Smith River: Easter Lily Capital of the World

Smith River offers visitors a beautiful coastal drive along Highway 101 bordered by acres of green pastures and lily fields. This community invites you to stay and enjoy its cafés, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, pub, hotels, RV parks, campgrounds and museum.

The White Gold Rush

Just north of Crescent City along Highway 101 lies the community of Smith River, the Easter Lily Capital of the World. Smith River is known for acres and acres of Easter Lilies and green pastures grazed by both dairy and beef cattle. In fact, Smith River is the area where the earliest farming in Del Norte County began. “The White Gold Rush”, as the Smith River lily industry has been called, has grown to the point where the ten largest farms between Smith River and Brookings, Oregon account for 90% of the world’s Easter Lily production.

The Celebrate Smith River Festival

Every year Smith River hosts a festival that focuses on the historic aspect of the town and celebrates what the community has to offer today. The Celebrate Smith River Festival takes place in July and provides a day full of family fun. Those who attend can catch a fire fighters’ competition, hatchery tours, petting zoo, lawn mower races, forest and farm demonstrations, food and lots more.

Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery

Smith River is home to the Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery. This nonprofit organization was founded by the Smith River Kiwanis Club in 1968 to increase the native runs of Steelhead and Chinook Salmon in the Smith River. Amazingly, the facility was built entirely with donated funds, labor and materials. Today the hatchery operates 365 days a year.

Gaming

Operated by the Tolowa Indian tribe through the Smith River Rancheria, the Lucky 7 Casino has 250 video gaming machines, a card room with 21 tables, a full service restaurant and lounge and a Bingo room.