Eel River
- from $8
- fee
- Feb–Jun, Oct–Nov
- best months
- At 1,490 ft
- Black Butte River, California Wild and Scenic River
Eel River is a Forest Service campground set within the Black Butte River, California Wild and Scenic River, in California. It's a simple base for an overnight stay on the river corridor, with vault toilets as the only on-site facility. A fee is charged for recreation here, so plan on that before you go. The most comfortable months for a visit tend to be late spring and early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Covelo weather station show May highs around 75°F and October highs near 76°F, while July and August climb to about 91°F with only a day or two of rain each month. Winter brings more frequent wet days, with roughly 13 to 14 in a month from December through January. Several trails start close by. The Falls Trail is just 0.4 miles away, and Travelers Home Trail is about 1.2 miles off. Paddlers can reach Williams Creek, about 3.9 miles away, and Howard Meadows campground lies about 6.1 miles from the site.
- The Falls TrailHiking0.4 mi
- Travelers Home TrailHiking1.2 mi
- HELL HOLE CANYONHiking2.8 mi
- Williams CreekCanoeing3.9 mi
- Jumpoff CreekCanoeing4.9 mi
- Howard MeadowsCamping6.1 mi
- Howard Lake CgCamping6.3 mi
- Little DoeCamping7.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Masterson Group CampgroundCamping · ~24 min drive
- Boardman Ridge CampgroundCamping · ~7 min drive
- Howard Lake CgCamping · ~11 min drive
- Wells CabinCamping · ~12 min drive
- Government CampCamping · ~14 min drive
- Sugar SpringsCamping · ~16 min drive
- Atchison CampgroundCamping · ~17 min drive
- Hammerhorn CampgroundCamping · ~17 min drive
- Hotel CampCamping · ~17 min drive
- Grizzly Flat Dispersed CampingCamping · ~17 min drive
Best time to visit Eel River
Best months: February–June and October–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
52° / 33°
13 wet
Feb
57° / 34°
12 wet
Mar
62° / 36°
11 wet
Apr
67° / 38°
9 wet
May
75° / 43°
6 wet
Jun
84° / 48°
2 wet
Jul
92° / 53°
1 wet
Aug
91° / 51°
0 wet
Sep
88° / 45°
1 wet
Oct
76° / 39°
5 wet
Nov
58° / 35°
11 wet
Dec
50° / 32°
14 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Covelo, CA, 8.5 mi away at 1,413 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
