Atchison sits in a grove of mature oaks and pines where six fire rings serve ten picnic tables — the math tells you this isn't about claiming your own private spot. It's a small, communal camp where finding firewood is easy and the access road doubles as your hiking trail.
Campground Details
- ⛺Type
- Primitive
- 💵Fee per Night
- Free
- 📋Reservations
- First-Come, First-Served
- 📍GPS
- 39.73021, -122.90229
- 🐾Pets Allowed
- No
Amenities
The Camp
The campground spreads beneath a canopy of established oaks and pines, with enough picnic tables to handle more campers than there are designated fire rings. This setup creates a naturally social atmosphere where groups might share cooking areas. Firewood gathering is straightforward — the surrounding forest provides plenty of deadfall within easy walking distance.
The primitive designation means vault toilets and little else in terms of infrastructure. No water spigots, no electrical hookups, no camp host checking permits at dusk.
What to Know
First-come, first-served means arriving early during peak seasons, though the intimate size of six fire rings keeps this from becoming a free-for-all destination. The campground road continues east for 2.6 miles to reach a stream with a spring pipe — your water source requires either a drive or a 5.2-mile round-trip walk.
The same access road that brings you in makes for decent hiking and biking, thanks to minimal traffic. It's not a trail system, but it's a quiet forest road where you can stretch your legs without dodging RVs.