Nestled along the Sacramento River between Chico and Red Bluff, Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area is the place to be for those looking for an RV getaway in northern California. Featuring beautiful oak trees and easy access to the Sacramento River, Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area provides wonderful camping and recreation opportunities for RV vacationers and visitors who love to enjoy water sports and the view of nature.
The park is a big attraction for families that are looking for a balance of relaxation and adventure without having to venture too far off the beaten trail. There are so many activities for you to choose from at Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, including hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, fishing, interpretive exhibits, nature and wildlife viewing, boating, birding, canoeing and kayaking, swimming, and geocaching. A unique feature of Woodson Bridge is the preserve, an area where the bald eagle spends its winter alongside the yellow-billed cuckoo. If you are looking for even more outdoor fun, the nearby attractions to Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area include Mount Shasta, Mount Lassen, and the Trinity Alps.
The main attraction to Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area is undoubtedly the superb campground. The campground is known for being kept in pristine condition, and it features 35 primitive RV-friendly sites, 10 tent-only sites, and a group camping area suitable for up to 40 people. Peak season at Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area runs from April until October.
Getting to and from Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area is very easy due to its close location to CA-99. The park is only three miles west of CA-99 at Vina, and there is one entrance to the park via South Ave. The road into the park is easily accessible by RVs up to 31 feet in length, and most of the roads in the park are paved, but be aware that a few roads are gravel. There are no driving restrictions within Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, but larger rigs won't be able to use the campground due to the smaller site size.
If you need to get any supplies before your trip, there will be many places that you can stop since the park is not out in the middle of nowhere. These places include Corning (around seven miles away), Orland (about 18 miles away), and Red Bluff (around 26 miles away).
The weather conditions are usually pretty favorable in this area of California, but if you are concerned about traveling during the winter, you should contact the park office before you begin your adventure to get up-to-date travel conditions.
There is one parking lot for RVs, trailers, and cars in Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area located around the Ranger Station. Overnight parking is available for RV campers at the various campsites in the park.
Woodson Bridge Campground, located within the Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, is a very well-regarded place for RV lovers to call home. The campground is known to be clean, well maintained, and quiet, but be aware that sometimes campers may hear noise from nearby South Avenue. The most common form of camping is in an RV or trailer since there are 35 RV-friendly sites in comparison to the 10 tent-only sites and one group camping area. All of the RV sites are pet-friendly, but there are no electrical, water, or sewer hookups available. Due to the smaller site sizes, only RV's up to 31 feet will be able to use the campground. Other amenities within the campground include clean restrooms, coin-operated showers, fire rings, picnic tables, and easy access to the Sacramento River. You should be able to get cell phone reception on all of the major networks. Camping is on a first-come, first-served basis during the fall, winter, and spring, but reservations are necessary during the summer months.
This usually busy campground during the summer is open for first-come, first-served camping outside of the park's peak season. If you wish to camp during the fall, winter, or spring, you must arrive to the park to secure your site for the night.
During the warm summer months, it gets pretty hot around Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, which means RV campers get to enjoy taking a dip in the consistently-cool Sacramento River. The broad sand and gravel beach provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy the sun and enjoy the Sacramento River. Due to the strong currents of the river, swimmers are advised to have prior experience before launching into the river for a swim. There are also no lifeguards on duty at the park, so keep this in mind and swim to your abilities.
Wildlife watching is an activity that RV campers love to enjoy at Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area as the western part of the river acts as a wildlife preserve. The jungle-like habitat provides a shelter sanctuary for nesting bald eagles in the winter and the elusive yellow-billed cuckoo in the summer. The habitat also offers great bird-watching opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts alike. Other birds that populate the area include quails, owls, hawks, falcons, and many songbirds.
Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area features more than 100 identified plant species. For guests who enjoy identifying different plants and flowers, there is no shortage of countable trees, wildflowers, and bushes that produce berries like grape or elderberry, depending on the season. Along your search, keep your eyes peeled for the Oregon ash, cottonwood, willow, sycamore, and California black walnut trees.
If you have any questions about the flora in the area, the friendly park staff will be able to answer any questions you may have. If you can't find the identification of a particular plant, try downloading an app to your phone that helps nature enthusiasts capture a photo of a plant and correctly classify the species.
For visitors who aren't bringing an RV or trailer, the Woodson Bridge Campground is also suitable for tent camping. There are a total of 10 sites that are available just for those wanting to stay in a tent, and they are located on the western side near the Sacramento River.
The tent sites are very shady, flat, and are all on grass pads. All of the sites also come equipped with a concrete picnic table and grill. You will be able to access all of the other campground features if you choose to stay at one of the tent-only sites, and since the campground isn't huge, you won't have to walk too far to the showers.
Opposite the tent-only section of Woodson Bridge Campground is the group camping area. There is only one group campsite available, but it is perfect for groups of up to 40 people. The group camping area features multiple concrete picnic tables, a large fire ring, water collection points, plenty of grass pads for tents, and easy access to the campground shared restrooms. If you and your group do choose to stay at the group campground, you will be the furthest campers away from the shower block, but it is still a manageable distance away. Reservations are highly recommended for the group camp since there is only one available.
Woodson Bridge State Recreation offers wonderful hiking opportunities for campers and visitors on the trails that allow hikers to enjoy the scenic natural features of the park. The most common trail people hike in the park, the Sacramento River Trail, traverses the shore of the river, crosses a shaded setting, and offers hikers shade from the sun underneath the age-old grand oaks and gorgeous willows, as well as many other trees and thickets that blanket the shores of the Sacramento River.
Fishing is available year-round on Sacramento River, so Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area offers RV campers fantastic opportunities to enjoy river angling while staying onsite, especially during the warmer weather. Whether campers decide to fish from the shore or on a boat, there are plenty of opportunities to catch fish like king salmon, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, and other fish native to the river. No matter when campers visit the park, they'll have an excellent time angling, but remember to bring your fishing gear and acquire the proper fishing license before casting out your line.
Boating is a very popular activity for RV campers at Woodson Bridge Recreation Area thanks to the location of the Sacramento River that lies to the northwest of the park. Thanks to the easily accessible boat ramp located in the park, RV campers and visitors can bring their motorboats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards and slide into the Sacramento River current. If you don't have your own watercraft, boat and motor rentals are available for campers without boats so everyone can enjoy some fun out on the river.
