Best Tent Camping near Gilroy, CA
The Santa Cruz Mountains surrounding Gilroy, California offer several tent camping options within a short drive. Uvas Canyon County Park, located about 15 miles west of Gilroy, features 25 tent campsites nestled in a wooded canyon with access to waterfall trails. Castle Rock Trail Camp in Castle Rock State Park provides primitive tent-only sites accessible via a 2.5-mile hike from Highway 35. Black Mountain Backpacking Camp in Monte Bello Open Space Reserve offers backcountry tent camping with minimal facilities but excellent views. These locations provide tent campers with varying levels of seclusion and amenities within 30-45 minutes of Gilroy.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature dirt or forest duff surfaces with varying degrees of shade. Uvas Canyon provides developed amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, food lockers, and access to potable water, showers, and flush toilets. Sites cost approximately $34 per night. Walk-in tent sites at Castle Rock Trail Camp are more primitive, with vault toilets and seasonal water that may be unreliable. Campers should verify water availability before hiking in or be prepared to carry their own. Fire restrictions are common during dry months, particularly at backcountry tent sites. Reservations are required for most locations, with some sites available on a first-come, first-served basis.
In early spring, tent campers at Uvas Canyon can enjoy small waterfalls and creek access, though one visitor noted the creek has a steep drop-off from the campsites. According to reviews, weekday camping offers significantly more solitude than weekends when sites can become crowded. At Castle Rock Trail Camp, a camper reported that "sites were spaced nicely to allow for privacy" with Frog Flat area being "more secluded than the main camp." Black Mountain Backpacking Camp provides an excellent introduction to backcountry tent camping with a relatively short 1.5-mile hike in. The pit toilets and bear boxes make this location particularly suitable for beginning backpackers while still offering the solitude of primitive tent camping.