Location: County: Sonoma. Nearest City: Guerneville.
Campsites, facilities: There are 23 sites for tents
or RVs up to 20 feet long. No trailers are allowed. (The access
road is very narrow.) Picnic tables, fire grills, piped water,
and flush toilets are provided. Pets are permitted on leashes
in the main campground. There are also four primitive, hike-in,
backcountry campsites with tables, fire rings, and pit toilets,
but no piped water is available and no pets are permitted. The
camps are 2.5 to four miles from the main campground. Obtain
a backcountry camping permit from the office.
Reservations, fees: No reservations; $10-$12 per night,
$1 pet fee.
Contact: Phone the park at 1-707-869-2015 or 1-707-865-2391.
Operating hours, seasons: Call the park for information;
open all year round.
Directions: From Santa Rosa on U.S. 101, turn west
on Highway 12 (it becomes Highway 116 at Forestville) to Guerneville.
At Armstrong Woods Road, turn right and drive 2.5 miles to the
entrance of Armstrong Redwoods State Park. Continue 3.5 miles
through Armstrong Redwoods to Austin Creek State Recreation Area
to the campground.
Weather, clothing: The weather can be changeable; layered
clothing is recommended.
Trip notes: Austin Creek State Recreation Area and
Armstrong Redwoods State Park are actually coupled, forming 5,000
acres of continuous parkland. Most visitors prefer the redwood
park. Austin Creek State Recreation Area features open woodlands
and hillsides adjacent to the dark, primeval redwood forests
of Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve. The highlight at the recreation
area is a system of hiking trails that lead to a series of small
creeks: Stonehouse Creek, Gilliam Creek, and Austin Creek. They
involve pretty steep climbs, and in the summer it's hot here.
There are many attractive side trip possibilities, including
the adjacent Armstrong Redwoods, of course, but also canoeing
on the Russian River, and fishing (smallmouth bass in summer,
steelhead in winter). The reserve nurtures a variety of wildlife,
including many bird species such as ducks, great blue herons
and black-shouldered kites.
© 2001, Miwok Lodge 439, Order of the
Arrow, Santa Clara County Council Inc., BSA
Revision 1.2
