Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area
RV Guide
Introduction
Encompassing 1,012 acres of park land, including the famous 225 feet tall, 1,200-year old Miles Standish Tree, Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area is the perfect place to visit for its wonderful features that offer RV campers memorable holiday experiences. Located on Highway 101, one and a half miles north of Leggett town, California, this recreation area offers campers exhilarating opportunities to enjoy picnicking, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and swimming on the South Fork of the Eel River which winds through the park for almost two miles.
Facilities at the Standish-Hickey Recreation Area include RV campsites, restrooms and showers, picnic areas, campfire center, seasonal foot bridges, day use areas, ADA accessible campsites, potable water, and fire rings.
The park began as a 40-acre campground donated in 1922. Its name honors a lumberman’s son, Edward Ritter Hickey, who died while caring for victims of the 1918 flu epidemic. In the late 1950s, descendants of Captain Miles Standish, a pilgrim who landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620, added 500 acres. Subsequent donations from Save the Redwoods League have expanded the park to its current acreage of more than 1,000 acres.
RV Rentals in Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area
Transportation
Driving
Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area is located on Highway 101, one and a half miles north of Leggett town, California, just west of Rock Creek overcrossing. Accessing the park is easy as it is a simple drive-in park. The entrance of the park is paved, while local paved and unpaved roads connect various parts of the park. Speed limit within Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area is 15 miles per hour.
Parking
There are two day use parking lots for RVs, trailers and other motorized vehicles in Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area. Vehicles may be parked only in assigned campsites. All vehicles must remain in the parking area and may not extend out into the roadway. Overnight parking is available for RV campers in the park.
Public Transportation
There are no public transportation facilities available at Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area.
Campgrounds and parking in Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area
Campsites in Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area
Reservations camping
Hickey Campground
Hickey Campground in Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area features 64 pet-friendly standard campsites available for RVs and tents. Four of the campsites are ADA accessible. There are no RV hookups in the campground. RV length limit is 27 feet. The campground consists of amenities such as restrooms and showers, potable water, picnic tables, and fire rings, a picnic area and campfire center, which is the site for popular summer interpretive programs. The campground is right next to the steep bluffs looming over the Eel River. All fires must be in fire rings and no collection of firewood is allowed. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Radios and other sound producing devices must not be audible beyond the immediate campsite. Generators may only be operated between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Alcohol and glass containers are not allowed beyond the campsite.
Redwood Campground
Redwood Campground in Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area features 63 pet-friendly standard campsites available for RVs and tents. One of the campsites is ADA accessible. There are no RV hookups in the campground. RV length limit is 18 feet. The campground consists of amenities such as restrooms and showers, potable water, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campground sits right on the banks of the gorgeous Eel River and is thus accessible to swimming, fishing, and sunbathing opportunities. All fires must be in fire rings and no collection of firewood is allowed. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Radios and other sound producing devices must not be audible beyond the immediate campsite. Generators may only be operated between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Alcohol and glass containers are not allowed beyond the campsite.
Rock Creek Campground
Rock Creek Campground in Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area features 35 pet-friendly standard campsites available for RVs and tents. Two of the campsites are ADA accessible. There are no RV hookups in the campground. RV length limit is 27 feet. The campground consists of amenities such as restrooms and showers, potable water, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campground is surrounded by awesome steep bluffs and Rock Creek. All fires must be in fire rings and no collection of firewood is allowed. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Radios and other sound producing devices must not be audible beyond the immediate campsite. Generators may only be operated between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Alcohol and glass containers are not allowed beyond the campsite.
Seasonal activities in Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area
In-Season
Flora
Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area features the Miles Standish Tree, a 225-feet tall redwood tree with a diameter of 13 feet. This tree, estimated to be more than 1,200 years old, is a standout feature of the park and is easily spotted from a distance. The tree bears scars from efforts to chop it down and the effects of the 1947 fire. Other flora in the park include Douglas-fir, oaks, laurel, big-leaf maple, alder, madrones, buckeye, yew, huckleberry, manzanita, and coyote brush.
Hiking
Redwood enthusiasts and nature lovers enjoy hiking on the amazing trails in Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area. These trails include the one and a half-mile Taber Nature Trail, two-mile Big Tree Trail, and six-mile Mill Creek Loop Trail. The Taber Nature trail is an easy trail that takes hikers through a self-guided loop with a 360-degree view of the forested skyline and redwood groves, featuring a giant redwood made up of multiple trunks fused at the core. The Big Tree Trail offers hikers scenic views of the Eel River, while the strenuous Mill Creek Loop Trail provides campers beautiful views of Big Tree Meadow.
Wildlife Viewing
The Eel River in Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area, named for its abundant Pacific lamprey, is a great site to enjoy wildlife viewing. Wildlife in the park include black-tailed deer, gray foxes, black bears, mountain lions, and river otters. Dawn and dusk are usually the best times to see these creatures.
Off-Season
Fishing
During fall and winter, Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area is the perfect place to find salmon and steelhead, hence RV campers look out for these fish species while angling on vacation at the park. The Eel River and its breathtaking bluffs provide these amazing fishing opportunities. The best time to visit is probably during the winter for these great catches. A California fishing license is required for anglers aged above 16 years old.
Swimming
The South Fork of the Eel River in Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area creates roughly 20-feet deep pools with sandy bottoms that offer RV campers great spots to linger and swim on hot summer days. The placid water provides the ideal setting for campers to relax at the park. No lifeguards are on duty; hence children are to be supervised at all times.
Birding
Lovers of birds find Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area a great place to spot birds as the park offers RV campers good views of various bird species such as eagles, owls, and hawks soar the skies, blue heron, osprey, belted kingfishers, scrub and Steller’s jays, and acorn woodpeckers.
