Camping in the Ben Lomond area features elevations ranging from 500 to 3,000 feet within the Santa Cruz Mountains. Summer daytime temperatures typically reach 75-85°F, but evening temperatures in redwood groves can drop by 20 degrees after sunset. The fog pattern creates unique microclimates where you'll find certain campgrounds receiving more sun exposure than others within just a few miles.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Uvas Canyon County Park offers multiple waterfall trails accessible directly from the campground. "The Creek Trail by the campsite if you are here in Fall, it's magical!" notes Kyle H. Even during drier months, the trails provide scenic views through moss-covered rock walls and redwood groves.
Beach exploration: Sunset State Beach provides direct beach access via stairs from the campground. "We stayed here for three nights and it was beautiful! You can walk down to the beach, take a trip to the henry cowel redwoods, go ride bikes in santa cruz," shares Tiffany W. The beach stretches for miles with minimal crowds even during summer weekends.
Archery: Mount Madonna County Park features a 28-target archery course through forested trails. "There is an archery trail with 28 targets on a trail through the woods. We were there 3 days in a row and did 20 of the 28. It's really pretty and a cool challenge," reports April N. The course requires bringing your own equipment and offers variable difficulty levels.
What campers like
Well-maintained yurt accommodations: Mount Madonna County Park offers yurt camping near Ben Lomond, California with clean facilities. "Our friends stayed in one of the yurts and it was great, albeit a little cold for them at night. I believe there are 2 dog friendly yurts," mentions Lori T. The yurts include beds but require bringing your own bedding.
Redwood settings: Big Basin Redwoods State Park provides camping among ancient redwoods. "We camp here every year in May or June. It's always fun. The tent cabins are super convenient," says Carl N. The tent cabins include wood stoves for heating during cooler evenings.
Wildlife viewing: Sanborn County Park offers chances to observe local wildlife. "This is a nice camping away from the car experience. It's a short walk up a paved path from the parking to the campsites. The park provides carts to help with hauling gear," Amanda P. explains. The park has designated storage boxes at each site to protect food from wildlife.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds near Ben Lomond require reservations months in advance for summer weekends. "We were camping for 1 night and boy, was it crowded! Each and every group was fighting for the 'wagons' to haul stuff up the hike-in campsites," reports Pranj D. about Sanborn County Park.
Temperature fluctuations: Evening temperatures drop significantly in redwood forests. "It can get cold at night in the redwoods so the wood stove was great at night," notes Kim P. about Big Basin. Pack extra layers even during summer months when daytime temperatures can reach 85°F.
Limited cell service: Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA and other area campgrounds have minimal connectivity. "Wifi like always is iffy and ATT is limited. 1 bar at site 30," reports Rowan B. Some campgrounds offer Wi-Fi at bathhouses or common areas only.
Tips for camping with families
Campsite selection: Choose outer loop sites for more privacy. "The sites are a little close to each other, but those on the outside of the loop had a great deal of privacy. Inner loop sites have none, but would be great if you were camping with friends," advises Lori T. about Mount Madonna County Park.
Kid-friendly amenities: Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday offers numerous activities for children. "TONS of activities on site- huge bouncy pad, a climbing wall, ping pong tables, a swimming pool, pedal go karts, the list goes on and on," shares Daniel D. The campground also offers Halloween and themed weekends throughout the year.
Stream exploration: Uvas Canyon County Park provides creek access for children. "This campground is one of the best. Extremely beautiful & peaceful surroundings. Lots of trees. Rock walls heavy with moss," notes Tom and Marianne H. While swimming isn't permitted, children can wade in shallow areas during warmer months.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Bring leveling blocks for RV sites at most area campgrounds. "If you plan to sleep in your car, you may want to take leveling blocks as I found the car parking spot to be not leveled at all," advises Mon M. about Uvas Canyon County Park. The mountainous terrain creates uneven parking areas at many sites.
Space considerations: RV sites vary significantly in size and accessibility. "The pull through spaces are extremely tight to the point that our slide out was hitting vegetation and our neighbors awning was about two feet from our Rv. But, if you expect that, it's a great place to stay," explains Andrea A. about Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA. Back-in sites typically offer more space than pull-through options at most area campgrounds.
