Best Tent Camping near Loma Mar, CA
Tent campsites around Loma Mar offer a secluded redwood forest experience in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Ben Ries Campground at Butano State Park provides both drive-in and walk-in tent sites surrounded by coastal redwoods, though visitors should note it is currently closed indefinitely. Castle Rock Trail Camp in Castle Rock State Park offers primitive tent-only sites accessible via a 2.5-mile hike, with several backcountry options for those seeking more solitude.
Most tent campgrounds near Loma Mar feature fire rings and picnic tables, but amenities vary considerably. At Butano State Park, sites typically include bear-proof food lockers, while more primitive options like Black Mountain Backpacking Camp have pit toilets but no drinking water. Several campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly during peak summer months. Tent campers should verify current fire restrictions before visiting, as seasonal bans are common in this drought-prone region. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "The bathrooms are pretty clean, flush toilets, no showers, no hot water and no soap. There is potable water throughout the campground."
The tent camping experience in this area is characterized by deep forest shade and relative quiet. Areas farther from Highway 1 offer deeper seclusion with less traffic noise. Black Mountain Backpacking Camp provides an accessible introduction to backcountry camping with only a 1.5-mile hike in, making it suitable for beginners. As one visitor described, "The campground is small too, and not many people actually showed up to use their sites, so we had the place mostly to ourselves." Tent sites throughout the region feature varying degrees of privacy, with some walk-in sites offering more seclusion than drive-in options. Most tent campgrounds in the area serve as excellent basecamps for day hiking, with trail networks leading through redwood groves and occasionally offering ocean views from ridge trails on clear days.
