Stay a little longer and explore a little more of the Ridge Trail by extending your stay and camping out by the trail. Whether you’re looking for a great ‘stay-cation’ or a home base for exploring more of the trail, camping out on the trail is a great option for discovering more of your local wild. Here are five spots to camp along with a Ridge Trail hikes.
1. Samuel P. Taylor State Park
County: Marin
Most of this park’s campsites lie beneath majestic redwoods, with a few under oaks and bay laurel at the bottom of Barnabe Peak, and newly built cabins available as well (reservations are recommended). Bike along the creek, explore easy-to-moderate nearby trails, watch salmon spawn, and learn the story of the park’s namesake pioneer. More adventures await just next door at Point Reyes National Seashore.
Ridge Trail outings near this campground:
Samuel P. Taylor to White Hill Open Space
Bolinas Ridge to Samuel P. Taylor
All Ridge Trail North Bay Outings
Other resources:
Samuel P. Taylor State Park Info
Samuel P. Taylor State Park Camping Reservations
2. Anthony Chabot Regional Park
County: Alameda
Explore the wilderness hidden a few short miles from Oakland. The 3,314-acre Anthony Chabot Regional Park offers a beautiful, year-round public campground and 70 miles of hiking and riding trails. The campground features 53 drive-to tent campsites, 10 walk-to tent campsites, and seven group camping sites. Park Naturalists lead campfire programs at the campground amphitheater Saturday evenings from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Ridge Trail outings near this campground:
Redwood Regional Park to Bort Meadow in Anthony Chabot
Anthony Chabot Regional Park to Bort Meadow
All Ridge Trail East Bay Outings
Other resources:
Anthony Chabot Regional Park Info
Anthony Chabot Regional Park Camping Reservations
Anthony Chabot Regional Park Map
3. Joseph D. Grant County Park
County: Santa Clara
The largest of Santa Clara County’s regional parks, Joseph D. Grant features 10,000+ acres of rolling grassland and majestic oaks characteristic of the Santa Clara Valley foothills. Hikers and equestrians have access to an extensive 51-mile trail system and mountain bikes are permitted on over 75% of the park’s trails. Campers can choose from almost forty reservable family campsites and there is a large lake and several smaller ponds for warm water fishing.
Ridge Trail outings near this campground:
Edwards Trail Gate to Dutch Flat Trail Gate Map
Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve: Sierra Road to Lower Calaveras Fault
All Ridge Trail South Bay Outings
Other resources:
Joseph D. Grant County Park Info
Joseph D. Grant County Park Camping Reservations
Joseph D. Grant County Park Map
4. Castle Rock State Park
County: Santa Clara
If you feeling like an easy-ish backpack adventure, Castle Rock State Park offers backcountry campsites a short 2.5 mile hike away from the park’s main parking lot. The 20 campsites are well maintained and are equipped with fire pits, picnic tables, nearby potable water and bathrooms. Campsites are open year round on a first-come, first-served basis (reservations not available). If you feel like a change of scenery, hike on over to Sanborn County Park which also offers hike-in campsites.
Ridge Trail outings near this campground:
Saratoga Gap to Sunnyvale Mountain Staging
Sanborn County Park: John Nicholas Trail
All Ridge Trail Peninsula Outings
Other resources:
Castle Rock State Park Info
Castle Rock State Park Map
5. Bothe Napa Valley State Park
County: Napa
Located in the heart of wine country, this 1,900-acre park features features over 10 miles of hiking trails and offers tent sites, yurts, and restored historic cabins for overnight stays. On hot summer days bring a swimsuit and enjoy a cool plunge in the park’s spring fed swimming pool.
Ridge Trail outings near this campground:
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park Entrance to Traverso Homestead Map
Robert Louis Stevenson State Park: Lower Oat Hill Mine Trail to Palisades
Hood Mountain Regional Park
All Ridge Trail North Bay Outings
Other resources:
Bothe Napa Valley State Park Info
Bothe Napa Valley State Park Camping Reservations
Both Napa Valley Park Map
Looking for more curated adventures? Check out the Official Guide Book to the Bay Area Ridge Trail – it’s packed full of useful information for planning hikes, backpacking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trips with maps, detailed trail descriptions, curated trips and more.
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