With the Six Rivers and Trinity National Forests right at its backdoor, Ruth beckons visitors to take a walk on the wild side. Although there aren’t big\u00a0hotel chains in town, you can find a bevy of modern comforts over at\u00a0Journey’s End. The rustic resort, which is located near the lake’s marina, has motel rooms and a log cabin to boot. There are also a few\u00a0RV hookup sites, if you’re traveling in a rig.\u00a0In addition to all the homey accommodations, Journey’s End\u00a0has a convenience store, saloon, and full-service restaurant on-site.<\/p>\n
Read more: The Best Vacation Destinations Where The US Dollar Goes Furthest<\/a><\/p>\n Camp along the water at Ruth Lake Boy Scout Cove Camp tucked into Ruth Lake – Wes Gould\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Ruth Lake is the epitome of natural beauty.\u00a0The 7-mile-long reservoir lies along the rustling waters of Mad River, which is one of the half-dozen major waterways that wind through the region’s more than 1 million-acre Six Rivers National Forest.\u00a0From spacious tents to cozy sleeping bags, be sure to pack all\u00a0the camping gear you need for a comfortable night outdoors<\/a>\u00a0because you’re definitely going to put it to good use in this peaceful neck of the woods.\u00a0Not one, not two, but seven campgrounds can be found dotting the banks of\u00a0the Ruth’s namesake loch, among them Hobart Creek Campground and the primitive Boy Scout Cove.\u00a0Both are open seasonally and have about two dozen sites to rent.<\/p>\n The loch’s main camping haunt is the Ruth Lake Campground. Also known as the Ruth Rec Campground, it lies in the middle of the scenic reservoir on the east bank. The camp has nearly 100 sites along the water, which can typically be reserved from April 15 to October 31. There’s also a ramp if you want to take your boat out for a spin, and kayaks and canoes can be rented on site. If you do opt to bring your own watercraft \u2014 even the non-motorized varieties \u2014 keep in mind that it will have to undergo a mandatory inspection before you can take it out on the water.<\/p>\n If you don’t feel like firing up the grill, book it over to White Stump BBQ. The restaurant is located at the entrance of\u00a0Ruth\u00a0Lake Campground and serves up a variety of\u00a0finger-licking barbecue staples.<\/p>\n Enjoy a peaceful getaway in Ruth, California Mad River winds through California – Conor P. Fitzgerald\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n As you can probably tell, the underrated Ruth Lake could easily rank among some of the most incredible California spots to visit<\/a>, especially when it comes to off-the-beaten-path adventures. Aside from all the campgrounds, the reservoir has a few day-use areas that can be accessed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.\u00a0The Sheriff’s Cove Day Use Area sits on the northern tip of the lake, while the Old Ruth\u00a0Day Use Area lies on the opposite end, just north of the Hobart Creek Campground. Both recreation spots have picnic tables and public docks.<\/p>\n About\u00a026 miles of shore hug the lake, so if you’d prefer to lounge the day away at the water’s edge you have plenty of space to do so. Stretch your legs with a jaunt along one of the reservoir’s\u00a0many\u00a0paths. The Pickett Peak Trail is located near the Bailey Canyon Campground and is only about 3 miles long. The\u00a0Fir Cove Trail is even shorter, stretching along the shore between Bailey Canyon and\u00a0the Fir Cove Campground for about a quarter of a mile.<\/p>\n Depending on what time of year you visit, you can also enjoy an afternoon of fun at one of Ruth’s artsy local events. If you happen to roll into Ruth in the summertime, pop by the Ruth Lake Summer Festival. The little\u00a0jamboree is usually held each year in August at the Ruth\u00a0Lake Campground and features various arts and crafts activities, live music, and a variety of food vendors.\u00a0Be sure to snap a photo with Ruth Lake’s very own mascot, a 7-foot-tall dragon named Ruthie.<\/p>\n Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter<\/a> and add us as a preferred search source<\/a> for access to the world’s best-kept travel secrets.<\/p>\n![\"Boy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/6ccc43c20ebc166b3767d1297415ea2e.jpeg\"\/)
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