Best Tent Camping near Crockett, CA
Tent campsites near Crockett, California offer several backcountry and established options within the East Bay Regional Park system. Angel Island State Park provides tent-only sites at Sunrise Campground, which requires a ferry ride from Tiburon to access. Tilden Regional Park and Briones Regional Park both maintain primitive tent campgrounds within a short drive of Crockett, with Briones particularly noted for its horse riding opportunities and pet-friendly policies.
Most primitive tent areas in this region require campers to pack in their own water or utilize limited water sources at trailheads. Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve offers a small, primitive hike-in site approximately 0.2 miles from the parking area, suitable for tent camping only. The site features two tent pads, picnic tables, and a pit toilet, but no wood fires are permitted—only camp stoves. Many parks enforce strict fire regulations, particularly during dry summer months. Food storage lockers are available at most established tent campgrounds, though availability varies. A recent review noted, "Let's just call a spade a spade here, alright? This campground isn't going to be one that you look back at and fondly recollect a surreal experience in the middle of nature."
Areas farther from urban centers provide deeper seclusion and better star viewing. The Haypress Campground in Golden Gate National Recreation Area offers five hike-in tent sites less than a mile from the Tennessee Valley trailhead, with picnic tables and food storage lockers but no fires allowed. Tent pads at this location measure approximately 10' x 10', surrounded by wood beams on flat sandy areas. Backcountry tent campers should be prepared for wildlife encounters, including coyotes, owls, and raccoons. According to a visitor, "The night had beautiful stars with no artificial light. No road noise." Most tent-only sites require reservations well in advance due to limited availability, particularly during peak season from late spring through early fall.