Camping near Santa Clara, California centers around redwood forests in mountainous terrain typically ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 feet elevation. The region's Mediterranean climate creates moderate camping conditions with summer highs averaging in the 70s-80s°F in campgrounds, though nights can drop to the 40s-50s°F even in summer. Most campgrounds in the area don't have cell reception due to the dense forest and mountainous topography.
What to do
Hiking through redwoods: Castle Rock State Park offers a 2.5-mile hike to tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings. "Great campsite with picnic tables and fantastic view for sunset. Came FCFS and the ranger at the parking lot usually lets you know if it's full or available before you go up," reports a visitor to Castle Rock Trail Camp.
Mountain biking: Trails throughout the region accommodate cyclists of various skill levels. "Close to home! Love the hiking trails. Mountain biking for those who can climb," notes a camper at Del Valle Campground.
Paddle sports: Several campgrounds provide water access for kayaking and paddleboarding. "Great lake for paddling as the speed limit for boats is low. Good fishing too. 'Private' covers along the lake to hang out in," shares one visitor about Lake Chabot.
Beach access: Camping options extend to the coast, allowing day trips to beaches. "We stayed here for a night and thought that it was a clean campground. Our site was on the smaller side, but it accommodated us all. There were a few trails that started from the campground, which was nice," mentions a camper at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
What campers like
Proximity to urban areas: Many sites offer wilderness experiences without long drives. "This is a great natural area that is so conveniently located in the Bay Area. There is an extensive network of trails accessible from the campground," notes a camper at Anthony Chabot Regional Park.
Wildlife encounters: The Santa Cruz Mountains host diverse animal species. "The eucalyptus groves make the air smell wonderful, and there is so much wildlife to see (deer, turkeys, owls, etc.)," reports another Anthony Chabot visitor.
Variety of accommodation types: Options range from hike-in tent sites to cabins. "We stayed in a cabin in the huckleberry campground. The cabins were nice, and each cabin has 2 double beds, a table, and a wood stove. It can get cold at night in the redwoods so the wood stove was great at night," explains a visitor to Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and showers. "The bathrooms were clean and in a very decent condition. Each site has a table and a charcoal grill. Barely any cell reception, but wifi worked pretty well," shares a camper at Sanborn County Park.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most sites fill quickly, particularly on weekends. "Great walk-in campground so close to home in the South Bay Area (albeit walk is slightly uphill). Some campgrounds have tables and others don't - some are too close to others but the higher up hill, you're closer to the trail heads," notes a Sanborn County Park visitor.
Fire restrictions: Check current regulations before planning campfires. "Each campsite has a fire pit with a grill cover which made it easy to cook dinner. The sites are a decent size with lots of trees to climb on, hide in, and play on," shares a camper about Big Basin.
Limited cell service: Most mountain campgrounds have spotty or no reception. "Great camping in the mountains of Santa Clara county. Very secluded. No cell service. Miles of Great hiking," mentions a Sanborn County Park visitor.
Tick and poison oak awareness: Local trails require precautions. "Keep in mind that if you walk the single track trails with your dogs, you'll be spending some quality time with them later picking off ticks. Be aware of the poison oak as well," warns an Anthony Chabot camper.
Tips for camping with families
Wagon accessibility: Some walk-in sites provide equipment transport help. "It's a short walk up a paved path from the parking to the campsites. The park provides carts to help with hauling gear, and storage boxes are provided at the site, near the picnic table," explains a visitor to Sanborn County Park.
Educational programs: Rangers often host family activities. "Wonderful place to go hiking & trail running. The hills are pretty intense, but they're beautiful! The lake is also very picturesque. There is a swimming area, & there are picnic tables & nice-sized camp sites," shares a Del Valle visitor.
Site spacing considerations: Some campgrounds offer more privacy than others. "The sites are close together, which matters because one of the other campers is right next to mine and doesn't understand basic camp etiquettes like not using generators all night or letting their dog wonder through other sites," notes an Anthony Chabot camper.
Short getaway option: Even one night provides valuable outdoor time. "My Church had a Daddy and Kids campout a few weeks ago here. We reserved one of the big group campsites and it was awesome. Plenty of room to set up multiple tents and lots of parking for vehicles," reports a visitor to San Mateo Memorial Park.
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: RV areas often place vehicles close together. "RV sites are basically parking lot with 4' strips of grass in between. But it was March and mostly empty. Tent sites are hike in up hill and nicely spaced in the woods," explains a visitor to Sanborn County Park.
Limited hookups: Most campgrounds offer partial or no hookups. "We loved camping here with our 25ft camping trailer. There was plenty of room for it on site 105, however if it was any higher it would be hitting tree limbs," shares a visitor to Henry Cowell Redwoods.
Narrow access roads: Larger rigs face challenges on mountain roads. "The road in is fairly winding with a bit of a drop down the cliff. If you're heading in at dusk or dawn, go slow. You will see deer stepping through the road," warns an Anthony Chabot visitor.
Dump station limitations: Plan accordingly for waste disposal. "Warning: the line for the dump station wound through nearly the entire park," reports a camper at New Brighton State Beach.
