Alder Dune

Basic campground with a kind manager. She helped us out and was very accommodating. We came here without any reservations around 8:30pm and got a spot. There are paved spots, some level some not. They all come with a little area to pitch a tent, a picnic table and a fire pit. The bathroom has a composting toilet and some hand sanitizer. It had grab bars on the walls and was quite large. It seemed accessible/ ADA compliant. There aren't any electrical hookups, but they did have a water fill station. I didn't use it so I can't speak to whether it's potable. Our spot cost us about $36 for the night. We felt very safe and people were kind.

Didn't wander around here too much, no host?, other than the small trail that connected to site 5 from behind and went around the dense thorny lake. Beautiful pink flowers cover the trail and had little mossy windows like a fairy garden around the edges. It seemed to be always raining at our campsite but not in town or at the Hecata beach just south. The south Jetty was a great spot south of here too. Tall dunes and lots of private coves to let the child loose. The campsite we were in was very slanted to where my hitch was almost on the ground but the area behind it was nice and had lots of privacy and cover.

This campground is pretty great! Lots of trees and privacy at most of the sites. The sizes and layouts of the sites are highly variable though, so it definitely helps to know what the sites look like. We have a very big tent and it would have taken up most of the space if we would have positionedit so we could use the fire pit, so it's a good thing we were there with friends and their site was extra roomy!

Beautiful campground nestled in the forest.  The geo coorindinates at the entrance are: 44.069651,-124.100708 Assessment: This beautiful place is NOT big rig friendly for sites 1,2,3 if you are pulling anything.  The road leading into this 'cul-de-sac' for these sites looks more like a pedestrian pathway.  Large bushes and limbs will lay thick on your truck and camper.  With thick vegetation, the bushes against the truck made it impossible to see out of the side view mirrors. Backing into site 2 is nearly impossible. Thankfully the camp host, Robert (a retired truck driver), was able to help me into site 2. I was about ready to leave after making several unsuccessful attempts. I'll be forever grateful for his help. If you do reserve sites 1,2, or 3, swing as far to the left as you can (like get off onto the shoulder) as soon as you pass through the yellow gate.  The first road on your right is for sites 1,2,3. It is not marked.  If you don't set yourself up for this turn and you are in a large rig you can't make that turn. I did not see any low lying limbs anywhere in the park that might be a problem for high profile rigs. After walking around the rest of the campground, I feel the rest of the sites are set up pretty well for backing in.  But,  be aware the roads are narrow.  Even meeting a car can be problematic in sections. Also,  many of the sites slope way down.  Leveling from front to back might not work for some rigs. All of the water faucets in the campground are non-threaded except one.  Just across the street from site 9 is a threaded faucet. With all that I've stated above, we do like this place.  It is secluded and you feel like you are in a wilderness area.  We like the family feel too of this place. Lots of families staying here. We felt comfortable and safe. The proximity to the ocean almost guarantees cool days and nights in the summer months.  Perfect recipe for camping. Lots of shade,  so be aware your solar system may not keep your house battery charged.  I had to crank up my inverter generator for the first time in years to recharge the house battery. Vault toilets, but in the day use area that is within easy walking distance there are flush toilets and running sink water. Lots of hiking trails to the dunes and the beach.  The beach hike is slightly over 2 miles (round trip) from the day use area. The campground is close to Hwy 101, and you will hear traffic from time to time, especially those truck drivers that are using their loud engine (jake) brakes. This type of noise doesn't neither us,  but be aware that it's there. All in all a very nice campground that I would come back to again.

Alder Dune is a smaller National Forest Campground that is a bit more primitive than nearby State Parks (pit toilets, no showers). It is a good two mile hike to the coast and a quarter mile to the dunes from a trailhead located in the campground's day use area adjacent to tiny Dune Lake. Half the sites can be reserved, all sites are situated for car camping with a couple walk in sites. Tight fit for RVs. This lush, densely forested campground is a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the 101.