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Sarah Totten Campground is located next to the Klamath Wild and Scenic River, about 33 miles east of the town of Happy Camp. The facility is popular with anglers, hikers and whitewater boaters.
The class II-III Klamath River can be accessed from the campground, and lends itself to fishing, tubing, whitewater rafting and kayaking. Hiking trails are available in the vicinity.
The campground offers two group sites and nine single-family sites. The group sites can accommodate a maximum of 30 people each. They feature an area for dispersed tent camping and several picnic tables and campfire rings with grills. Other amenities include accessible vault toilets, drinking water spigots, trash collection and a parking area for vehicles and trailers.
The campground sits in a shaded area next to the Klamath River at an elevation of 1,400 feet.
The Klamath National Forest encompasses nearly 2 million acres of land straddling the California-Oregon border. The Klamath contains a vast array of mountains, streams and lakes. With elevations ranging from 450 to 8,900 feet, the forest is home to diverse plant life and nearly 400 animal species.
The campground is close to the historic town of Hamburg, once a stomping ground for wealthy fly fisherman and sportsmen, including author Zane Grey. Crumpled structures and rock foundations are all that remain of Hamburg's erstwhile structures, including Johnston's Store and Hotel, Bailey Post Office and Bucket of Blood Saloon.
From I-5, take exit 786 to Highway 96 (Klamath River Highway). Follow Highway 96 west for about 35 miles. The campground entrance is on the right, about 1 mile east of Hamburg, CA.
This campground has a split personality. We thrashed around a small number of unattractive, exposed, hot or occupied campsites looking for what seemed to be missing ones. The main entrance has sites 6 - 12, the self pay station, the boat ramp (Klamath River) and the campground host. Just as we were about to give up, a fellow camper took pity and clued us in to the separate entrance with sites 1-5: shady, tree-lined, deserted and beautiful. Thanks to her we enjoyed a quiet and lovely evening with easy walking access to a nice section of river. So, if you don't find what you are looking for here, get back on the highway and head west a few hundred yards to the separate entrance.
Mostly quiet, other than the very lightly trafficked highway beside it. The sound of the river is incredibly relaxing. Nice little gem in backcountry California.
Big sites, good walking trails, established clean restrooms, water sources, and beautiful old growth trees and site historical information. $15 a day
