Camp Noyo is a traditional camp leased by Redwood Empire Council BSA during select periods for council-led camp programs. Camp Noyo is located on the Noyo River between Fort Bragg and Willits on Mile 16 of the California Western Railway.
The clear blue waters and the tall redwood trees make Noyo the picture perfect camping location for any Scout unit. Camp Noyo, historically a logging camp, was first used for Boy Scout Summer Camp from 1933 until 1955. It was then used in the 1970s as an outpost camp, and reopened for Scouts BSA Summer Camp again in 2008.
Camp Noyo has the capacity for 100 campers and 20 staff members, making it a very small camp. Its smaller camp size offers a more intimate family-style experience different from what units experience at larger BSA council camps
Smaller badge sessions means that virtually every Scout gets to participate in the badge sessions he/she wants. Our all-volunteer staff works hard to help units enjoy the experience, and will assist units in ways not normally available at larger camps. If your unit’s request is possible to do at camp, we will do our best to fulfill that request.
While Camp Noyo is an extremely remote camp, it does have a modern shower house and toilet facilities (with hot water provided by wood burning boilers), a trading post, and various program areas. The camp has a superb balance between a rustic back country feel and a comforting front country feel making it perfect for the new and experienced camper alike.
Upcoming Council-organized Sessions at Camp Noyo
- Noyo Family Camp Adventure (Jul 17-19, 2024)
- Noyo Scouts BSA Summer Camp Session 1 (Jul 14-19, 2024)
Spring and Fall Weekend Camping at Camp Noyo
Camp Noyo is also open to unit camping (packs, troops, crews, and ships), under their own leadership, from the weekend following Labor Day until the last weekend in October and from the first weekend in March through the weekend before Memorial Day.
From Willits, it’s about an hour drive into camp. Upon arrival in camp, you will go to your favorite campsite, equipped with tables, fire rings, food lockers, running water, and toilets. Although the summer dam does not go in until June 15 and is removed on September 15 there is still normally ample water in the river for swimming, canoeing and kayaking (all equipment supplied). Hiking trails, horseshoe pits, and a large campfire bowl add to the fun.
This is a remote camp with no phones or camp ranger. Roads are dirt, with minimal maintenance. Reservations for unit camping outside of REC-BSA scheduled programs should be made directly with the camp website.
Bring your unit to Camp Noyo for a great time in a stunningly beautiful wilderness setting! You can sign up your unit for a weekend camp by sending an e-mail direct to the reservations coordinator at info@campingonthenoyo.com
Over 88 years of Scout Camping at Camp Noyo
Camp Noyo was first secured for Scout camping by the Silverado Area Council BSA in 1933, and known as Camp Silverado BSA for its first ten years. The camp was transferred from SAC-BSA to the Petaluma Area Council BSA (during its territory expansion and renaming to Sonoma-Mendocino Area Council BSA), and the camp was renamed Camp Noyo BSA. In 2012, Camp Noyo was sold by our council to a devoted BSA alumni group Noyo LLC, who leases the camp back to Redwood Empire Council for 1-2 selected weeks of summer camping.
Because of its remote location, Camp Noyo has primarily been used over nine decades for weeklong Scout summer camp and other weeklong experiences like NYLT and Wood Badge. But is has also been the base point for Redwoods to Waves treks, weekend REC-BSA Family Camps, and hundreds of Scout troop weekend campouts.
For a link to a complete history of Camp Noyo, click on the Noyo History webpage for access to the full PDF copy of the official camp history – very enjoyable reading about our council’s longest-tenured camping property.