Honeydew Campground
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Honeydew Campground is located near the Honeydew Day Use Area outside of the small community of Honeydew in Humboldt County along the coast of California. The campground is situated between the Humboldt Redwoods State Park and the King Range National Conservation Area. It offers easy access to a range of beautiful landscapes and ecosystems and many opportunities for hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing.
The campground, which is located on public lands that have been set aside and protected by the Bureau of Land Management, offers five sites with fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. Like other BLM locations, the campground was designed to offer visitors a glimpse into an otherwise wild area. To find other BLM sites that offer camping options, search for “BLM camping near me.”
What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
Williams Grove Trail
This gorgeous trail is secluded enough to offer a private hike and provides beautiful views of the area.
Length: 4.7 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Founders Grove Nature Trail
Located in the Humboldt Redwoods State Park, this short trail is a lovely introduction to the area and the landscape.
Length: 0.5 miles
Intensity: Easy
Bull Creek Flats Trail
This trail offers spectacular views of the landscape, but it is only open in the summer and fall.
Length: 8.6 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Drury-Chaney Trail
This lovely trail loops around through tall forested areas and is a good option for spotting wildlife.
Length: 2.1 miles
Intensity: Easy
Grasshopper Mountain Trail
A good option for experienced hikers, this trail offers steep climbs and is a great way to exercise or spot wildlife.
Length: 14.5 miles
Intensity: Difficult
Fishing and Boating
Fishing enthusiasts can head to the nearby South Fork of the Eel River, which offers excellent fishing opportunities as well as options for boating and swimming. Anglers can catch different types of salmon in the river depending on the time of year. Trout are also relatively common.
Climbing
The Marble Caves, located east of the Honeydew Campground, offer about 70 different climbing routes of varying difficulties. Most of the routes are sport climbs, but there are some traditional options. Climbing enthusiasts can also head north to the Promontory, a series of sandstone overhangs looking out over the Pacific Ocean. These beautiful rocks offer more than 50 traditional and sport routes.
Wildlife Viewing
The nearby Humboldt Redwoods State Park offers unparalleled wildlife viewing and photography opportunities, but lucky campers will also be able to spot a range of wildlife right from their site at the Honeydew Campground. Species that are native to the area include black bears, raccoons, pine martens, Pacific giant salamanders, black-tailed deer, elk, spotted owls, bobcats, and red-bellied newts.
Picnicking
The Redwood Creek Picnic Area offers covered picnic tables in a gorgeous setting with beautiful views. Restrooms are also available. The Blue Slide Day Use Area is also a great option for picnics. There are several shady picnic tables available. The area also provides easy access to local trails.
Horseback Riding
Many of the hiking or mountain biking trails near the Honeydew Campground can also be used for horseback riding. The trails leading out from the Blue Slide Day Use Area, for example, are particularly popular with equestrians.
Bureau of Land Management Camping
RV Camping 
BLM RV camping can be found at the Mattole Campground, which offers 14 sites with picnic tables and fire rings. There are vault toilets, and the area is wheelchair accessible, but there are no hookups. The Ancient Redwoods RV Park offers full hookups and a beautiful, secluded camping experience. The Avenue of the Giants Stafford RV Park is also a good option. This park offers lovely views and large pull-through sites with hookups. The park is pet-friendly, and there are restrooms and showers available.
Free Camping 
Bureau of Land Management free camping is available right at the Honeydew Campground. The Humboldt County Fairgrounds also offer free camping. Showers and restrooms are available and can be used for a small fee.
RV Rentals Near Honeydew Campground Plan your next adventure
Planning your Honeydew Campground BLM trip
The area around the Honeydew Campground has a mild climate throughout most of the year. Summertime temperatures reach into the 80s, and May through September sees little rain. The weather remains relatively warm through the rest of the year, with temperatures dropping as low as the high 40s. Rain is more frequent throughout the winter, early spring, and late fall months, and about half of the days are cloudy or rainy.
There are few amenities at the Honeydew Campground, and no drinking water is available, but there is a nearby creek. If you plan to drink from the creek, treat or boil all water before consuming it. There are no hookups. The area is wheelchair accessible.
Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Leave No Trace 
When enjoying time at the Honeydew Campground, remember to be polite to other visitors by sharing common areas, cleaning up trash, and keeping noise to a minimum. If you plan to use a fire pit or ring at any Bureau of Land Management campgrounds, keep fire safety in mind. Make sure that fires remain controlled and are completely extinguished before you leave the campground. Respect the landscape, plants, and animals around you by reducing your footprint, staying on trails, and only camping on stable land with little vegetation. Don’t pick or take home any flowers or plants, and do not attempt to approach wild animals.
Honeydew Campground Location
From the community of Honeydew, take US 101 to the South/Fork Honeydew exit. Follow the signs for Honeydew, and turn south onto Wilder Ridge Road toward Ettersburg. Continue for one mile until you reach the campground.
Ready to visit Honeydew Campground? 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.