Freshwater ecosystems are vital to all life on Earth, providing water, natural resources, and biodiversity. However, urbanization and anthropogenic activities affect waterways through pollution, and lead to a loss of water quality, impacting the organisms living there. Recreational activities are common in county and regional parks, sometimes including very high numbers of visitors over a season taking part in camping, hiking, and group gatherings that may have impacts on freshwater ecosystems that are a feature of the recreational site. In this project, we conducted a biological assessment of Pescadero Creek along a longitudinal gradient of human activities to determine potential impacts of the campgrounds on the stream at the end of the camping season in Nov 2022 and Nov 2023. We collected benthic macroinvertebrates from two rifles at five sites using a 30-second kick: 2 sites with day use activity upstream of the campgrounds, 2 sites adjacent to large campsites, and 1 downstream site expected to receive cumulative effects. We also conducted physical habitat assessments using SWAMP protocols. Family richness declined significantly along the stream, %EPT abundance was statistically significant from year-to-year, and Family Biotic Index was statistically significant for distance and year. Recreational activities negatively impacted benthic macroinvertebrates. Site differences may have introduced variability between sites, and because sampling occurred at the end of the dry season, differences in %EPT abundance may have resulted from year-to-year differences in oviposition timing.