The Santa Cruz mountains are a surprising vacation spot for campers in search of a California coastal getaway. From the Pacific Ocean, the fog rolls throughout valleys with cascading waterfalls and groves of old-growth redwoods to grassy ridges.
This area, which covers a lot of the coastal and mountainous space south of the San Francisco Bay Space, comprises a various setting of redwood forests, golden coastal seashores and mountainous peaks, in addition to loads of protected public lands excellent on your subsequent Santa Cruz tenting journey.
Discover Central California Range With Santa Cruz Tenting
The recognition of tenting in Santa Cruz county doesn’t simply come from it’s lovely pure setting. For Bay Space campers, it’s a brief drive—down some winding roads—to get away from eight million neighbors. It may be arduous to seek out an out there spot, particularly in the course of the peak summer season weekends, so plan your journey months prematurely with reservations. Don’t stress an excessive amount of nevertheless, as Santa Cruz county affords sufficient tenting choices for almost everybody to discover a web site.
This record collects only a few of the quite a few Santa Cruz tenting choices, reviewed by campers on The Dyrt, that can take you from the mountains to the ocean. Remember many of those campgrounds are closed within the winter due to rains, so be sure that to examine with the related authorities for the newest standing.
Picture from The Dyrt camper Journey M.
Huge Basin Redwoods State Park is California’s oldest state park. It’s additionally residence to the most important grove of redwoods south of San Francisco. You’ll discover large timber who’ve known as this space residence for almost 2,000 years.
Nestled proper among the many timber is a 142-site campground providing tent and RV areas. The campsites provide hearth rings, bear canisters and picnic tables—and loads of redwood logs and fairy rings for youths to mess around.
Tenting in Huge Basin Redwoods State Park offers you entry to 80 miles of trails, together with the favored Skyline-to-the-Sea three-day backpacking path. You can even hike to the gorgeous Berry Creek Waterfalls.
“Even each single campsite is breathtaking so you’ll be able to’t lose… I felt like a child exploring this place, so small and insignificant within the massive scheme of issues. I’ll always remember this park, it’s going to perpetually maintain a spot in my coronary heart and soul.” —The Dyrt camper Brittany S.
The Straightforward Strategy to Discover Final-Minute Campsites
Do you know some campers have:
- Pre-saved lists of hand-picked free tenting throughout the US
- Textual content messages for last-minute openings
- Scans arrange for Nationwide Park web site openings
That is the best, most surefire option to discover last-minute campsites each time, and it’s all included within the #1 tenting membership known as The Dyrt PRO. It prices simply $35.99 per yr and is a straightforward option to be sure to have higher tenting journeys each time — and that you would be able to truly discover a spot final minute.
You’ll be able to test it out without spending a dime at this time, you’ll be able to even use it without spending a dime for 7 days to be sure to prefer it. After the trial it’s $35.99 for a full yr — most campers discover it pays for itself after an evening or two. When you camp greater than 2 instances per yr, it could be excellent for you.
Butano State Park won’t get as a lot consideration as different Santa Cruz tenting choices due to its relative small dimension, however that contributes to the park’s off-the-beaten-path really feel. The park’s Ben Ries campground is situated deep within the Little Butano Creek Canyon, within the coronary heart of the campground.
You can see 21 drive-in websites and 18 walk-in websites nestled among the many lush ferns and redwoods, residence to banana slugs, newts, squirrels, woodpeckers and owls. There are primary facilities — flush bogs and dish washing stations, however no showers. Climbing trails begin instantly from the campground.
“There are ferns rising all over, and good yellow banana slugs cruising round in sluggish movement, and a great deal of mushrooms if you happen to go in the correct winter circumstances (early season rain). It is a good spot any time of yr.” —The Dyrt camper Kelly M.
Picture from The Dyrt camper Megan B.
New Brighton State Seashore is a well-liked 95-acre park in Capitola alongside the Monterey Bay. Harbor seals, sea lions, dolphins, whales, and sea otters will be noticed within the water when you camp simply above them on a bluff. You’ll be able to find out about human and animal migrations on this portion of the coast—just like the summer season and fall arrival of sooty shearwaters—on the Pacific Migrations Customer Middle.
The campground normally fills up six months prematurely. There are over 100 websites on a wooded bluff overlooking the ocean, together with hook-up websites. There are rings for fires, usable provided that you purchase firewood on-site. It’s additionally a brief drive to Santa Cruz correct for some nightlife.
“Superb views and setting on this campground. Rise up paddle board within the cove or go for a surf somewhat bit down the highway… Certainly one of California’s higher state park!” —The Dyrt camper Megan B.
Picture from The Dyrt camper Kate L.
Portola Redwoods State Park is a well-liked getaway for Santa Cruz tenting from the hustle of close by Silicon Valley. The guts of the park is its grove of redwoods and the life round its two creeks, Fall and Pescadero. Begin on the gorgeous customer’s lodge and head to a number of the park’s climbing trails to absorb the waterfall views and plush forest.
The state park has 55 giant household campsites for tents solely, no RV hookups. There are additionally 4 group tenting websites, a couple of hike-and-bike campsites, and some backpacking camps alongside the Slate Creek Path. The Dyrt campers warn about bugs — mosquitoes and yellow jackets — so be sure that to convey a pure bug repellent (or make your individual!)
“If the highway main into Portola doesn’t scare you off you’re in for a little bit of a deal with. Positioned in secluded redwood forest the campground is quiet and serene. Fallen timber make for excellent climbing for the kiddos. The creek with sandy shore is nice for a day calm down.” —The Dyrt camper Liz M.
Santa Clara County manages the Mount Madonna County Park, situated between Gilroy and Watsonville. Included within the 4,600-acre park are redwood forests, but in addition oak woodland, dense chaparral and grassy meadows.
Mount Madonna is likely one of the extra activity-filled parks within the area; each hikers and equestrians can benefit from the 14 miles of trails earlier than profiting from historic and cultural interpretive facilities close by. Campers may even benefit from the numerous occasions held right here, together with weddings!
Tenting in Mount Madonna is out there at any one of many 118 drive-in and walk-in reservable campsites unfold all through 4 campgrounds. RV campers have a alternative between 17 websites with partial hookups, all with entry to a dumping station. There’s even some yurts out there for reservation for these glampers who would favor a mattress!
“A phenomenal spot in a redwood forest. Zero cell protection or Web. Helpful to Sundown Seashore and to legendary farmlands. Good roomy campsites.” —The Dyrt camper Jeffrey C.
Sanborn County Park—managed by Santa Clara County—is so near the South Bay you possibly can assume you’re tenting in somebody’s yard, however the park nonetheless affords a distant really feel to campers. A part of that’s the walk-in-only tent campground, which means it’s important to carry all of your stuff from the parking zone up a gravel path to the campsite—nevertheless it’s very brief. The park gives assist to haul your gear, and there are lockers close to the campsites.
The campground is a well-liked jumping-off level for the Skyline-to-the-Sea path, and is near the hiking-friendly Citadel Rock State Park.
For RV campers, there’s a campground on the similar parking zone. It’s open year-round with full electrical and water hookups and a dumping station. There are over 22 miles of trails within the park, so get these climbing footwear prepared! In the summertime, the park can also be residence to Silicon Valley Shakespeare, an outside theater firm.
“I form of like this setup because it makes it really feel somewhat extra distant and also you don’t get bothered by automobiles continuously passing your web site… The campground is stuffed with magnificent redwoods with a creek passing proper by.” —The Dyrt camper Kali C.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park lies simply outdoors of town of Santa Cruz. It combines the most effective of each worlds, the ocean and the forest. E book a cliff facet campsite for open vistas, or one nestled amongst timber for shade.
For a comparatively small park, the realm packs a punch when it comes to variety of panorama, from chaparral to a grove of old-growth coastal redwoods to the Santa Cruz Sandhills habitat—historical marine deposits now residence to endangered species. The Graham Hill campground is accessed east of Felton. There are 107 reservable websites, flush bogs and showers, and a camp retailer.
“That is an superior spot to camp with your loved ones. Climbing and biking trails, nature walks, showers, flush bogs, it has all of it for the not so campy campers.” —The Dyrt camper J.D.E.
Picture from The Dyrt camper J.D.E.
Round half-hour south of Santa Cruz county lies a seaside that isn’t that crowded—a rarity on this area. The Sundown State Seashore is a well-liked spot for Santa Cruz tenting, however maintains as distant of a really feel as attainable on a California seaside, particularly in the course of the low season or weekdays.
Sundown State is surrounded by strawberry fields. There are dozens of dune-protected household websites for tents and RVs (no hookups although) on a bluff. It’s a brief stroll down some stairs to the extensive open seaside. Distant-controlled glider lovers have a port to fly their planes.
“Good tons on a cliff above the seaside protected against the wind by some doug firs and eucalyptus. Seashore is lengthy and expansive with only a few folks on a median day. Good place to take a stroll and loosen up… Typically there’s a good sandbar for browsing. At all times had fun at this campground.” —The Dyrt camper Mauriel O.
Close by Sundown State Seashore is yet one more beachside choice for Santa Cruz tenting; Manresa State Seashore. You’ll must haul in your gear from the parking zone to one of many 60 tent-only campsites on the grassy Manresa Uplands overseeing the seaside. That provides the campground a extra distant, less-crowded really feel.
You’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of Monterey Bay, the sandstone cliffs and the forested hills of the Monterey Peninsula. There are good bogs and showers out there.
“I’ve been to this campground a handful of time, and maintain coming again. Stroll up websites, clear restrooms, personal seaside, you’ll be able to convey the pup and it’s off the overwhelmed monitor a bit. There are a LOT of raccoons, so pack up your stuff nicely.” —The Dyrt camper Lizzy C.
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