Mount Madonna County Park offers a range of camping options 25 miles northeast of San Juan Bautista within the Santa Cruz Mountains. The park elevation ranges from 1,300 to 1,800 feet, placing it above the fog line most days for clear viewing conditions. Winter temperatures typically drop to 40°F lower than nearby Gilroy, requiring extra clothing and preparation from campers.
What to do
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Mount Madonna County Park features unique wildlife viewing, including the white fallow deer enclosure. "Near the ranger station there are pens with white fallow deer. They are descendants of the exotic zoo at William Randolph Hearst's mansion down the coast," explains April N. in her review of the park.
Archery practice: The park maintains a dedicated archery trail with 28 targets through wooded terrain. "We were there 3 days in a row and did 20 of the 28. It's really pretty and a cool challenge. Now my daughter's asking to put a target in the back yard," notes one visitor about this unique activity.
Hiking through coastal mountains: Sunset State Beach offers coastal hiking with minimal crowds. "Beach is long and expansive with very few people on an average day. Nice place to take a stroll and relax," says Mauriel O., highlighting the quiet nature of this beach compared to more populated Santa Cruz beaches.
Stargazing sessions: The location above the fog line creates prime conditions for astronomy. "The park sits above the fog line most of the year, creating ideal conditions for stargazing from glamping accommodations," notes a visitor, emphasizing the dark sky quality found in the San Juan Bautista region.
What campers like
Spacious camping areas: Mount Madonna County Park offers generous sites in certain areas. "Our site (418) was huge and private. There is a large vacant campsite across the road that's reserved for docents but it was empty when we were there so we had the cul-de-sac all to ourselves," reports April N.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the area maintain excellent cleanliness standards. "Bathrooms are extremely clean and well kept. The lake is nice (and you may spot geese or ducks), and there's plenty of room for kids to run around," explains Quyen W. from Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park.
Wildlife encounters: Thousand Trails San Benito in Paicines provides frequent wildlife sightings. "We found a lot of shady sites to choose from. There is a lot of wildlife here to see. Deer wandered through camp at all times of the day. You can see wild boar passing along the hillsides," reports Butch C.
Weather variations: Weather patterns vary significantly between coastal and inland camping locations. "It is a lot colder here than on the valley floor. Prepare for it to be 40deg colder than Gilroy or San Jose. We weren't prepared & had to drive into town & buy more clothes!" warns one Mount Madonna camper.
What you should know
Raccoon precautions: Pinnacles Campground requires careful food storage due to wildlife. "Raccoons….everywhere…. seriously leave your car locked, these little buggers were not afraid of humans," warns Theresa N., highlighting the importance of proper food storage.
Cell service limitations: Most campgrounds have limited or spotty connectivity. "Cell phone service for Xfinity/Verizon is spotty at best. There is weak wifi," reports a camper at Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park.
Campsite selection strategy: Research sites before booking as quality varies considerably within the same campground. "When booking campsites here, I recommend taking some time to research the campsites as they vary in size and privacy. I would recommend 301, 320, 323, 324 in the Valley View 3 area," advises one experienced camper.
Glamping in San Juan Bautista area: For luxury camping options beyond Mount Madonna's yurts, consider cabin accommodations at nearby resorts. "We stayed in one of the airstreams they have for rent there. The family loved it- it was the perfect size for us and everything worked and the outdoor patio had heavy duty tables and chairs along with fire pit and even a Weber grill," shares Jay from Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA Holiday offers extensive children's amenities. "This KOA is great for a family getaway. 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," explains Daniel D.
Biking opportunities: Some campgrounds provide safe areas for children to cycle. "Great campground for the kids to bike at but there are a few big hills so make sure they know how to use their brakes," warns Weston W. about Mount Madonna County Park.
Pool access during heat: Several campgrounds offer swimming facilities to counter hot conditions. "We have a two and a half year old and it's perfect for us in a 28' fifth wheel. Paved roads for bikes, huge playground, nice store, warm pool. It's perfect for families," shares Andrea A. about the Santa Cruz KOA.
Educational wildlife programs: Glamping near San Juan Bautista provides opportunities for children to learn about local fauna. "The park used to have hundreds of them, but a number of years ago the park service stopped allowing them to breed because they're an introduced species. So now they're down to just two white deer and when those die that'll be the end of that," explains a visitor regarding Mount Madonna's white deer conservation program.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Thousand Trails Morgan Hill offers partial hookups with convenient dump facilities. "No sewer hook up but dump station was close from our side," notes Tina M. about the arrangement.
Road navigation considerations: Some campgrounds require careful driving on narrow, winding roads. "Twisty drive to a beautiful campground," cautions Tanya B. about the route to Mount Madonna.
RV site dimensions: Verify site measurements when booking as descriptions may not match reality. "Site 211 was listed as 30' trailer but that was definitely not the case as it was a weird triangle parking area. We made it work and enjoyed the park," shares Weston W. about his experience with inaccurate site descriptions.
Seasonal power reliability: Power outages can occur in some locations. "We lost power twice here which was unfortunate but lasted 90 minutes once and 4-5 hours the other time," reports Derek & Kristen A. from Morgan Hill, highlighting the need for backup systems when glamping in the San Juan Bautista region.
