Lower Blooms Creek, near Boulder Creek, California, is a campground that’s currently closed but has a rich history of offering a stunning escape into the majestic redwoods. This spot was once a favorite for campers looking to immerse themselves in nature, surrounded by towering trees and serene hiking trails.

The campground was known for its spacious sites, which provided a sense of privacy and tranquility. Visitors often enjoyed the well-kept facilities, including clean bathrooms and showers, making it easy to unwind after a day of exploring. As one camper fondly recalled, “The sites felt pretty spaced out, and didn’t feel noisy at all,” which added to the peaceful atmosphere.

While the campground is closed due to fire damage, it was a gateway to incredible outdoor adventures. Hikers could easily access trails leading to breathtaking waterfalls and scenic views, with a creek nearby for a refreshing splash. Many campers cherished their time here, with one stating, “Big Basin will always be one of my favorite places on earth.”

Though it’s a tough time for this beloved campground, the hope remains that it will reopen, allowing future visitors to experience the beauty of the redwoods and the charm of Lower Blooms Creek once again.

CAMPGROUND CLOSED DUE TO FIRE:

Public access to Big Basin has been severely impacted by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire and ongoing fire recovery work, but the park is now open for limited day-use access. Reservations for parking are not required, but are encouraged due to the limited amount of first-come, first-served parking available. Reserve a parking space. The parking fee is $6 per vehicle plus a $2 reservation fee or $10 per vehicle without a reservation. No reservations or fees are required for visitors arriving by foot, bike, or bus. Read the FAQs for more information on the reservation system and visiting Big Basin. 

Established in 1902, Big Basin Redwoods is California’s oldest state park. In the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Big Basin camping's biggest attractions—literally—are its ancient coast redwoods. Some of these giants are more than 50 feet around and as tall as the Statue of Liberty. At 1,000 to 1,800 years old, some may predate the Roman Empire. The park also offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, lush waterfalls, and a fascinating natural and cultural history.

 The park has more than 80 miles of trails. Some of these trails link Big Basin to Castle Rock State Park and the eastern reaches of the Santa Cruz range. The Skyline to the Sea Trail threads its way through the park along Waddell Creek to the beach and adjacent Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, a freshwater marsh.

 The park has a number of waterfalls, a variety of habitats (from lush canyon bottoms to sparse chaparral-covered slopes), many animals (deer, raccoons, bobcats) and lots of bird life—including Steller’s jays, egrets, herons and California woodpeckers.

Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED

Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Boulder Creek, CA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Boulder Creek is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Discover great camping spots near Boulder Creek, reviewed by campers like you.

Boulder Creek

The Best Camping Near Boulder Creek, California

Smells amazing here

Great campsites with lots of space and beautiful scenery. We had a HUGE site (#122) with a creek running right behind it. The spots are spread out pretty nicely but the noise can be pretty bad due to echoing effects. I think it just depends on your neighbors. We had a huge group of people in the sites around us so noise was pretty bad. There are LOTS of hiking trails in the park. We only did one day hike but I would really like to go back and do some more exploring here. 

Cool Campground. Lots of hiking. 

We visited the Big Basin Redwoods State Park late July this year with a large group of friends and their families and it was such an awesome experience. We stayed in a tent cabin at the Huckleberry campground which was nicer than we thought it would be. It had just the right amount of space for my wife and I, our two daughters and all our gear. The entire campground is loaded with trees so there was plenty of shade everywhere. There's also a few decent hiking trails close to the campground which is really cool and convenient. My daughters enjoyed every minute from the hiking, riding their bikes, campfires as well as all the other great things to do when camping. We also explored the Visitor Center to see some of the most magnificent dinosaur-like redwoods including what they call the 'Father of the Forest' and 'Mother of the Forest' trees. The guide was an encyclopedia of information on the massive trees which he shared with us along the tour. If you're at all interested, then you must go on the short tour. The only complaint I have is about the one night there were what seemed to be very loud college students, probably from UC Santa Cruz or another nearby college, who were in the cabin at the site next to ours and were partying way too hard. We had to tell them to keep it down since they had woken us up. I'm all for a little partying, but damn, they were loud and no one came around to tell them to keep it down besides us. Other than that, all in all, we had a great tent cabin campsite and did notice some even better in the campground, so we will definitely be going back again.

Summer Family Fun at Big Basin

This was a long family camp trip in an amazing location. Our campsite was a walk-in, fairly secluded spot partially up a steep hill. There were only a handful of spots on that pathway, so there weren't many neighbors. Camp had a picnic table, fire ring, bear box, &amp; lots of nearby trails &amp; paths for exploring. Toilets with showers, and dishwashing stations were nearby as well.

The highlight of this campground is the ample opportunity for wandering. There are many trails, easy walks through ancient redwoods, moderate trails to beautiful waterfalls, and tougher trails for dedicated hikers.

At the lodge area, there's a store, restaurant, and gift shop, plus educational programs, family events, and community campfires. The kids went on a guided hike to become junior rangers, which gave the parents some free time in the afternoon.

It's an amazing place to be, and we definitely need to spend more time there.

Beautiful Trails Through Towering Redwoods

This campground is pretty nice but the walk in system is terrible. We wanted to stay for 3 nights but each they wouldn't allow us to simply pay for 3 nights. Instead each morning we had to drive to the rangers station and pay for the next night. The morning before the 3rd night we were informed someone had beat us to the campsite for that day and even though all of the other walk in sites were empty we had to move sites. We ended up leaving.

They are very strict at this campground so make sure you follow the rules exactly. I saw the rangers give 6 citations in the 2 days I was there.

It is beautiful though and the sites are large. Bathrooms are clean. Showers are 50 cents for 2 minutes but take most of that time to warm up.

Beware the system

Great place to hike and "get lost" in the woods. No dogs on trails though. California state park rule....

Redwoods!

I have camped and hiked here a couple times and fall is my favorite time to come. When it's damp here everything looks so green and magical. Plus if you are lucky you get to see all the newts and banana slugs come out. Only warming is that raccoons can be a problem so lock up your food!

Amazing in fall!

We stayed in a cabin in the huckleberry campground.   The cabins were nice, and each cabin has 2 double
 beds, a table, and a wood stove.   It can get cold at night in the redwoods so the wood stove was great at night.   Each campsite has a fire pit with a grill cover which made it easy to cook dinner.   The sites are a decent size with lots of trees to climb on, hide in, and play on.  You can get ‘add on’ packages with the cabins, which include things like sheets and pillows for the beds, propane lanterns, and cooking items.  

nice cabins

We stayed here for a few nights and thought it was clean and spacious. Close to the visitor center. We did some hiking as well, a popular and short hike is to Sempervirens Falls.

Blooms Creek Campground was beautiful

We camp here every year in May or June. It's always fun. The tent cabins are super convenient.

Tent Cabin Sites

More han 140 campsites available with flish toilets, water, and large campsites for groups. Rangers drove by each night to keep the larger parties quiet past 10pm.

Best thing anout this cakpground round is proximity to the Berry Creek Falls... a huge series of water falls on a super long and strenuous hike.

Camping in the Forest

This campground has great bathroom facilities and has a creek that runs through it that the kids loved playing in all day. The slugs were hanging out in trees all around us and it was so much fun looking for them. The sites were very spacious and this has probably been one of my favorite campgrounds!

Absolute perfection

My husband and I have camped here since we first started dating and I camped here as a child while on family vacations. One of the most spectacular campgrounds I have been too. Hiking trails throughout the park, private camping, and a quick trip to Santa Cruz. The winter months are super cold and on numerous occasions we have been the only people camping. The sky is super clear at night and the stars are amazing.

Amazing!

There is something awesome about standing inside a tree that is literally 10 times bigger than you! Camping here was one of the most special, amazing camping adventured in my life. My husband is an environmental geologist, so he had been working in California for the cleanup after the wildfires. So we decided when he was done I would fly down and we would take a little vacation. We had spent the week before in Yosemite National Park, so by the time we got here (not even gonna lie) we were exhausted and a little sick. In Yosemite the temperature drop at night gave us both a little cold, but thankfully the temperature in Big Basin was not nearly as harsh.

Before arriving we reserved a campsite on their website at the Huckleberry campground. At the time the Huckleberry campsite was the only one open, maybe because it was off season, although I am not sure. On the website there are actually pictures of each site so you can choose to your liking. I chose a small site with a lot of trees, what I thought was the most breathtaking site. It was just our little tent so we didn't need much room. The site had one parking spot, a picnic table, a fire pit with rack, and what I call a "bear box" which is a animal resistant container for food.

Our site was close to the bathrooms, showers, and dumpster which was convenient for us especially after 'roughing' it in Yosemite. Every facility was clean and surprisingly very nice. We didn't end up using the fire pit, but instead just cooked our food over a pocket rocket, but I do believe they had firewood for sale at the rangers hut. They had a grocery store but it is not open during the winter months so plan accordingly. However there is a town in Bouldercreek, CA with a grocery store, some bars, and a few restaurants. It is about a 20 miles drive out of the park to the town.

We ended up taking a break from the cold one afternoon while we were there and drove into town to eat at Boulder Creek Pizza &amp; Pub. It was absolutely delicious, but whether it was actually the best pizza in the world, or it had been so long since we had a real meal, either way it was great!

The trails and campground are easy to get too and well marked, but we did lose service on the drive into the park. The education center on site is very interesting and teaches you so much about the history and growth of the amazing Redwood trees. Even every single campsite is breathtaking so you can't lose. We did a few trails around our campsite, nothing very extreme.They do have very good hiking trails with distance, just make sure you get a map before. Everything was just so wondrous and beautiful. I felt like a kid exploring this place, so small and insignificant in the big scheme of things. I will never forget this park, it will forever hold a spot in my heart and soul.

Trees, Trees, Trees!

Overall great time when we went. The spot we had was a little small but was no problem because not many people were there. Great trails and great service. The raccoons were a little much at night.

Very Woodsy

Our site was inside a redwood tree circle and was nice an isolated feeling from the other sites. We had a few perfectly clear nights and the stars through the silhouette of the trees was unforgettable.

There are also miles upon miles of trails to hike and explore on through the redwoods and around some waterfalls. Absolutely stunning.

Beautiful!

Really awesome campground and the classic departure point for hiking the mellow but long mostly downhill Skyline to the Sea Trail (first mile is the gnarliest, then almost all downhill on a nice trail. Fairy rings (where the redwoods have grown up in a ring) and hollowed out tree trunks made awesome forts when we were kids. Sites aren’t too close together.

live in the redwoods

There is no down side to this campground.  I stayed in Blooms Creek, site 122.

  

You may find a fussy thing here or there, but really, it's a delightful place to camp.

  

Camp site 122 is truly the best - I scouted for better ones, but this one was tops! Lots of space (I set up my 14 x 9 tent in a circle of redwood trees), lots of privacy (hey-yo!).  But really, every campsite is pretty great.  Tall redwoods all around, plenty of shade, potable water, a dish washing stations (!!!!), flush commodes, coin operated showers, hiking trails galore and a camp store with most anything you might have forgotten to bring along.  Also, lots of programming through the Park Headquarters (nature walks, kids activities, amphitheater fireside talks).

Things to know so you get your head around it now ...

  

1) NO CELL SERVICE.  There is free wifi at the camp store and it stays on all night (I know, I went after hours to check the \*Cubs/Cards score - go Cubs!  \*Cubs won 5-1).

  

2) Firewood sold at the camp store or camp host (as of June 2019) is $13.00 a bundle.  Yes, that's twice what you might normally pay.  In town (Boulder Creek) is not much better.  Side note, there is a CUTE coffee shop in Boulder Creek called Tree House Cafe - GREAT coffee and nice staff.  Plus there are two Redwoods in the middle of the cafe.  I mean... come on!!!

  

3) This campground is very close to UC Santa Cruz.  I camped Sun-Tues right after school let out for the summer so there was definitely the 'let's camp and get wasted' kinda thing.  They were actually kinda of adorable and nothing too unruly, but maybe time your stay with that in mind if you are not in the mood for that sort of camping neighbor.  

  

4) No Bigfoot sightings.  I looked.

  

5) The bathrooms (while decent) did NOT have hand soap.  Bring your own.  And remember, sharing is caring (read: leave it in the bathroom cause most people were not aware of this).  

  

6) Midweek in summer is still crowded.  This place is RAD and people know it... get your reservations EARLY.

  

7) Mosquitoes are for realz here.  I left with over 30 bites (16 on my knees alone).  Citronella candle did NOTHING.  I had DEET spray... NOTHING.  I heard Bounce Dryer Sheets brings the magic (yes, take the sheet and get carried away on your arms, legs etc as if you are toweling off).  I'm trying this cause it's better than ya know... West Nile/Zika (which I probably now have).

  

I definitely returned better than when I arrived... this place is pretty.  I truly hope you have an outstanding time here.  

  

Cheers!

So sweet!

Lots of redwoods making it shady a private. The campsites seemed private. There are walk-in sites that are easy to get to and very private. This campground seems huge. There are little streams all over that add to the wonder. 

Camp in a cathedral of redwoods 

Make a reservation. If you don't have one, come super early to add your name on the waiting list. They'll let you know by 5PM if you got a spot and have a back up plan. 

Make a reservation

No matter what site you reserve, all the site are amazing! We had #108. Near the bathroom, wash room, garbage dumpsters. The only con was the windy road! I eat sour patch kids to help with getting car sick. Easy to find. The site is pet friendly. You can only walk the dogs at paved areas, no trails. Our dogs still had fun. The redwood trees were amazing! Definitely an experience you will never forget! 

Amazing camp sites

Great setting, awesome trails to trek,  can get busy during the weekend. Redwoods galore and look out for the slugs please don’t step on them. If you need a place to chill this is the spot.

Living in the trees

This is a great place to camp for the sheer beauty and stillness. I would say it is not perfect because it is very remote and there are not as many easy/moderate hiking trails as I would hope. There are many very long hiking excursions, however, that seem to be really popular. Still a great place to spend a night or two!

Beautiful, remote, serene

We stayed here with our 2 dogs last November as a nice winter getaway from L.A. We got one of the tent cabins, which are just adorable and so cozy. The sites are nice and distanced from each other, bathrooms were in great shape and it was pet friendly. We got a package with the tent cabin that came with bedding, cooking utensils and firewood, so were pretty much set once we got there. The beds are comfy and the wood burning stove (photo attached) is the only source of heat. It is neat but BE WARNED...it gets COLD on those winter nights so make sure you a) have enough wood; b) are good at keeping fires going throughout the night; and c) have lots of dry wood. The wood that was left for us as part of our package was really wet and wouldn't burn so we had a very chilly night even with loads of sleeping bags and blankets. Other than that, we had a great experience and got to take the dogs for a great walk on the paved trails in the State Park. Can't wait to go back!

Idyllic campground close to loads of beauty

Gorgeous location! Stayed at Huckleberry Campground for a night and loved it. Very serene, beautiful redwoods and small trails by the campsite. Facilities were nice and clean, showers required quarters. There was no AT&amp;T cell service anywhere, but you can get free wifi at the Park Headquarters. You need to check in there before getting a campsite! Thankfully they’re open late, at least 6:30pm - I didn’t ask for their official hours. 

Beautiful and peaceful

Big Basisn is a bit hard to get to with a long and winding road... but you get a great park in the Redwoods with a creek running through it.  This can be a busy crowded park so I like to enjoy it in the spring and the fall.  In spring you get wild flowers as a treat.

  

Great nature hikes here for the little ones and some prime hiking for the adults.

  

Cabins are available here and then there is a store and a visitor's center.  Not your primitive out of the away place.  It has all the amenitites.

Redwoods, Waterfalls & Trails

I am a tent camper so that is what I know.  I do know there are cabins here as well, but I have only seen them, not stayed in one.

  

This is a big park down at the end of a long winding road.  I have camped in the group site and individuals sites.  All appear wooded.  But do look for poison oak!  Also there is creek which runs through the park so I like to get a site on the creek.

  

There is great hiking here.  You can hike down to the ocean, but also to a wonderful water fall.

  

This can be a busy place with the cabins, the visitor center and the store. But when you are out on the trails it is not crowded.  There is a well signed nature trail through some old growth redwoods with large tress to climb on!

Redwood Wonder

So sad the devastation of last month's fires on the oldest state park in California, home to thr biggest redwoods south of San Francisco. We were lucky to have camped there this summer and when it reopens will return. 

Our space was in the Huckleberry campsite. My only complaint was the proximity to the cabins &amp; their noisy doors, lol. The site was otherwise quite comfortable. 

If you like day hiking the Santa Cruz mountains are glorious. From giant trees to waterfalls to sandstone, the variety will keep you interested. 

Huckleberry drive-in campground

Big trees, scenic hikes, waterfalls (in the spring) and spacious sites ... what's not to like???  Okay, for those who welt up with mosquito bites, the ONE nit I have is that the lack of air movement during the summer = LOTS of bites.  I highly recommend camping in the spring or fall if you are prone to welt-y bug bites.

LOVE this majestic state park and its campground

It's been a while since we've camped here but we still have great memories of this wonderful treasure.  It's one of the few campgrounds where - despite how numerous the campsites are - they did not feel crowded together.  Our only suggestion is to avoid camping in the summer time - as there were numerous mosquitos and the lack of air movement allows them to pester us endlessly.  This is a place I would come back to over and over - either in the spring or fall.

Gorgeous campground in spectacular state park

We stayed here the summer before it burned down. It was 95 degrees in this redwood forest. I am grateful to have visited these big trees. We had a great trip. It was a nice park with a lot of old redwood trees. Fun creek behind campground for pups to splash around. Easy flat trails to walk. There were Friendly Europeans with their families, Quiet park, But a ton of misquitos! Bring the spray. We drove 9 miles to Boulder Creek and found an epic swimming hole by Cafe  to help cool us in the 95 degree heat. Bring groceries and firewood as it cost us $13 for a bundle at the market. Best Sites: Huckleberry #62 Blooms #129.

Redwoods are lovely

I camped here one year for my birthday, at the Sempervirens Campground.  It was such a gorgeous spot to camp.  The sites felt pretty spaced out, and didn't feel noisy at all.  Our site even had a fairy ring, so it felt pretty special!  The campground was also close to hiking, so we didn't even have to get in our cars.  Don't expect to use the trees to put up a hammock, as they are TOO BIG to put a rope around, but also it isn't allowed.

It makes a little sad to write this review as I camped here before the fire.  So sad it is closed down, I hope it reopens at some point.

Camping among redwoods

Big Basin has been part of my life growing up.  Not far from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area in California.  When you arrive it's like stepping in to a whole other world.  Huge redwoods blanket the mountain and line every site.  Great hiking trails, creaks and fallen giant redwoods make for unlimited exploration.  Many sites but they book out fast.  Bathrooms, showers, general store are all well kept and stocked.   Big Basin will always be one of my favorite places on earth....

Phenomenal escape from the Bay Area 

Big Basin is unfortunately closed to camping. You can't even bring a trailer in for day use as parking is very limited. This is due to a fire a few years back that devastated the park and completely burned down all structures, including ranger station, store, and all restrooms.  

  

It is a shame because it is/was a fantastic place.

Photos of Lower Blooms Creek — Big Basin Redwoods State Park — CAMPGROUND CLOSED

Real photos from real campers