Trail
Head

Contents

Introduction

Summary Table

Public and Private Campgrounds
   Santa Mateo County
   Santa Clara County
   Santa Cruz County

Camping Areas for Groups
   Santa Mateo County
   Santa Clara County
   Santa Cruz County

Backcountry Trail Camps
   Santa Mateo County
   Santa Clara County
   Santa Cruz County

Public Parks with Horse Camps
   All Areas

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Outdoor Recreation Guides

Resources

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Trail Building
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Mission
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Trail Center
3921 E. Bayshore Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Ph.: (650) 968-7065
info@trailcenter.org

Where to Camp on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the South Bay Area

Directions:	Park headquarters-9 mi N of Boulder Creek via Hwys 9 and 236. Rancho del Oso Unit/Waddell Beach - off Hwy 1, 7 mi N of Davenport.
Information:	Park Headquarters: (831) 338-6132. Rancho del Oso Unit (831) 42S-1218
Reservations:	Call park number for instructions.
Camps:	6 locations, all accessible from the Skyline-to-the-Sea (STTS) Trail: Lane-Sunset Camp near China Grade and the Rim Trail, About 7.2 mi to the Waterman Gap Camp (Castle Rock State Park); 4.9 mi to Big Basin Headquarters-Jay Camp; 5 mi to Tarwater Camp (Pescadero Creek County Park; 5.5 mi to Portola Redwoods State Park Headquarters. Jay Camp, near Big Basin Headquarters. Enroute camp for hikers and cyclists. Sunset Camp, in park center near the junction of the Sunset and Berry Creek Falls trails. 5.5 mi from park headquarters; 6.5 mi from the ocean at Waddell Beach. Camp Herbert, on the STTS trail. 9 mi from park headquarters; 3.5 mi from Sunset Camp; 3 mi from Waddell Beach. Twin Redwoods Camp, on the STIS trail. 1.5 mi from Camp Herbert; 10.5 mi from park headquarters; 5 mi from Sunset Camp; 1.5 mi from Waddell Beach. Alder Camp, .25 mi W of Twin Redwoods Camp, 12.5 mi from the beach.
Open:	Daily all year.
Maps:	Big Basin State Park; Trail Map of the Santa Cruz Mountains (Maps 1-2); ; USGS 7.5'quads Año Nuevo, Big Basin, Davenport, Franklin Point.

Directions:	On Sky1ine Blvd (Hwy 35), 4 mi S of Saratoga Gap (the intersection of Hwys 35 and 9). 15000 Skyline Blvd, Los Gatos (mailing address).
Information:	(408) 867-2952 or (831) 429-2850
Reservations:	Call information numbers for instructions. Register at campgound, (not at parking lot) before sunset. No reservations required, except at Waterman Gap Campground ((831) 338-6132).
Camps:	Two areas: NO smoking, dogs, bikes, fires. 23 sites at Castle Rock Camp, near park headquarters, 2 mi via Hwy 35 and park road or 2 8 mi by trail from the Castle Rock parking lot. 6 sites at Waterman Gap Camp, near the junction of Hwy 9 and the N end of Hwy 236 (the Big Basin Road), off the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail 9.7 mi from Castle Rock Camp, 7.7 mi. from Lane-Sunset Camp in Big Basin.
Open:	Daily all year.
Maps:	Castle Rock State Park; Trail Map of the Santa Cruz Mountains (Map 1); USGS 7.5' quads Big Basin, Castle Rock Ridge.

Directions:	From Hwy 1, 6 mi S of Santa Cruz, take Aptos-Seacliff exit, N to Soquel Rd, E on Soquel to Aptos Creek Rd (begins in parking lot across from Exxon Station after crossing bridge over Aptos Creek), N to park.
Information:	(831) 761-3487
Reservations:	Required. Call information number for instructions.
Camps:	1 trail camp, the West Ridge Trail Camp, 6.5 to 7.5 mi from the trailhead on Aptos Creek Rd, depending on route taken. No ground fires. Bring water.
Open:	Daily all year.
Maps:	The Forest of Nisene Marks; USGS 7.5' quads Laurel, Loma Prieta (and Soquel for the Aptos Creek Rd entrance). Park map available at Henry Cowell or Aptos Library.