Camping at Rock Creek Ranch and Exploring the Smith River/ Redwoods

I went to Rock Creek Ranch to volunteer in an ecological restoration program, through Humboldt Stat University (the local college)But anyone can contact them and volunteer! We worked personally with the U.S. Forest service snd planted native trees. We got amazing connections and even write letters to our local government representative to stop the mining in a river coming from Oregon that connected with the Smith River.

If volunteering isn't your thing though, its an amazing place to go camping and river dwelling. The river is always speckled with kayakers and white river rafters on the weekends, and there are numerous places to go cliff jumping. If you're just looking for a place to chill or go on a casual hike, the entire area is thickly wooded with giant redwood trees that you can explore and climb.

When I was there in late winter, we were lucky it wasn't raining and we were able to sleep under the stars next to the river. We cooked corn over an open fire and some of the members of our group were botanists so they showed us how to eat the base of carnivorous plants in order to survive in the wild.

The next morning we relaxed in a swimming hole next to the river and jumped off a few rocks. We planted trees with USFW and USFS and played with the ranch owner's dog.

Before we left to drive home, we explored Jedediah Smith Redwoods and did some forest Yoga too.

If you love the forest and the river scene, this is seriously the place for you. Try to go when its not raining, and it will be the perfect weekend getaway.