Dog-Friendly Camping near San Ramon, CA

Las Trampas Regional Wilderness offers secluded camping opportunities within its 5,778 acres of rugged terrain. The park sits between 760-1,900 feet elevation, featuring steep ridges and deep canyons that provide a natural habitat for local wildlife. Campers must pack in their own drinking water as potable water isn't available at wilderness campsites.

What to do

Hiking varied terrain: Anthony Chabot Regional Park offers extensive hiking networks with both wide open trails and narrower wooded paths. "There is an extensive network of trails accessible from the campground. There are trails running throughout the park and around the lake that are a mix of wider open trails and narrower, through the woods, but groomed trails with plenty of up and down to make for a good hike," notes Ryan W.

Lake activities: Del Valle Campground provides access to one of the clearest lakes in the East Bay area. "The water is perfect temperature. Great hikes, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming and beginner windsurfing," writes Rosina A. The park includes rental options for recreational boats and kayaks at the marina.

Wildlife viewing: Early morning and evening offer optimal wildlife viewing opportunities at most parks. "We saw deer, turkeys, and many other four legged vermin running around the area," reports Stuart K. about Las Trampas. For bird watchers, Dumbarton Quarry Campground provides "stunning walks in the coyote hills and bird-watching in the estuary to the north," according to Blake H.

What campers like

Proximity to urban areas: Dumbarton Quarry Campground provides a convenient camping option without long travel times. "This campground opened in August 2021, so the facilities are still brand-spanking new. The best parts about this campground in my opinion are: close to town, excellent cellular reception on all carriers, warm/hot and clean showers," explains Blake H.

Natural atmosphere: Many campers appreciate the feeling of wilderness despite urban proximity. "Paradise an hour from the city. It is great for laid back camping! Karl the fog even likes it!" says Kyla M. about Anthony Chabot Regional Park. Similarly, at Las Trampas, "the campground itself is bare minimum - the ground is relatively flat, but the entire space is encased in a barbed wire fence area playpen to keep the roaming cattle and other wildlife from coming near the area."

Sunset viewing: Live Oak Campground at Mount Diablo offers exceptional sunset opportunities. "We watched the sunset over the Bay Area, whew, it was spectacular. Hiked to the top of the mountain, to the lookout point, on a trail through the woods and brush," shares Linda A. The Juniper Campground sites provide particularly good vantage points.

What you should know

Weather considerations: Temperatures fluctuate dramatically at higher elevations. "No matter how hot it is you'll never be able to escape the howling winds at night. Good tent stakes and warm gear is a must," warns Mike C. about Mount Diablo. At Del Valle, "it's pretty hot in the summer and it has a rocky ground so it will be hard to get stakes on the ground."

Site selection strategy: At Dumbarton Quarry, "the sites are close together and things are relatively packed in, but it doesn't feel overwhelming since there's plenty of open space." For Mount Diablo's Juniper Campground, "the sites in the teens have less overhead shade but more privacy than those of higher numbers. The sites closest to the driving road/entrance/overlook will have the potential to be downwind of the bathroom."

Access limitations: Some campgrounds have restricted entry hours. "Gate closes at 10PM, but you can exit the park over the tiger teeth at any time if you need to," mentions a Dumbarton Quarry review. At Mount Diablo, "they lock you in at sunset; if you want to leave you have to call the fire department to open the locked gate."

Tips for camping with families

Water activities: Families should plan ahead for swimming options. "The lake is also very picturesque. There is a swimming area, and there are picnic tables and nice-sized camp sites," notes Emmy about Del Valle. However, be aware that "you have to drive to go swim and the campground isn't really walking distance to swimming."

Playground access: Alameda County Fairgrounds RV Park provides convenient amenities for families. "The Fairview RV Park is a great Bay Area location easy to find right off hwy 680, in the Alameda county fairgrounds," notes Pamela. At Dumbarton Quarry, "there's a great playground if you have small kids, and lots of gentle hiking trails."

Wildlife education: Bring binoculars for wildlife viewing opportunities. "We love Anthony Chabot! The eucalyptus groves make the air smell wonderful, and there is so much wildlife to see (deer, turkeys, owls, etc.)," shares Amanda P. At Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, camping "feels very off grid" with opportunities to observe local wildlife in their natural habitat.

Tips from RVers

Site spacing: RV sites vary significantly in width between campgrounds. At Dumbarton Quarry, "the sites are not as close together as you sometimes find in commercial parks," while at Alameda County Fairgrounds, "our slot 170 was very narrow, other spots had more space. You could not see that on the onlinemap. My neighbour had a slide-out. There was only one meter to my van."

Hookup availability: Full hookup sites are limited but available. "All sites provide essential amenities such as picnic tables, fire pits, and access to drinking water," notes N.V. about the Fairgrounds RV Park. "Not all sites were open during our visit likely due to the pandemic," reports Lori T. about Anthony Chabot's RV area.

Leveling requirements: Several campgrounds require leveling equipment. At Juniper Campground, "the best sites if you're sleeping in your vehicle are the flat ones down by the parking lot and vista (18, 20, 22). Note that most of the sites on the west side are not flat for a vehicle." At Dumbarton Quarry, "sites, though asphalt, require some leveling."