Sue-meg Campground (Formerly Patrick’s Point) Review

Campground:
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Sue-meg Campground, formerly known as Patrick’s Point, is a California State Park near Trinidad on the rugged Northern California coast. This beautiful coastal park offers forested campsites, easy access to scenic trails, and several interesting cultural and natural attractions right inside the park.

Whether you’re traveling with a tent or an RV, Sue-meg Campground can be a great base for exploring the redwood coast.

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Campground Details

Sue-meg Campground accommodates both tent campers and RVs. The maximum trailer length allowed is 31 feet, which works well for smaller travel trailers and camper vans.

In addition to standard campsites, there are also a few rustic cabins available for visitors who want a camping experience without bringing their own tent or trailer.

The campground is divided into different loops. During our visit, we stayed in the Agate Beach Loop, but there is also the Abalone Loop, which tends to have slightly more privacy due to thicker tree coverage. However, the Abalone Loop is seasonal and was already closed for the season when we visited in October.

Hookups & Dump Station

Sue-meg Campground is a dry campground, meaning there are no water, sewer, or electric hookups at the campsites.

However, the park does provide several services that make dry camping manageable:

  • Drinking water spigots located throughout the campground
  • An RV fresh water fill station near the dump station
  • A dump station available for RV campers

These amenities make it fairly convenient to refill water tanks and empty holding tanks during your stay.

Campsite Layout & Amenities

The campsites are decently sized and surrounded by forest, which helps create a quieter and more private camping experience.

Each campsite includes:

  • Dirt parking pad
  • Picnic table
  • Tall metal fire pit
  • Metal bear box for safe food storage

The campground sits within a coastal forest, and the tree coverage helps separate campsites visually, especially in the more densely wooded Abalone Loop.

Facilities & Supplies

Sue-meg Campground offers several comfort amenities that make it a little easier than typical primitive camping.

Facilities include:

  • Flush toilets
  • Hot showers
  • Trash and recycling service

There is also a visitor center within the park that includes a small store. Most of the items available are souvenirs rather than camping supplies.

If you need to stock up on groceries or supplies, the closest option is the town of Trinidad, about 15 minutes from the campground. Murphy’s Market is a full grocery store with a deli and a great selection of general grocery items. In town you’ll also find a Chevron station and several restaurants.

For larger shopping trips, you can drive about 25 minutes to McKinleyville, where you’ll find additional grocery stores and services.

During our stay we were able to get a weak cell signal with Verizon, but coverage may vary depending on your exact location in the campground.

Trees & Animals

One of the things that makes Sue-meg Campground so beautiful is the diversity of coastal forest trees. The campground includes species such as:

  • Sitka spruce
  • Red alder
  • Douglas fir
  • Western hemlock
  • Shore pine

Wildlife is also plentiful around the campground.

During our visit we saw:

  • Lots of banana slugs
  • Jackrabbits
  • Chipmunks
  • Caterpillars
  • Various birds

We also saw evidence of raccoons, and the park does have bears, which is why they provide bear boxes for food storage.

Near the ocean you may also see whales, sea lions, and explore tide pools.

One unusual thing we experienced during our visit was termites. We found a couple inside our trailer during our stay. Fortunately, we handled the situation quickly and didn’t have any continuing issues.

Activities

One of the highlights of staying at Sue-meg State Park is how many activities you can access directly from the campground.

Sue-meg Village

A particularly interesting feature of the park is the reconstructed Yurok village called Sue-meg Village. The village represents the traditional structures used by the Yurok people, who originally inhabited this area.

“Sue-meg” is the name the Yurok people used for this location.

The recreated village includes several traditional buildings and educational displays explaining:

  • How the structures were built
  • The purpose of each building
  • How the village functioned historically

Our kids loved exploring the different huts and learning about the history behind them.

Hiking

There are several trails throughout the park that connect many of the major points of interest such as:

  • Sue-meg Village
  • The visitor center
  • Agate Beach
  • Wedding Rock

These short trails make it easy to explore the park without needing to drive.

One thing to note is that dogs are not allowed on the trails, which is something to keep in mind if you are traveling with pets.

Agate Beach

Agate Beach is located right inside the park and can be reached by trail from the campground.

The beach is known for its rocky shoreline where visitors often search for agates among the stones. It’s also a great place to explore tide pools and watch the ocean.

Visit Trinidad

The nearby town of Trinidad is only a short drive from the campground and is well worth a visit during your stay. This small coastal town is known for its scenic harbor, beautiful beaches, and a few great places to eat.

One of the most popular spots is Trinidad State Beach, which offers wide sandy areas, sea stacks, and great views of the coastline. Just north of town, College Cove Beach is another beautiful beach with dramatic cliffs and tide pools to explore.

After spending time at the beach, there are several good places to grab a bite to eat in town. The Lighthouse Grill is a popular casual spot, while Seascape Restaurant offers sit down dining with ocean views. If you’re looking for something quick and casual, Headies Pizza & Pour is a great option for pizza and drinks.

Even if you’re just stopping to pick up supplies, Trinidad is a charming coastal town and a great place to spend a little time exploring during your visit to Sue-meg State Park.

Local Breweries

If you’re interested in exploring further beyond the campground, there are several local breweries nearby.

One we visited during our stay was Six Rivers Brewery, which is about 20 minutes away and makes a great dinner stop.

Other breweries in the region include:

  • Mad River Brewing Company
  • Redwood Curtain Brewing Company
  • Lost Coast Brewery (about 45 minutes away)

If you enjoy visiting local breweries while traveling, this area offers several good options.

Camping Costs

At the time of our visit, campsites at Sue-meg Campground cost $35 per night, which is fairly typical for a California State Park campground.

Best Campsites

  • Site 26
    • A large, wooded site that is positioned well for a trailer. This site could pair nicely with Site 24 if you’re camping with another group.
  • Site 27
    • Probably our favorite site. It’s large and set a bit back from the road, which creates a nice layout with a spacious parking pad and a large gathering area next to it.
  • Site 30
    • Another site with enough tree coverage to feel fairly private. The layout also works well for a travel trailer.
  • Site 98
    • A shaded site with lots of ferns and trees, and it’s located close to the trail that leads to the beach.
  • Site 100
    • This site works well if you’re camping with someone staying in a cabin, since it’s located right next to Cabin 101.

Recap

Overall, Sue-meg Campground is a great option if you’re looking for:

  • A coastal Northern California campground
  • Easy access to hiking and scenic viewpoints
  • A quiet forest setting
  • Opportunities to explore local history

If you’re planning a trip to the Trinidad area and want a campground that combines ocean views, forest trails, and cultural history, Sue-meg State Park is definitely worth considering.

Here’s a summary of the items you need to know before visiting Sue-Meg State Park:

Tents AllowedYes
Trailers AllowedYes
Max Trailer Length31 Feet
HookupsNone
Drinking WaterYes
RV Water FillYes
Dump StationYes
Flush ToiletsYes
ShowersYes
InternetWeak
Cost$35/night

Campground Details:

Sue-Meg State Park
4150 Patricks Point Dr, Trinidad, CA 95570

Can reserve online at reservecalifornia.com. Reservations open 6 months ahead at 8am PST.

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