Best Glamping near Vernalis, CA

Loved everything about this campground! Registration online was really easy as was the check-in process. We stayed in Valley View 1, site 106. There was really no road noise at our site, though a few sites further around the loop did have noise. This particular site has a trail leading directly to the vast network of hiking trails. Huge bonus for us and we were pleasantly surprised that not one person used our site as a cut through. On the subject of hiking, this is a county park that allows dogs on ALL the trails. It’s hard to find that sometimes so we greatly appreciated how dog friendly it was. We didn’t actually encounter anyone else as we hiked, so I can’t attest to whether folks follow the rule that dogs must be on a 6 ft lead on the trails, but they certainly did in the campground. There are quite a few trails that are currently closed due to storm damage, but crews were actively working on them.

While the sites are a little close to each other, those on the outside of the loop had a great deal of privacy. Inner loop sites have none, but would be great if you were camping with friends. We didn’t use the restrooms or showers, but peeked in them anyway. Like everything else in this campground, they were clean and well maintained.

The RV sites have both water and electric hookups which was great! There is a very convenient FREE dump station just inside the entrance to the park that we used as we departed.

Our friends stayed in one of the yurts and it was great, albeit a little cold for them at night. I believe there are 2 dog friendly yurts. 106RV

What a gem of a campground! We’ll definitely come back!

Important to note that you can actually get a cell signal if you walk to the dump station!

After time spent here at this oasis in the middle of Eastbay, California, you’ll very much feel like part of this place with its endless trails, fantastically well-kept camping grounds and the warm hospitality given you both by the camp rangers and fellow campers you’ll come across. 

From a range of activities including horseback riding, kayaking on the namesake lake as well as hiking the foothills, if you’ve come here for nature, you’ll strike gold! The amenities are basic and – key to all California Regional Parks – everything is very well maintained, easy to find and wonderful to make use of. 

Happy Camping!

Many sites, good water access, but not a lot of shade or flat ground for tents. Affordable. Not the prettiest scenery in California, but a cheap and reliable way to get some quick nature. Allows dogs.

The lake has receded quite a but that one of the docks is about 100 yards from the actual lake now (California drought). The campsite was well maintained. Each camping section seams to have it's own restroom within 2 minutes walking distance. The wildlife was " people friendly" to say the least. I had a family of deer pretty much monitoring my whole trip plus they couldn't seam to wait until I went to bed to come check out my camping gear 😊

A good clean campground, popular in central California. Reasonably priced $20 per night. They do accept golden age passes which reduces your nightly expense to $10 per night maximum 15 days for the month. Geared mostly for small trailers and tents, however, they do have some sites for larger RVs drive-through 40 foot max and roadside, slide outs might cause a problem. Park managers are very professional, courteous and pleasant. Bathrooms are a problem for cleanliness dump station is available for RVs. If you have a portable black tank, it would work out better for you on extended stays when dumping your black tank. If you are self-contained, you won’t have any difficulties at all.

This park surprised me. It is just off Highway 101 but the noise is not distracting. Mostly the park is concrete with little patches of beautiful landscaping. Campers are pretty close, but quiet and privacy rule. Bathrooms have security locks and are clean. Laundry room is clean with nice, big washers and dryers. The WiFi was outstanding!
Communication from the office was a little lacking. We were here for Halloween. I asked when I checked in on the 29th if anything was happening. The clerk said I would get an email with all of the activities. We stayed 8 nights and I still don’t have an e-mail. A children’s parade of trick or treaters came by my camper at 6 pm, but I was not prepared. Several times during the week it looked like there was an event in the clubhouse, but we were never invited or informed. We are full time RVers and I met several permanent residents here. There is no store n the office. Shopping and pharmacy are walking distance. Many California activities are less than an hour away.

Getting there: From San Jose it took me about 40 minutes. The road is windy, narrow, and not for the car sick. Be prepared to pay $6 for parking.

Campsites: The campsites are nicely maintained. Plenty of area to pitch a tent, all the sites have a BBQ, fire pit, and picnic table. The sites are close together to maybe bring ear plugs in case you have loud neighbors.

The Park: Really pretty, really small. I would say in 1 full day you can explore 100% of this park. No need to make an entire weekend out of this place when you can do all of the pretty stuff in just a few hours.

What to do: Go see the waterfalls. With the current California drought all of the falls were at little more than a trickle but still something to see. To hike to each fall it's about 6ish miles with just a few hundred feet of total elevation gain. The trails are large and well defined for an very entry level experience.

Very happy with our first camping experience at Del Valle. Our campsite (#139) could have used some shade, but we had plenty of space and the views were awesome. Almost every site was occupied, but luckily everyone respected the quiet hours. The facilities were clean and well maintained. We didn’t interact with staff/rangers too much, but the few we did talk to were very friendly and helpful. We look forward to going back!

I've camped many times here. I hiked in and car camped. Fun to see the wildlife and nature all around. Can get hot during summer but close to the lake to swim and paddle board.

Well kept, bathrooms tidy and stocked. It's a decent place for locals looking to get a break from routine but not intended to be a final destination.

We hit Del Valle throughout the year, it's really close for us, but makes you feel like you're out in the cuts. Pretty much ZERO cell service, which is a good thing, helps you to disconnect. The lake is enjoyable, just wish the water level would rise.

Del Valle is one of the most beautiful lakes in the east bay. The water is perfect temperature. Great hikes, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming and beginner windsurfing. The only cons are that you have to drive to go swim and the campground isn’t really walking distance to swimming. It’s pretty hot in the summer and it has a rocky ground so it will be hard to get stakes on the ground. It’s trully beautiful and the wildlife views are incredible. The water is super clear and they have two beaches with a lifeguard which can get crowded. You can swim at your own risk past the marina though if you want to bike, hike or boat to those beautiful areas.

Close to home! Love the hiking trails. Mountaining biking for those who can climb

Great lake for paddling as the speed limit for boats is low. Good fishing too. "Private" covers along the lake to hang out in.

We stayed in Sites 78 & 80, which were enormous, and could’ve easily fit 20-30 people, not the 8 people the sites were limited too. Careful though, many sites, including these, were mostly exposed with very little shade. Camping Labor Day weekend, temps were in the low 90s, and there were LOTS of mosquitoes. Most people in our party came back with upwards of 20-30 bites, even with lots of bug spray, screened enclosures, and other precautions.

Campsite amenities were great, easy access to water and bathrooms. Bathrooms were spotless the whole weekend, even though it was a holiday weekend and every site was booked. Park staff came by each evening to invite us to programs at the amphitheater. A firewood truck drove by at least once a day. You can also make purchases at a little camp store (in a shipping container), plenty of ice and firewood, but we didn’t see any alcohol for sale.

Check the rules ahead of time, they are quite restrictive and very different from many other campgrounds. No hard alcohol? No hammocks? No entry after 10:00pm?

Also note, the lake isn’t really in walking distance. If you have a dog, you have to head to East Shore (~5 min drive) and the Dog Run trail to let them in the water. Be prepared for a steep scramble down to the lakeside, and very limited beach.

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.

I have never camped here but hiked many trails.