|
|
|
| |
Mill Creek is a surreal campground. Like other Redwood campgrounds,
everything about Mill Creek is first rate, and so is the nightly
fee ($35 for vehicles, $5 for per biker/hiker). Mill Creek is
7 miles south of Crescent City in the Del Norte section of Redwood
National Park, and 2 miles east of beautiful highway 101. To get
to the campground you drop 1,000 feet from the highway to 373
feet at the campground entrance via a winding road which is intersected
by the entrance booth around the halfway point. In doing so, you
enter an impossible world of gigantic forest. But these freakish
redwoods aren't the only factor in play. There are unusual species
of ferns such as chain, five-finger, maidenhair, bracken and golden-back
splashed with an almost fake vibrancy, and the utter quiet of
this ancient ecosystem is overwhelming.
Mill Creek offers full, modern services including showers,
ADA accessible bathrooms, bear lockers, trash bins, a ranger presentation
center (which is beautiful itself) grills and fire pits.
Mill Creek also contains one of the most unusual camp sites we've
ever seen, in which a giant downed redwood is carved out to make
room for the site and fire pit. From this redwood grew bizarre,
springy moss and unusual plants which gives one an otherworldly
feeling. While filming this eerily, quiet campground for our video
tour, I heard a strange noise coming from one of the sites. As
I walked towards it, I recognized the noise as a flute - of which
kind I couldn't be sure, but the tones emanating from the device
were indeed pleasant, and wafted about the campground, adding
to the surreal feeling. At several moments I had to collect my
thoughts because of the disorienting nature of the forest and
the enchanting music. The flora, fauna and other factors combine
for an experience that is completely unique in the national park
system.
I also decided to stick around for the ranger campfire presentation,
and I was pleased to find this was a National Park ranger who
was well versed in the ecology of the forest. The presentation
took place in a scenic little amphitheater with a large screen
and high quality projection. As she spoke, the majestic redwood
forest grew dark and fireflies danced about the outdoor theater.
I learned a great deal about this enchanting park thanks to the
knowledge of this ranger.
There are a great many campgrounds out there - some nice, some
not so nice. But we can tell you with great certainty that Mill
Creek is at the top of the list, thanks to its infrastructure,
scenery and ambiance. This is one campground experience I will
never forget.
Mill Creek campground facts:
Video Tour available: Yes.
Download now!
Open: May 1 to September 7
Sites: 145
Laundry: No
Showers: Yes
Dump Station: No
Store: No
Fee: $35 per vehicle, $5 for hiker/biker
Vehicle length limit: 31 foot RV or 27 foot trailer
Handicapped Accessible: Yes(toilet and sites)
Toilets: Yes | Tables: Yes | Fire rings: Yes
Water: Yes
Elevation: 373 feet
Fishing: Yes (Mill Creek)
Generator: No
Gas: No (7 miles to Crescent City)
Repairs: No(7 miles north to Crescent City)
Reservations: 1-800-444-7275
Junction of highway 101 and Mill Creek entrance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW! Redwood National Park campground tours
are now available! Includes tours of Mill Creek, Elk Prairie and
Gold Bluffs campgrounds. Our files work on any iPod, iPhone, iPad,
Android or home computer. Click the iPod to order. Or use Buy
Now:
Parkcamper: Northern Rocky
Mountains Edition features
the campgrounds of Glacier,
Yellowstone, Grand Teton,
Badlands and Theodore
Roosevelt National Parks.
Click the DVD to order!
|
|
|
|
|
