The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness in California is a land mass of over 11,000 acres and is home to mixed evergreen and redwood forests. Prior to the 1970s, this wilderness area was owned by multiple private logging companies, but then the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) acquired it. The BLM debated turning Elkhorn Ridge into a wilderness study area, but the organization turned down the idea in the 1980s so that the area could still be logged and new roads could be constructed within the area. However, local residents strongly opposed logging at Elkhorn Ridge, and several protests resulted in the organization stopping logging efforts and letting the forest recover from previous logging efforts. In 2011, Elkhorn Ridge was designated an official wilderness area.
Today, visitors to Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness can see the South Fork Eel River, which was designated as a Wild and Scenic River in 1981. Many visitors like to whitewater raft in this river as well as fish for native species.
The Blues Beach Trail is a short walking trail along the beach of the Pacific Ocean and borders the rocky coastline.
Length: 1.1 miles
Intensity: Moderate
The federally owned and maintained Hell Hole Trail follows a path through the scenic California mountain country and is surrounded by mixed fir tree forests.
Length: 8.8 miles
Intensity: Moderate
The Hidden Valley Trail is a loop trail along the California coast and provides lots of shade from the nearby forest canopy.
Length: 1.1 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Whitewater rafting is popular on the South Fork Eel Wild and Scenic River, which has whitewater class IV and V rafting areas. Motorized boating is also allowed on this river, and anglers can fish for species like Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead in the river. Anyone who wants to fish here should obtain a valid fishing permit from the state of California and follow local regulations for different fish species each season.
The Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness is home to the threatened northern spotted owl, and it has been designated as a protected area for this bird since 1994. Steelhead trout and some salmon species in the South Fork Eel River were once designated as threatened species, too, but they have since recovered. Today, visitors can see the northern spotted owls and these fish in their natural habitats at Elkhorn Ridge. Also seen here are the preserved redwood, Douglas fir, and tan-oak tree forests of California.
While there are no picnic shelters in the Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness area, picnicking is allowed at least 50 feet from running water. If you'd like to picnic in this area, consider bringing your own camping chairs, blankets, or towels to sit on, and it helps to have a plastic bag or two to collect your trash and leftover food in. Any time you have a picnic in a wilderness area, be sure to not leave anything behind so that the wildlife is not disturbed.
The wilderness of California is a great destination for stargazers, Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness included. You can set up a stargazing area in the cleared areas of the forests here in order to see the sky best. However, Elkhorn Ridge experiences cloudy nights frequently, so be sure to check the weather forecast before your stay to ensure you come to stargaze on a clearer night.
You can stay at a Bureau of Land Management campgrounds for free, but staying there means you will have no hookups. If you want to go RV camping with full hookups, try staying at a different campground outside of the Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness. One place you might look into is the Benbow KOA Holiday, which has full hookups, a pool, a hot tub, and even a mini-golf course. You may also like Creekside Cabins & RV Resort, which has options for monthly stays.
When you search "BLM camping near me," check out the dispersed camping options at Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness. Here, though there are no organized camping sites, you can choose your own camping space along the old logging trails or in any cleared forest spaces. RVs may have trouble driving through the trails, so consider parking your RV toward the front entrance.
When you choose any Bureau of Land Management free camping option, know that you will likely be choosing a primitive campground. Primitive camping means you will have no water or electricity, so you'll have to pack accordingly. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Everyone who visits the Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness is asked to follow the BLM's Leave No Trace guidelines in order to help keep the wilderness clean and preserved. These guidelines are easy to follow and include things like picking up after yourself, maintaining campfires, and respecting the wildlife.
To reach the Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness from Laytonville, California, take US Highway 101 onto west Branscomb Road. Turn north on Wilderness Lodge Road immediately, and then follow the road for two miles. After that, follow onto Jack of Hearts Road for 3 miles, and then turn right onto Elkhorn Ridge Road. After two more miles, you will reach the wilderness boundary.
Ready to visit Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
