Rock Creek Campground

There are plenty of steelhead and salmon here during the fall and winter, swimming upstream on their way to spawn. The Eel River and its breathtaking bluffs are worth checking out. The best time to visit is probably during the winter for these great catches. Make sure you have a California fishing license though!

If you’re a redwood enthusiast, these old-growth redwoods are sure to impress you. The Taber Nature trail is a short 1.7 mile stroll through some redwood groves, featuring a giant redwood made up of multiple trunks fused at the core (gnarly, right?) and many other trees growing alongside these native giants. The 3 mile Lookout trail has a great view of the Eel River, but if you’re looking to get close to the river AND see the legendary thousand-year-old Miles Standish Tree, take the target=”_blank”>Big Tree trail (2 miles) and join the Mill Creek Loop trail (6 miles).

Swimming holes and the amazing Eel River make Standish-Hickey a swimmer’s paradise. The Eel River is the third-largest river in California and the cool waters are definitely refreshing on a hot day. The Eel has carved out amazing bluffs for some stunning scenery (we wouldn’t recommend diving off of those). The pools off of the South Fork are nearly 20 feet deep and are popular places to cool off on a hot summer day.

Standish-Hickey is home to a variety of mammals like black-tailed deer, gray foxes, black bears, mountain lions, and adorable river otters! Eagles, owls, hawks, blue heron, osprey, kingfishers, scrub, Stellar’s jays and acorn woodpeckers… the list can go on. Keep your eyes peeled for some awesome wildlife!