Benbow State Recreation Area
Also known as Benbow SRA
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $8 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(707) 247-3318
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 1,138 acres, Benbow State Recreation Area lies in Humboldt County, about 41 miles southeast of Fortuna.
The park supports boating, swimming, fishing, geocaching, and picnicking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day use | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
Day-Use open year round, 8am-sunset.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $8 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $8.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: trails.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Except for service animals, dogs not allowed on trails.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
BoatingPicnickingFishingSwimmingGeocachingHiking
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Parking
Water
- Swimming beach
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Previously known as Benbow Lake SRA, the park was established at the lake created when the Eel River was dammed in the 1930s to create power for the area. In 2017, the dam was removed to improve Coho salmon habitat. The park is located along Highway 101 two miles south of Garberville. Phone (707) 247-3318 for more information.
Camping
Four accessible campsites are dispersed among the Lower, Middle, and Upper Loop (#8, #44, #45, and #65). Accessible amenities include water spigots, parking, routes, and restrooms.
Picnic Area
Accessible picnicking, parking, and restrooms are available in the day-use area.
Exhibits/Programs
The campfire center, located in the Lower Loop, is accessible including parking and routes.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 5710 Benbow Drive
Garberville, CA 95542 - Nearest town
- Fortuna — about 41 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 40.0655, -123.7877
- Phone
- (707) 247-3318
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
2 miles south of Garberville on Highway 101.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology