Store Gulch Campground

The landscape is dominated by steep canyon walls and a wide, picturesque sandy beach that serves as a popular natural gathering spot for swimming and relaxing. Like the surrounding Siskiyou Mountains, the area features unique serpentine rock formations and a diverse forest mix of Jeffrey pine, Douglas fir, and madrone trees. Just across the river from the campground, rugged ridges rise sharply, offering a prime environment for spotting local wildlife such as river otters in the deeper pools or osprey hunting above the rapids. Nearby Attractions Store Gulch Campground provides easy access to several unique landmarks and recreational sites along the Illinois River. Just up the road back towards Selma is the historic Store Gulch Guard Station, a rare cedar bark building constructed in 1929 by the Civilian Conservation Corps that is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Adjacent to the station is the Store Gulch Day Use Area, featuring a steep trail that leads down to a large sandy beach and deep turquoise swimming pools famous for rock jumping. A short distance further down the road, you can visit the Swinging Bridge, a long wooden suspension bridge that hangs sixty feet over the river and offers views of the rugged canyon. For hikers, the Illinois River East Trailhead is located at the very end of the road, serving as a primary gateway for exploring the remote forests and ridges of the surrounding wilderness. The road becomes unpaved and increasingly rugged after the swinging bridge turnoff, requiring careful navigation for the remainder of the drive to the trailhead.