Elk Prairie Campground
127011 Newton B. Drury Scenic Pkwy, Orick, CA 95555
Overview
The Elk Prairie Campground is a breathtaking camping site located in Orick, California within the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. It is a mile from the highway and 3 miles from both Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach.
The campground has a total of 75 campsites and supports tents, RVs, and trailers. Of the 75 campsites, 44 support RVs, trailers, and tents, 21 are reserved for tents only and one campsite is strictly for RVs/trailers. There are four cabins with bunk beds that are wheelchair-accessible.
The campsite has facilities like washrooms, picnic ware, and a camp host but offers no hookups or group sites.
Pets are allowed on leash on Cal-Barrel Road and Gold Bluffs Beach but not on the trails. While the campground is open all year, part of the campground is closed in winter making summer and spring the most popular seasons.
Best Campsites at Elk Prairie Campground
Below are Power Camper’s recommended sites if you want to have the best experience at Elk Prairie Campground.
Sites 1, 2 3 and 4
- Cabins with bunk beds
- Private
- Outdoor fire pits
- ADA
- Heating available
- Electrical outlets
Sites 56 and 53
- Closest campsites to the creek
- Private
- Shaded
Sites 22 and 24
- Site 22 is reserved for ADA
- Surrounded by old growth redwoods
Sites 7 and 17
- Proximity to camp host
- Shaded
Unique Experiences
With its location within the beautiful Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Elk Prairie is the outdoor lover’s dream.
- Bike the 19-mile bike loop and get your blood flowing.
- Take a gentle walk to Fern Canyon, where parts of Jurassic Park was filmed.
- The park has 75 miles of hiking trails. Hike the Revelation Trail which is designed to maximize the use of all your five senses.
- Take a walk to Gold Bluffs Beach and relax in the sun.
- Try to spot Roosevelt Elk in their natural habitat while having a picnic.
- Enjoy the sight of wildflowers around the campground during spring.
- Go on a guided horseback ride along one of the many trails and enjoy the redwoods.
Elk Prairie Campground Campground Rules
Pet Friendly
trueMax Trailer/RV Length
24 feet for trailers, 27 feet for RVsMax Length of Stay
30 nightsMax People per Site
8Max Vehicles per Site
1 vehicle per campsite. An additional $8 is charged for each extra vehicleFires Allowed
trueElk Prairie Campground Reservation Information
Reservations Allowed?
Reservations Required?
YesYou can make an online reservation through the Reserve California website at reservecarlifornia.com/Web/. Alternatively, call (800) 444-Park (7275) during business hours. A reservation fee of $7.99 is charged.
The campsites cost $35 per night while the cabins cost $80 to $100 depending on the season. Only one car is allowed per campsite and an additional $8 fee is charged for a second vehicle.
The Hike & Bike site costs $5, and coin-operated showers cost $0.25 every 2 minutes.
Ensure you have the following to make a reservation:
- Park selections
- The date you wish to start camping
- Type and size of camping equipment
- Number of people that will occupy the campsite
- Number of nights you wish to camp
- Alternative park and camping date choices
- Your phone number and area code
- Method of payment /credit card number and expiration date
- Mailing address
Group Camping Reservations
There are no group sites in Elk Prairie. Their cabins allow up to 6 people and their sites up to 8, so you can reserve multiple sites. Reservations are also made through the website at reservecarlifornia.com/Web/ or a call to (800) 444-Park (7275) during business hours.
A reservation fee of $7.99 is charged. The campsites cost $35 per night while the cabins cost $80 in winter and $100 in summer.
Campsite Reservation Cancellations
To cancel a reservation, please call (800) 444-Park (7275). You must cancel by 6 pm on the day before your arrival. A cancellation after this time will incur a cancellation fee of $7.99. In addition, you will be charged the cost of your first night's stay and your $7.99 reservation fee will not be refunded.
Elk Prairie Campground Campground Cost
Standard Campsite
$35Cabins
$80-$100Activities
Hiking
Fishing
Bike Trails
Photography
Amenities
RV/Trailers
Hookups
Pull Through Spots
Pet Friendly
ADA Sites
Showers
Picnic Tables
Potable Water
Campground Host
Wood for Sale
Campfire Rings
Storage Lockers
Visitors/Rec Center
Grills
Directions
FAQs
Nearby Campgrounds to Elk Prairie Campground
There are several campgrounds within the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park which are a short distance from the Elk Prairie Campground. Each of these is beautiful and offers a unique experience. Here is a summary of the campgrounds and how they compare with Elk Prairie.
Burlington Camp Campground
This campground shares the beautiful redwood forest views of Elk Prairie but has only 53 campsites compared to Elk Prairie's 75. Burlington Camp has a river within the campground making water activities accessible which is not the case for Elk Prairie.
Elk Prairie is accessible by all vehicles while certain vehicles may struggle to access Burlington Camp because of the narrow roads. Like Elk Prairie, Burlington Camp is open year round, and both campgrounds costs $35.
Albee Creek Camp Campground
Just like Elk Prairie, Albee Creek Camp is also rich in redwoods with an additional beautiful meadow that is visible in some of the campsites. However, the camp is only open from May to October while Elk Prairie is open year-round. The campsites here are also less private because the vegetation between campsites is not very thick.
Baxter Environmental Camp Campground
This campground requires a longer walk to view redwoods as compared to Elk Prairie, which is nestled in a redwood forest. Unlike Elk Prairie, this campground is not wheelchair accessible.
The campground does not have showers and flushable toilets like Elk Prairie does but provides a deeper outdoor experience because of its long distance from the highway. Baxter does not offer wheelchair access while Elk Prairie does.
Cuneo Creek Horse Camp Campground
This campground offers a unique experience because equestrians can come with their horse for a camping trip. It has only 7 campsites, while Elk Prairie is way larger with 75. However, Cuneo Creek campground offers two group camping sites for 50 to 65 people, while Elk Prairie doesn’t have any group sites.
Corrals and watering troughs are available throughout the campground. Cuneo Creek is open from mid-May to early October, while Elk Prairie is open all year round.
