Established Camping
Ben Ries Campground — Butano State Park
Warning 3 Alerts are In Effect
There are 3 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 3 Alerts are In Effect
There are 3 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
<p>No vehicles, other than bikes, are allowed in the bike-in site. This is a shared site; there could be other campers biking in and sharing the site with you. Please note that the rate listed under Unit Detail is a per-person rate. This site has a 2-night stay limit. NOTE: The rate listed is a per person nightly rate.</p>
Due to extensive fire damage, the park will be closed until further notice.
<p>The following campgrounds of the Santa Cruz District are collectively restricted to an occupancy limit of 30 days by the same person(s), equipment or vehicles in any calendar year: [CCR 4455(a)]</p> <p>Big Basin Redwoods State Park (Including Little Basin sub-unit)</p> <p>Butano State Park</p> <p>Castle Rock State Park</p> <p>Half Moon Bay State Beach</p> <p>Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park</p> <p>Manresa State Beach</p> <p>New Brighton State Beach</p> <p>Portola Redwoods State Park</p> <p>Seacliff State Beach</p> <p>Sunset State Beach</p> <p> </p>
About
State Park
BEN REIS CAMPINPGROUND is CLOSED as a result of fire-related damage to the park's water system.
Updated Nov 2022: This park unit is partially open. Please take the time to read the information contained on this webpage to find out what is open and closed, and what COVID-19 guidelines are in place: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=536
Due to the CZU Fire, areas of Butano State Park will remain closed. The fire has left many trees compromised and other trail hazards exist. Crews are continuing to work on repairs. For your safety, please stay out of closed areas.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Alcohol
Redwoods on the Coast
This is a hidden gem. A little bowl full of redwoods, a creek and great hiking. Lots of great tent sites but pick your site wisely so you are not too close to your neighbors. Also have some good back country hike in sites.
There is a nature trail along the creek.
If you hike up to the ridge on a clear day you can see the ocean. There is also an old landing strip on the hill you can hike to as well. Great hike along the ridge where you can bakcpack into a trail camp. Little streams along the way to get access to water.
Lovely
Butano State Park, Ben Reis was an excellent experience.
The park itself has great hikes, thick with Redwoods, immediately you feel like you are in Ewok territory. Lots of varying levels as well.
The campsite has car camping and walk-in sites. I had sites 5 and 6. The map for the campground is deceiving as they looked close together and connected but they were separate. If I were to come back and want two large sites to connect, I would choose either 6 and 8 or 10 and 13. If it's just two people, site 3 is pretty private as well as 14. 16 is also a good site, but too slanted. Overall, the sites are spaced apart nicely.
The bathrooms are pretty clean, flush toilets, no showers, no hot water and no soap. There is potable water throughout the campground, recycle bins, trash bins(animal proof) and bear lockers and firepits at each site. It does have a dishwashing station and most people cleaned up after themselves when using it(read: don't be a d-bag and clean the drain and basin people!!!). It is also a crumb free park and they take it very seriously. There is no cell service.
Fellow campers were there to camp, not to party, so that's always a plus(I was also there Sunday to Tuesday so…).
Great weather, lots of shade at the campsite and on the hikes. Coast was a cool 60's- 70's but warm in the sun(the coast/beaches are windy), night time was a lovely 55-59 degrees, easy to sleep, not too cold(first week in August). Hard to find stars as you are canopied in trees but if you walk a little out, the night sky is dark and stars a plenty.
The campground is very close to PCH/Highway 1 and the beaches are lovely. PCH is also dotted with farms and fruit stands, artisan pies, etc. The closest town is Pescadaro, and has a tiny main street with an excellent coffee shop, and grocery store with fresh baked pies, breads, jams, sauces, and a deli counter as well as sundry items. There are cheese farms/creameries as well surrounding the park.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, cheers!
Lovely!
Butano State Park, Ben Reis was an excellent experience. The park itself has great hikes, thick with Redwoods, immediately you feel like you are in Ewok territory. Lots of varying levels as well.
The campsite has car camping and walk-in sites. I had sites 5 and 6. The map for the campground is deceiving as they looked close together and connected but they were separate. If I were to come back and want two large sites to connect, I would choose either 6 and 8 or 10 and 13. If it's just two people, site 3 is pretty private as well as 14. 16 is also a good site, but too slanted. Overall, the sites are spaced apart nicely.
The bathrooms are pretty clean, flush toilets, no showers, no hot water and no soap. There is potable water throughout the campground, recycle bins, trash bins (animal proof) and bear lockers and firepits at each site. It does have a dishwashing station and most people cleaned up after themselves when using it (read: don't be a d-bag and clean the drain and basin people!!!). It is also a crumb free park and they take it very seriously. There is no cell service.
Fellow campers were there to camp, not to party, so that's always a plus (I was also there Sunday to Tuesday so...).
Great weather, lots of shade at the campsite and on the hikes. Coast was a cool 60's- 70's but warm in the sun (the coast/beaches are windy), night time was a lovely 55-59 degrees, easy to sleep, not too cold (first week in August). Hard to find stars as you are canopied in trees but if you walk a little out, the night sky is dark and stars a plenty.
The campground is very close to PCH/Highway 1 and the beaches are lovely. PCH is also dotted with farms and fruit stands, artisan pies, etc. The closest town is Pescadaro, and has a tiny main street with an excellent coffee shop, and grocery store with fresh baked pies, breads, jams, sauces, and a deli counter as well as sundry items. There are cheese farms/creameries as well surrounding the park.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, cheers!
- "The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
― Nelson Henderson
Location
Ben Ries Campground — Butano State Park is located in California
Address
1500 Cloverdale Road
Pescadero, CA 94060
Coordinates
37.2103358151 N
122.328804416 W