Standish-Hickey river area
State park day-use access to the South Fork, with a deep swimming area near rocky outcrops and seasonal access on the west bank.
Confirmed public access
Mainstem and South Fork
River spots and current local information
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River location directory
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Showing 14 researched locations.
Smithe Redwoods river access
A small state reserve north of Leggett with parking, a picnic area, trails, and access to the South Fork for fishing and swimming.
Confirmed public access
Richardson Grove day-use river area
The riverside day-use area south of the visitor center reaches a shallower section of the South Fork used for picnicking and summer water visits.
Confirmed public access
Dawn Redwood swimming area
California State Parks identifies a deeper swimming hole beyond Dawn Redwood Group Camp, north of the Richardson Grove visitor center.
Documented river location
Benbow day-use river access
A signed state-park day-use area with parking, picnic facilities, and a South Fork river beach. The former dam and lake no longer exist.
Confirmed public access
Tooby Memorial Park river beach
A community-park picnic and playground area fronting a public river beach on the South Fork.
Confirmed public access
Kimtu river access
The Kimtu entrance of Southern Humboldt Community Park provides a signed parking area and access to the park's Eel River frontage.
Confirmed public access
Margarite Lockwood Park
A Humboldt County day-use park on Maple Hills Road that the county identifies as South Fork Eel River access.
Confirmed public access
Lansdale Bar
One of the named swimming locations listed by California State Parks in Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
Documented river location
Williams Grove
A named state-park day-use grove and swimming location along the South Fork in Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
Confirmed public access
Garden Club of America Grove
A signed state-park day-use grove listed by California State Parks among the South Fork's established swimming locations.
Confirmed public access
Gould Bar
A named Eel River swimming location within Humboldt Redwoods State Park, downstream from the South Fork confluence.
Documented river location
Pedrazzini Boat Ramp
A no-fee county boat ramp and parking area on the lower Eel River west of Loleta.
Confirmed public access
Crab Park
A county day-use area at the Eel River estuary with a beach, wildlife viewing, and limited parking.
Confirmed public access
Around Myers Flat and Miranda
Weather and river reading
Weather
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National Weather Service
Full NWS forecast ↗River reading
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U.S. Geological Survey
Miranda gauge ↗Current park notices
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California State Parks
A gauge reports flow at one station. It does not measure swimming safety or conditions at every river spot. Check California's current harmful-algal-bloom reports map ↗