Both sites were very level so not a lot of need to level the trailer. The water spigot and the restrooms were right across from our sites great location in my book. The bathroom had a shower which took quarters to operate so for a few buck you can get a decent hot shower. The only thing about the shower, is that I doubles as the handicap bathroom as well so if you are physically impaired, you may have to wait to relieve yourself. The bathroom were pretty clean and the added plus is it had hot water available at the sinks which is a nice touch. The sites were very well shaded since it is in a forested area which is a plus on hot days. The campground is near the Eel river, a short hike down brings you to a nice swimming area with deep pools for you to be able to jump off the rocks into the water. It gets busy pretty quickly, get there early and pick a spot. Keep in mind that the hike down and up is a bit steep in some areas, steps are placed to help, you cannot bring a cart down to the river because of the steepness and the steps which is a bit unfortunate but the hike down is worth it. The campground doesn't have a store/souvenir shop but across the street/freeway, is a store with all that you need at a premium price. My wife complained that it was a little noisy from the highway but it wasn't that bad. All n all, not a bad trip. I would camp there again.

Love this place. We come back every year to camp here. The water is so refreshing and views are beautiful. Campsites and restrooms are clean. I am talking Starbucks clean. Beautiful place to take your family.

We were visited in our site by numerous types of wild life including stellar jays, finches, crows, mice, caterpillars, inch worms, and butterflies. The campsites are well kept. Well kept paths provide short cuts to the bathroom to prevent walking through people's campsite and having to walk all the way around the loop. Most of the campsites had huge trees to provide shade and protect from the oppressive heat. We were unable to get any signal into the park at all. As a result, the phones in the park were only being used for pictures. It was amazing to go a weekend without beeps or bops, or half conversations. We needed to check in and we had to drive over a half an hour to get any data signal. None of the surrounding towns or tourist traps have businesses which give away wifi. We went both north and south and found it equally true. The campsites vary in privacy and noise. Rock Creek Campsite has larger sites. The 1-20ish are along the freeway. They are not too loud most of the time but were sometimes noisy. The benefit is the sites are larger and with more trees for privacy. Campsite 26 has steps down and a view of the river. It pretty good privacy. It is very close to the bathroom. Campsite 25 is for disabled people. Hickey Campground is much busier. The sites are smaller and it fills up faster. It is closer to the swimming hole and the amphitheater. Some of the campsites have what look like stove and chimney set ups. The bathrooms have running water, showers, outlets, and large sinks. In the mornings over the weekend we were there, the park offered coffee and a social hour. In the evenings activities included dessert cooking and movies. It was child friendly in the entire park but like all camping, you have to be responsible. You can only buy firewood for a short time, about 2.5 hours starting at 4:30pm. However, the store across the street from the park sells it too. It is $10 in the park for wood, tinder, and kindling. It is $8 for just wood across the street. However, before you go all - HURRAY! An affordable option, consider: 1. The park needs money to continue to stay open. 2. That store will rip you off for every single dollar you have. Think I'm joking? The store across the street charges $5 for an 8lb pound bag of ice. At my local gas station it was $2. Total Disneyland pricing. Not to mention, the service was as good as getting a finger in the eye feels. The animals are savvy. A very smart crow pecked into our fruit cups, opened bags, and ripped apart the garbage. We caught him across the street tossing their garbage as well. He never closed his mouth. I'm pretty sure he was laughing at us. If you come during mosquito season, bring tons of bug repellent. They swarm and it can be daunting and uncomfortable. We had to develop a mosquito dance.

Great camping spot. Want to come back in the peak of the summer to swim in the swimming hole. Keep in mind the sites in the redwood campground get a tad cold due to the tree coverage but still beautiful, private spots.

I would like to give this a glowing report, but I feel the need to warn people in the CURRENT reality. California State Parks have all had a HUGE cost increase since the state budget has gone 'bust'. This means that Standish-Hickey, Benbow, and Richardson Grove are all $35 a night for a tent now, with an additional $8, if you want to get a site ahead of time through "Reserve America", which is recommended in the summer months. The front loop (which is closest to the highway) is flat and open and dusty, with few barriers between campsites, and only a chainlink type fence between the campsites and Highway 101. The back loop is undoubtedly better, but I've never been able to camp there when it was actually open. This means a lot of road noise all night, and intrusive noise from adjoining campsites. It IS in the redwoods, and there are some great hikes and swimming, etc., but it is not nearly as nice as Richardson Grove, for instance. Unfortunately, all local campgrounds are getting more expensive. For instance, Mendocino county campgrounds start at around $20, plus $10 for the reservation fees, and don't really include any really good redwood sites. I highly recommend that if you want a redwood experience, you head up further north, and try for Richardson Grove, or Elk Prairie (north of Eureka), or even Mill Creek Campground or even Jedediah Smith, on Highway 199. They'll all be $43 for reserved sites, but they tend to be shadier, less dusty, and more in the heart of the redwoods.

Wow. If only you could plug into my brain for all the wonderful memories throughout the decades of camping here. I was able to spend time with locals, make Friends and have some of the most memorable memories here. I got to go as a Child, Young Adult, and a Parent. Got to show my Daughter where I crashed on the hill after the hairpin on my Skateboard. (Still have the scare. ) I was just up here July 3rd. (And 4th) I was on a day trip with my Daughter. We had just left the swimming hole and headed to Avenue of the Giants. My cat didn't start. It was dead. Brian helped me out so much. My phone got no service and have let me use his numerous times. They rest of the crew I met were all so wonderful to me. Thank you all. Thank you for keeping Standish Hickey open for the past 6 years.. Forever in my .

I would give this place negative stars if I could. I never write reviews because I always forget but I have never been so upset so made a point to write one. The place is fine, not to much privacy but good enough. What the issue was is there are signs saying "quiet hours 10-6AM prosecutors will be asked to leave" except NO ONE was patrolling, there was no after hour number, and no where you could find someone. We had to listen to a group laughing every two seconds and screaming over each other till after 2 AM. When we asked them nicely to try and keep it down at 1 AM they looked at us like we had two heads and continued on being just as loud. Needless to say I got no sleep and have never been more annoyed in my life.

If you get introduced to this wonderful Northern California park by someone, that person is a definite keeper! Appropriately named "gateway to the tall trees country", the 4-hour ride to Leggett, CA is definitely worth the trip. This park offers great campsites (Redwood is the best) that have access to hot water, clean bathrooms and the piece de resistance of any outdoor experience, a short hike to a swimming hole. Weather is always pleasant year-round, with daytime temperature at 70-80 degrees, while the evenings cool down to the low 50s. Stargazing is empathically encouraged. Overall, it's a great place to reflect and count your blessings.

This is a nice campground right on the eel river. It is right of off the 101, which is cause for some of the poor reviews below. There are three camping loops inside the campground, and 2 of them have some campsites right next to the highway, so those can be quite noisy and take away from the camping feel, but those campsites are also cheaper ($25 a night) when you pay at the entrance. We stayed in the first loop, campsite 32, and it was not right on the freeway, so we had no complaints. We were near the restrooms which were super nice and all have individual restrooms as well as individual quarter operated showers. We walked down to the river, which was only a 5 minute walk from our campsite. There are more campsites down there which are open part of the year, they are much more secluded and seemed quite nice. The trails around the campsite are pretty short, but beautiful and go right up to the swimming pools. The biggest downfall was that the north coast rivers have an epidemic of blue algae. This is fatal to dogs and means that your dogs can not go in the water at all. When we came in, the women at the front was nice and warned us and gave us some information about it, but it was a huge bummer to us because we weren't really able to go into the river. So either do not bring your dogs or plan to stay away from the river. In the summer there are lots of bugs! So bring bug spray and be ready to relax. This is a great stopping point on your way to Humboldt County.

Stayed here in my trailer for two nights. Site was ok with a fire pit, table, and food cabinet. We were by the bathrooms which were pretty decent. The two campgrounds by the road are very loud with road noise. I would stay in the Redwood loop across the river if I went here again (tent camping only though). Camped next to us was a group using several sites. They blasted their music all night until 1030pm. Talked and yelled until 2am. No rangers or employees told them to keep it down. The next morning heard blasting rap music from the employees housing area for about 10 minutes before the employee or owner of the car drove away. The only thing that would bring me back is the swimming hole. Even with the drought, there was enough water for people to cliff jump. The trail down to the river is steep but there is a nice wood railing most of the way.

If you live in a major concrete jungle and seeing a few redwood trees is your idea of perfect camping then I suppose this place is fine. Camping somewhere where there is a chain link fence between you and the river just felt awful...talk about nature in prison. We had reservations for 3 nights over 4th of July weekend, and we knew before the first night was over that we would not stay more than one night. The campsites are very close to each other which is especially irritating when you hear drunk dudes trying to hook up with people, blasting bad music and singing to the top of their lungs until past 3am. There is a whole other side to this campground that was closed, so I assume the raving reviews were from folks who were able to camp over on those sites before the depressed state of the California budget forced our parks to be only partially open. But really...a chain link fence??!!! If that's what I wanted to see I would have stayed in Oakland.

Redwood campground is still closed, which is too bad because it IS nicer. Rock Creek is open year-round, and yes you are by Hwy 101 and the chain-link fence separating you from the highway doesn't help. However... If you are heading south on 101 late in the afternoon in order to geta jump on your long drive to the Bay Area or points south, Standish-Hickey is a very convenient stop-over. Late arrival/early departure kind of camping, or leave-no-trace if you will. And the Peg House is across the street if you're craving a monster marshmallow square.

Not my favorite campsite. Workers are never around for help. Campsite was not as nice as expected. The ladies bathrooms was disgusting and the shower was such a far walk away since you couldn't even drive there if you wanted to since there isn't any where to park your vehicle. I will not be returning.

With the California State budget fiasco and service cut-backs, by far this is the most sad sad campgrounds me and my girlfriend have come across this year. First, they closed off the lower Redwoods campsites (the rave-reviews and better sites). Second, the tent sites are literally next to the 101 highway. You get endless trucks and road noise. Worst, there is so much poison oak, you cannot escape it. No exaggeration. To top it off, the bathrooms are really lacking. For the women, 2 of 3 stalls were clogged and broken. For the men, there was only 1 stall and 1 urinal. The only saving grace is an amazing river swimming area. Truly exceptional and very accessible/friendly wading areas. Outstandingly cool and refreshing water on a hot summer's day. I would only recommend this site to RV's because it will shield you from the road noise. For tenters, find another campground. Seriously.

I freaking love this place! I just wish the lady that checked me in was more knowledgeable, I wanted the site for 2 nights but she told me I had to boom it online or wait till tomorrow and if it hadn't been book online I could have it. Really? That's the stupidest shut I've heard of in a camp ground. But still had fun dispute stressing over having to move the next day

I would give 5 STARS if the lower REDWOOD camping section was still open. The upper camp section is ok but has none of the privacy or tranquility that the lower section provided. The water and hikes are still there. There's nothing like huckleberry pancakes in the morning and skipping rocks all afternoon. :)

My family and I were just there for the Fourth of July weekend. And we have always gone at least once a year. We love going there. !!!! That place is great for camping, hiking And swimming. I am writing this time to say thanks again to SHAR0N and the rest of the crew. Sharon was amazing!!!!!!! She worked all day long doing all sorts of activities. In the morning , she coordinated children crafts and activities. Later we gather with this man who was very nice, can't remember his name. I am sorry. But he tough kids how to use sticks and rocks as tools. He was great!! Later, I saw Sharon waiting for people to gather before starting a hike towards their biggest tree there. Later, I saw her again right next to the river, just to see if people had questions about the park with a information table. And later... We went to the amphitheater to watch wallE and she was there cutting water melon and proving popcorn (Homemade by the way ). She even provided mosquito repellent. She is just supper nice!!!!!! Thanks Sharon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And even after wallE was over, she played a documentary about earth. So, she was there aaaaalllllllll day long! Please come to Standish hikey!!!!!

I have been coming here for over 20 years and it hasn't changed a bit! It was closed unfortunately for a few years due to budget cuts, which made me very very sad. We just camped here end of July to beginning of August. It has been my first time back in a long time. The water hole was high and the campsites were just as great as I remembered. They have updated a few things here and there which is always good. I am very grateful to the volunteers that help keep beloved park open. Can't wait to come back next year!

I don't know what the low scorers are talking about. Bugs? Poison Oak/Ivy? Geez, stay home, what do you want from the great outdoors? There are also coyotes yipping at night, horrors! (she says sarcastically). This park is awesome and is still as great as it was 15 years ago when I was last there. I won't go into details but it is a beautiful park with friendly staff during daytime/evening hours, and no need for late night help but I'm sure we could have found them if needed. Maybe staying at the top of the park is different as it is close to the freeway. So just go down the hill to the lower camping area. And if you want to believe the 1-3 star people GREAT! That means less people to bother the true lovers of this place who will enjoy it even more without the party pooper complainers infiltrating the park. God forbid you might actually have fun.

Camped here for one night on our way to Washington state. Beautiful park, however it was very difficult getting our trailer maneuvered through the trees. It is more for tent camping. The sites are pretty close together. And you can definitely hear the cars on the 101. It served its purpose but if you are in a motorhome or pulling a trailer I would stay somewhere else.

We camped here by luck! We were traveling down the 101 looking for the perfect place to camp while heading back home on our vacation. We saw a sign that said camping pulled in and said, yes this is it!! I suggest you pay the $40 to camp at the redwoods in the back. Its absolutely perfect & worth it. We camped in spot 137 and it was so secluded it was great but wouldn't of been too great had there been someone at spot 138. We had showers and bathrooms across the road so the was nice and made things comfortable. Got to see a few squirrels running around and actually they are pretty rare to see. It's the breed of squirrel thats rare. They have these awesome little wood lockers too, to store your food. They are shelved like a pantry so that makes life easier if you unpack and store your food there. Anyways, this campground is right along the eel river and they have a swimming hole to swim in, it's deep clear and not too cold. Loved swimming there. A lot of people were jumping off the rocks having a blast. It's a nice little trek from the redwood campground to the swimming hole so prepare yourself for walking over rocks sand and finally over the trail. We drove to the day use spot parked and walked over but we have little kids so it was easier than walking the whole way down. Down side to camping here is the people but its not as crowded in the redwood spot as it is up top at the hickey site.

My family & I absolutely love this place & have been coming here for years. The campground is always clean, has decent working (& clean, well maintained bathrooms). Beautiful trails & an amazing swimming hole. People complain that this park is right next to 101- but we've never had issues with noise from the highway.. if anything, I find it very convenient to get to and love that there is a store (the Peg House) right across the street. The redwoods offer shade in the campsites so you can cool off- the beach is nice and warm and usually perfect weather by the swimming hole. Only cons would be the swimming hole is somewhat of a trek to get to.. there are lower and higher campsites- I've stayed at both & we prefer the lower sites to avoid the steep hill walking back from the beach.. but the hike to swimming hole is still about 20 mins from the lower sites. Lots of river spots along the lower sites also. Highly recommend this place for families as it offers everything we look for in camping & have always had a good time.

I can stand the poison oak and the mosquitoes. However, even in the off-season this park is full of "good timers" who stay up real late and get drunk and play radios loudly and scream at each other and trash the bathroom beyond use. I was given a sheet at the gate saying that there is a quiet time in this family campground, but I did not experience any sort of presence by any sort of park official after dark. The campground personnel seem like a nice bunch of hippy kids who will take you on a nature hike but are probably partying after hours like the tweekers in the next camp site over and hardly equipped to keep things within a reasonable limit when they really need to be. I wouldn't stay here and expect it to be quiet at all. The swimming hole is nice though!

Watch out for poison oak and be sure to bring propane cylinders because they sell them for $10 across the street at the store

I come here once a year for the past 14 years. It's campgrounds are very nice and quiet. I usually stay in the third loop where it is very quiet unless there are kids around, otherwise it is peaceful. I recommend the third loop campsites which are very secluded. They are right next to the restrooms and the quarter-operated showers. It is about a 5 minute walk to the watering hole. These camp sites are not like the ones in the other two loops. They are not filled with drunks yelling through the night nor truck noises throughout the night. They are the best for real camping not partying. About a 15 minute drive from the drive-thru tree. Excellent watering hole

*Disclaimer* I went for during a music festival, and the campsites were packed. Overall, we had a great time. I am not a regular camper, so this felt like the real deal camping considering there weren't any showers, and we bathed boiling our water (butt naked trying to hide behind our tents, I might add). Poison oak everywhere, although we were able to avoid it. Bugs (okay duh, but for the non-campers like myself) everywhere!!!! Mosquito galore, bring bug repellent. The watering hole is amazing, you have to take the little walk down and enjoy the serenity. The nearby freeway woke us a few times, sounding like cars were going to crash right onto our tent, but over all, it was a fun experience.

Nice location, well kept grounds, fun place to swim, and friendly staff. Unfortunately this place is party central with loud music being played all the time, mainly Mexican and rap. When asked to turn the music down, we got "we paid for this spot" and "why don't you stay at a hotel?" as a response along with colorful language aimed at us and around our kid as well. The staff did move us, but it was fiesta time there also with even louder music coming from a car this time. So, if you are here to party and get drunk then this is the place. There's no rangers on staff as this is a private park. If you are looking for a quiet experience in the woods that's family friendly, I would look elsewhere.

My husband and I took a camping trip up the coast with our 4 dogs for our honeymoon last August. Our car broke down in front Standish-Hickey and it ended up being the best part of the trip. This place is AWESOME!! It has great camp sites, swimming area and hikes. Also,a small store across the street with very cool owners. It may be far from San Diego but so worth the drive. We are planning another trip in April.

Standish Hickey is a true find! I have been camping there for my yearly get away for 8 years now!! I am very sad that for the 2nd year in a row the Redwood loop is closed. For the River loop (upper campsites) it is ok a bit more noise, but worth it for the river and swimming holes! The dogs love it too. I found if other campers are being loud or unruley the park rangers are very helpful!! I love it I love it I love it!! and will be camping there for years to come... It is also nice to see some of the same campers there year after year, it makes for good traditions!

Standish-hickey has been re-opened as of july 6,2012. Team Standish with major help from MAPA (mendocino area parks association) a non profit are operating the park. The park has been cleaned repaired and is staffed by welcoming and helpful locals hoping your trip to the park will be enjoable and rewarding. JOHN Leggett, Ca

This review is based on a family camping trip on 4th of July weekend. I was lucky enough to book 2 sites just a few weeks before the big camping weekend and this review is basically based off how grateful I am to have been able to book these sites so last minute. I booked sites 85 and 86 which were located right off the highway. I have to admit I was disappointed for not getting a more secluded campground/site but I had to take what I could since it was such a last minute reservation. The path to a trail and the store right across the street led right through our sites which was fine since all those coming thought were respectful of our space and only stayed long enough to walk through. Site 85 was HUGE and could fit more than 20 + people. We were able to post up 4 very large tents and 1-2 man tent on this one site while the other site we used for campfire and cooking only since it was super small; I don't believe you would have been able to even fit 1 large tent in 86. It comes equipped with a food locker which made it real nice and easy to organize our food stuff without worrying about the birds picking at our food. While the highway is just a few steps away you felt in nature because you're amongst the big giant redwood trees. There's lots of poison oak so just follow the "leaves of three" rule. Also, there's a trail down to the swimming hole which wasn't very close to the site but why should you mind a little exercise especially when you're on your way to something fun?! The swimming hole was great but there's no shade so remember your canopies or sun hats. Glass isn't allowed on the beach so bring your canned beverages or Solo cups. I hope to return again one year and maybe try a more secluded site across the river. But all in all it was great fun and I have no regrets!