Signage

Clifford Kamph Memorial Park was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1949, to honor First Lieutenant Clifford Kamph who was killed in an act of heroism while on a mercy flight in the Caribbean, January 13, 1945. Lieutenant Kamph was 28 years old.

Clifford's parents, Edward and Melita Kamph ran a trucking company in Smith River after settling there when they moved from Brookings, Oregon. Clifford's father bought and sold livestock and hauled them to market on his trucks. Clifford believed that the future of transportation was in airplanes, and that someday cattle and sheep would be flown all over the world. Clifford graduated from the University of Oregon before joining the Army in 1939. Edward and Melita were so proud of their son and all his accomplishments, that they wanted to set aside a place that would pay homage to his memory. They donated the property that is Clifford Kamph Memorial Park for the sole purpose of becoming a park as a tribute to their son and to the benefit of other veterans and their families, as well as the entire Del Norte County community. 

Clifford Kamph Memorial Park is located two miles south of the California state line on US Hwy 101 on a bluff overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The park is just over 3 acres in size and has 12 TENT ONLY campsites; one of which is on the beach. Pets are welcome as long as they are on a leash.