Richardson Grove (Eel River)
Richardson Grove State Park (Southern Humboldt) · near Garberville · North Coast
Swimming & Hot Springs
At a glance
- Temperature
- 65–74°F
- Cost
- State park day-use fee · Camping available
- Season
- July–September (the Eel warms surprisingly well)
Worth knowing
- Dogs
- Not permitted
- Good for a first timer
- Yes
- Safety
- Jumps range 5–20 feet — scout depth; the Eel moves its gravel yearly. Shade is limited at the beach; bring an umbrella.
Swimming & Hot Springs detail
- Type
- swimming-hole
- Temp
- cool
- Clothing optional
- No
- Directions
- Hwy 101 passes directly through the park, 8 miles south of Garberville. The main swimming hole is across from the jumping rock near the day-use area.
- Pools
- A deep green pool beneath a classic jumping rock, ringed by gravel beach, with old-growth redwoods rising directly from the riverbanks.
- Intl tip
- Garberville and the Avenue of the Giants are just north; the Lost Coast turnoff (hiking and MTB guides) is the same corner of the world. Standish-Hickey (this guide) is 20 minutes south for a second Eel plunge.
The guide
Richardson Grove is where Highway 101 first threads the big trees — and its Eel River swimming hole is the classic redwood-coun…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Richardson Grove (Eel River) — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 40.017, -123.792