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Campgrounds near Boulder Creek, California range from tent-only sites and walk-in areas to RV spots and primitive backcountry options in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Big Basin Redwoods State Park, located just outside Boulder Creek, has been a popular destination featuring tent sites, RV spots, and walk-in camping areas surrounded by ancient redwood trees. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground, approximately 7 miles south of Boulder Creek, offers similar amenities with drive-in and hike-in access. Both parks provide mixed-use campgrounds that accommodate different camping styles, though some facilities like Big Basin have faced closures due to wildfire damage in recent years. The Santa Cruz Mountains region surrounding Boulder Creek contains several additional camping areas with varying levels of development.
"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," noted one camper about Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Most campgrounds in the area require reservations, especially during peak summer months when sites fill quickly. The region experiences typical coastal mountain weather patterns with cool, foggy mornings even during summer months. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with complete bans common during dry periods. Cell service is limited or non-existent in many camping areas, particularly in the densely forested sections. Several campgrounds provide water and restroom facilities, though primitive sites may require visitors to pack in their own supplies. The terrain ranges from relatively flat campground areas to steep, challenging hiking trails connecting different parts of the parks.
Campers report high satisfaction with sites nestled among the redwoods, with many reviews highlighting the unique experience of sleeping beneath ancient trees. "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 adventures in my life," shared one visitor to Big Basin. The proximity to Boulder Creek town (about 9 miles from Big Basin) allows campers to access supplies and occasional respite from the heat, with several reviews mentioning trips into town for meals or groceries. Mosquitoes can be problematic in some areas, particularly near water sources. Most tent and RV sites include standard amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and food storage lockers to protect supplies from wildlife. The region's campgrounds balance accessibility with a genuine forest experience, making them popular with families and outdoor enthusiasts from the Bay Area.
"This is a nice campground in a great part of California with lots of hiking and beaches nearby. The bathrooms were clean and well kept."
"There were bigger sites that would've suited us better but it was a nice little tucked in site. The poison oak is prolific. Our site was literally surrounded by it."
from $7 - $35 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Tall redwoods all around, plenty of shade, potable water, a dish washing stations (!!!!)"
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Camped with electricity and water, situated on a bluff near the ocean. Easy walking distance to the water, nice roomy campsites with fire rings and tables. Not too close to other campers."
"New Brighton is a jewel on the California coast. Camping is on a bluff above beach and you must walk down stairs to get to the beach. Camping in the woods with the beach below is perfect."
from $35 - $185 / night
Check Availability"They are a bit narrow, so much of the camp side you will have a close look at your neighbors utilities. When the park is full, it is close. Go on weekdays, not as busy and more room is likely."
"Do not take highway 9 from Santa Cruz as the RV park will tell you. Our car navigation changed our route even after we were approaching 17 north. Keep your eyes out for the highway signs."
"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."
"Great walk-in campground so close to home in the South Bay Area (albeit walk is slightly uphill)."
from $33 / night
Check Availability"It is a smaller park than many of the other redwoods parks in Northern California, so it was very nice and peaceful. Butano is a bit off the beaten path to get to, but so worth it."
"Large, user-friendly campsites surrounded by redwood trees. Great ferny hiking trails for every level of camper/hiker. Very easy access to campsites and near Pescadero and Highway One."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Entrance is a little nerve racking on your first visit, but once your at your site you can relax. Bathrooms are a little dated, no cell service but good WiFi if your close to the office."
"The place is old, but it has a great location. There are great hiking trails assessable from the campground."
from $60 - $100 / night
Check Availability"But for a quick weekend jaunt for RV campers, this location slightly more than an hour from the Bay Area is hard to beat."
"There is a nice playground next to an equally nice café called the pinecone. The weather here is cold just a heads up be prepared for wind and overcast weather."
from $100 - $200 / night
Check Availability"It's a great place to use as a basecamp for exploring the myriad of hiking trails that exist in the redwoods and nearby coastal hikes. "
"Given all that and its proximity to SF, I’ll be aiming to get reservations here every summer, and some winter seasons too."
from $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability"The parking lot for the trail head is just a bit further down Hwy 35. "
"There is a nearby shooting range and you can hear the gunshots during the daylight hours."
from $8 / night
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TravelerThis is a 10 out of 10 stay. The outdoor kitchen and gardens are to die for and the owners are incredibly hospitable and kind we stayed for five days. It’s really the type of place you just have to see for yourself. Multiple showers and bathrooms. I stayed in my RV, but there are a cabin options as well as tent options booked to be a Hipcamp and beyond worth the cost. I highly recommend more than one night.
TravelerAround this time of year, park is practically empty during weekdays. Nice and quiet and peaceful place where you can slow things down
GuideGreat location with spaces in safe SE bay area location and reasonable prices New development small young trees limited natural shade
TravelerIt’s about the only campground we could find in Monterey, it’s clearly city camping. It’s expensive, crowded on the weekends and the campsites are close together. We managed to get in on a Thursday and snag site 22. It’s technically a “walk in” site, where your car is not parked AT the site but it’s honestly about 60 feet, and you get SO MUCH more space. They charge extra for a shower, which seems crazy to me and there’s no electric, which is wild for $50/night. But we needed to be in the area so here we are. It’s not terrible, there’s just a lot of noises. Oh and you hear the various songs and calls from the military base.
ScoutVery quiet campground at night. See stars clearly. Use the fire pit after 730pm when the wind has calmed down.
GuideThis is at a racetrack. During the week, there's a handful of campers and some track noise during the day only. Evenings are very peaceful.
Coming from San Francisco, the spacious sites and price are a welcomed change. There are trails all around. The views are great. There are squirrels and birds all around.
GuideThere are many spot. It's a parking lot and the spots are very snug. The edge by the ocean lost a few.
Staff is kind, helpful and responsive. Area is clean and very peaceful. It's a bit pricey. Our standard spot was $150.
GuideLike most/all east bay parks, this is well appointed for the masses. It’s also surrounded by rolling hills and close to suburbia. For many, these are positives. As an east bay resident they are for me as well. Del Valle is a bit more removed than many east bay parks. From my location in Fremont, it’s a one hour drive. A pleasant drive for the most part. I camp to get away for a bit and almost always to mountain bike. As such, I seek parks that have trails. Del Valle has a map of many trails. They also appear on many of the mapping services used by mountain bikers. Review those and digest them if this is also your intention - these are east bay parka style trails. In other words, mostly steep and loose fire roads, with many “social trails” sprinkled between. If you are compelled to stay legit/legal trails, bring an ebike. Now on to the camping. I picked a spot as far removed from any booked spot on the map. I triple checked this up until the day before I arrived. I want solitude! When I arrived Thursday afternoon, I was surprised to see the sites just 3 spaces away, on both sides, occupied. This is a fairly compact area. And while I’m sure they’re lovely folks, this isn’t what I expected on a Thursday. Saturday? Sure. Anyway… be aware that these reservation services aren’t completely reliable in that regard. The bathrooms and showers are amazing! Clean, smell good, cared for. Noteworthy is the hot showers in the camp grounds are free and your one push of the button provides water for two minutes I'd guess. Very nice! The space, 135 for me, is okay. A couple trees for shade, a nice table and fire pit. It’s now dark and the noise is minimal - mostly from the group campsite just down the hill. I’ll update this with more details in the coming days since it’s a 4 day visit.
Update 1: it’s my first morning here. Using starlink as there is no cell signal to be found. What I noticed last night was that this park is directly below the flight path to the local airports. Every couple minutes last night, a plane would fly overhead. According to flight aware, they’re at about 10,000 feet. If this will ruin your getaway, you’ve been warned.
Update 2: On Friday night, the majority of the spots were filled. Many large groups of people with varying degrees of consideration, but to their credit almost all (except the barking German Shepard) were quiet by 10PM. It was a bit more crowded come Saturday morning. Some friends came to visit for a mountain bike ride, and we set off at about noon. I had been complimentary of the facilities and bragged that I'd be taking a nice shower after our ride. Unfortunately, upon our return, there was no hot water and no lighting in the showers. And, sadly, someone decided to remove the tags and hangers from their TJ Maxx haul and leave them all over the floor of two of the showers.
Verdict: I'd only come back here in the springtime when it's likely to be green and have some water in the arroyo and only during the week. The density and composition of the people here was akin to being at Costco on a Saturday, and I only did that once.
TravelerNothing like camping under the redwoods with sounds of streams nearby. Restrooms and facilities are clean and well maintained. Park Rangers are extremely nice and helpful.
Camping spots near Boulder Creek, California range from walk-in tent sites to full-service RV resorts scattered throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains. The area sits at elevations between 400-2,600 feet, creating diverse microclimates that can vary from foggy 50°F mornings to 90°F afternoons during summer months. Winter camping typically sees nighttime temperatures drop to the low 40s with occasional frost at higher elevations.
Hiking to waterfalls: Castle Rock State Park offers trails with ocean views and a waterfall right at the beginning. "There's even a waterfall right at the beginning of the hike. There are a couple of different trails you can take, but the most scenic one IMO is the one that follows a west facing ridge," notes one visitor to Castle Rock Trail Camp.
Creek exploration: Many campgrounds feature creeks and small rivers perfect for cooling off. At Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, "There is a little trail that goes down to the River where you can find a neat little beach. It's a goofy little descent/climb to get there and out but worth it," according to one camper.
Mountain biking: The Santa Cruz Mountains offer numerous biking trails of varying difficulty. San Mateo Memorial Park serves as an excellent base for riders. As one camper states, "It's a great place to use as a basecamp for exploring the myriad of hiking trails that exist in the redwoods and nearby coastal hikes."
Climbing at Castle Rock: The rock formations provide popular climbing opportunities. "We have used it for two purposes. First when were were climbing in Castle Rock State Park and this was our hub and second when we were doing the Skyline to the Sea Trail," explains a regular visitor to Castle Rock State Park.
Diverse tent site options: From walk-in to drive-up, the area offers varying camping experiences. At Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, "Sites had a variety of sizes and 'styles'. Some were very woodsy and some more open and sunny. Bathroom was clean and we liked that they sold firewood on site."
Proximity to coastal activities: Many campgrounds are a short drive to beaches. "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," shares a visitor to Butano State Park.
Access to small towns: Local communities provide supplies and dining options. "Great spot to camp, close to grocery stores and gas stations," notes one camper about Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground.
Night sky viewing spots: Several campgrounds offer stargazing opportunities away from city lights. "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," reports a Butano State Park visitor.
Limited cell service: Most campgrounds have spotty or no coverage. At Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, "Wifi provided, however it would go out late at night after 10 pm until the morning time."
Variable water availability: Some campgrounds have seasonal water limitations. Castle Rock Trail Camp warns campers that "Although there is a communal water source at the campsite entrance, the water was deemed not safe to drink when I was there, and that had been the case for a while."
Reservation requirements: Most popular sites book months in advance. "Hard to find a spot here these days but a great camping spot above the beach," mentions a visitor to New Brighton State Beach.
Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be prevalent in summer months. "Mosquitoes can be problematic in some areas, particularly near water sources," according to multiple reviews.
Campgrounds with kid-friendly amenities: Some sites offer special activities for children. Cotillion Gardens RV Park receives praise for family facilities: "I loved this campsite! Plenty of trees for shade, there's a pool, hiking trails, a little river. So beautiful and peaceful here."
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer ranger-led programs. At Santa Cruz North-Costanoa KOA, "The resort also has great activities for kids that they occasionally bring on site, such as a climbing wall and nature talks with live animals."
Sites with paved paths: Some campgrounds offer easier navigation for families. As one Henry Cowell visitor notes, "If you have littles the roads are paved so a scooter or bike could be fun."
Early booking for holiday periods: Holiday weekends fill up 6+ months in advance. "We loved camping here with our 25ft camping trailer. There was plenty of room for it on site 105, however if it was any higher it would be hitting tree limbs."
RV site selection strategy: Choose sites away from main roads for better privacy. At San Mateo Memorial Park, "Some sites are very private, some right on top of each other."
Utility connections: Many RV sites require extension hoses. "Bring your sewer hose extension. Most other sites had them from what I could see," advises an RVer at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort.
Navigation challenges: Some roads leading to campgrounds are narrow. A Cotillion Gardens visitor warns, "Entrance is a little nerve racking on your first visit, but once your at your site you can relax."
Seasonal temperature variations: RVers should prepare for both hot days and cool nights. "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Boulder Creek, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Boulder Creek, CA is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 45 reviews.
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