Backcountry Trail Camp Information for Castle Rock, Portola Redwoods and Butano State Parks
The Santa Cruz Mountain Backcountry Trail Camps provide an incredible wilderness experience in the backyard of the San Francisco Bay Area. These trail camps are located within thousands of acres of redwood forest and are connected by an extensive trail system, spanning from the skyline ridge tops down to the Pacific Ocean. Four trail camps are available for reservation in the State Parks backpacking system across three different State Parks: Butano, Castle Rock and Portola Redwoods State Parks. Along these trails, you will get to experience a variety of different scenery, wildlife and geological features.
ALL TRAIL CAMPS in Big Basin Redwoods State Park are CLOSED due to extensive fire damage. Portions of the Skyline to the Sea trail is open in Castle Rock State Park, but closed through Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Butano Trail Camp (Butano State Park)
Trail Camp Information
- Located in the heart of Butano State Park surrounded by second-growth Redwood and Douglas fir trees
- 5.7 miles from Butano State Park parking lot via Jackson Flats and Canyon trail OR 4.9 miles via Año Nuevo Trail, Olmo Fire Rd, Gazos Trail and Indian Trail
- 6 designated sites; maximum 6 people per site
- 1,500-foot elevation
- No potable water available – pack in water or filter from Little Butano Creek, approximately half a mile from camp
- Food lockers at each site
- Pit toilets (bring your own toilet paper)
- Pack out your trash
Trailhead and Parking
Butano Trail Camp parking is located at 1500 Cloverdale Rd between Gazos Creek Road and Pescadero Road. When parking at the trailhead, secure items of value and keep them out of sight; better yet, leave them at home! Lock vehicle doors and roll up all windows.
Extra vehicles are $10.00 per vehicle per night. Pay for extra vehicles at the entrance station. If the entrance station is closed, use the self-registration station to pay for extra vehicle fees. Follow posted self-registration instructions.
Castle Rock Trail Camp (Castle Rock State Park)
Trail Camp Information
- Located in the heart of Castle Rock State Park surrounded by Oak, Madrone and Douglas Fir trees
- 2.3 miles from Castle Rock State Park trail camp parking lot
- 20 designated sites; maximum 6 people per site – 5 sites are first come, first serve and the rest are by reservation only
- 2,400-foot elevation
- No potable water available – pack in all water needed or filter from a flowing creek
- Fire rings in each site – fires permitted during the wet season only
- Do not gather firewood; firewood is $13.00 per bundle, exact cash only
- Trash receptacles are available during summer season; pack out your trash in the off-season (November to May)
- Picnic tables at each site
- Pit toilets available
Trailhead and Parking:
The Castle Rock State Park trail camp parking lot is located 2.5 miles south of the junction of Highway 9 and Highway 35. Park inside the gate. Do not park in the Kirkwood parking lot, along Highway 9, Skyline Boulevard, or at the Saratoga Gap parking lot, in county park parking lots, or in Open Space Preserve parking lots. When parking at the trailhead, secure items of value and keep them out of sight; better yet, leave them at home! Lock vehicle doors and roll up all windows.
Extra vehicles are $10.00 per vehicle per night. Pay for extra vehicles at the entrance station. If the entrance station is closed, use the self-registration station to pay for extra vehicle fees. Follow posted self-registration instructions.
Castle Rock Trail Camp has five sites that are available on a first come first served basis. To get one of the first come first serve sites, check in with staff at the Robert C. Kirkwood Parking Lot on Highway 35. There you will register and pay your fees. Do not hike to the Castle Rock Trail Camp and attempt to find a site before registering at the Robert C. Kirkwood Parking Lot.
Restrooms are located at the trailhead. Potable water is located at the Kirkwood parking lot.
Waterman Gap Trail Camp (Castle Rock State Park)
Trail Camp Information
- Located in between Castle Rock and Big Basin Redwoods State Parks, surrounded by second-growth redwoods and oak trees
- 8.9 miles from Castle Rock State Park trail camp parking lot
- 6 designated sites; maximum 6 people per site
- 1,200-foot elevation
- No potable water available – pack in all water needed or filter from a flowing creek (Tin Can Creek is 3 miles away and is seasonal)
Trailhead and Parking
The Castle Rock State Park trail camp parking lot is located 2.5 miles south of the junction of Highway 9 and Highway 35. Park inside the gate. Do not park in the Kirkwood parking lot, along Highway 9, Skyline Boulevard, or at the Saratoga Gap parking lot, in county park parking lots, or in Open Space Preserve parking lots. When parking at the trailhead, secure items of value and keep them out of sight; better yet, leave them at home! Lock vehicle doors and roll up all windows.
Extra vehicles are $10.00 per vehicle per night. Pay for extra vehicles at the entrance station. If the entrance station is closed, use the self-registration station to pay for extra vehicle fees. Follow posted self-registration instructions.
Restrooms are located at the trailhead. Potable water is located at the Kirkwood parking lot.
Slate Creek Trail Camp (Portola Redwoods State Park)
Trail Camp Information
- Located in the heart of Portola Redwoods State Park surrounded by second-growth and old-growth Redwood and Douglas fir trees
- 2.7 miles from Portola Redwoods State Park Headquarters
- 6 designated sites; maximum 6 people per site
- 900-foot elevation
- No potable water available – pack in water or filter from Slate Creek, approximately one-eighth of a mile from camp
- Food lockers at each site
- Picnic tables at each site
- Pit toilets (bring your own toilet paper)
- Pack out your trash
Trailhead and Parking:
Portola Headquarters is located at the end of Alpine Road/Portola State Park Road, approximately 7 miles southwest from Highway 35.
Extra vehicles are $10.00 per vehicle per night. Pay for extra vehicles at the entrance station. If the entrance station is closed, use the self-registration station to pay for extra vehicle fees. Follow posted self-registration instructions.
The Visitor Center is open seasonally offering souvenirs, drinks, snacks and maps. A faucet with potable water, restrooms and a pay phone are located outside of the Visitor Center.
- Reservations are required for all backcountry trail camps except for the five first come first serve sites at Castle Rock. There is no dispersed or off-trail camping allowed.
- Reservations can be made 60 days in advance by submitting a request online.
- Fill out an online Trail Camp Request Form and click submit. Sending a request does not mean that you have a reservation. Reservations are confirmed once paid.
- Wait for State Parks to process your request. Requests are processed on weekdays during business hours.
- If your request is REJECTED, you will need to start over and submit a new request.
- If your request has been APPROVED, we will hold your reservation till 5 pm the following business day pending payment. If your reservation is not paid by 5 pm the following business day we will cancel your reservation and you will need to submit a new request.
- Reservations are paid over the phone using a Debit/Credit card. Please call (831)338-8867 Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm to pay for your reservation and get any final questions answered.
- Once you have paid for your reservation, your permits will be emailed to you.
- For groups of 13+, call (831) 338-8867. Group reservations can be made at any time for the current year. Additional fees apply.
- To make a same-day reservation, please call (831) 338-8867.
- Trail camp fees are $15.00 per site, per night (maximum 6 people per site)
- There is also an $8.00 non-refundable reservation fee. The reservation fee covers processing and any cancellations/adjustments.
- You are allowed to reserve up to two campsites per reservation.
- If you are reserving more than two sites for a group of 13 or more the reservation fee is a flat $25.00 no matter how many campsites are being reserved.
- Group reservations are allowed Sunday – Thursdays only, not on weekends.
- Changes and/or cancellations must be made a full 48 hours in advance by calling (831) 338-8861
- Trail Camps are open by reservation only. No dispersed camping is allowed.
- Overnight parking for backpackers is only in designated trailhead parking lots. Do not park along highways or in other undesignated areas.
- Trail Camps are primitive. Bring water. If you choose to use surface water, you will need to treat it before drinking.
- Hikers must be off trails by sunset. Please arrive early enough to reach your assigned trail camp by sunset. If you arrive after sunset you will not be permitted to embark on your trip.
- No ground fires of any kind are allowed. The only exception to this rule is fires are permitted in the designated metal fire rings at Castle Rock Trail Camp during the rainy season. Fires are not allowed during fire season. Signs will be posted indicating whether or not fires are permitted. Do not gather wood for fires. Firewood will be available when fires are allowed and cost $13.00 per bundle. Backpacking stoves may be used for cooking in all trail camps except in cases of extreme fire danger.
- No smoking on any trails or in any trail camp.
- Do not wash your dishes or clothing in creeks. Do not bathe in creeks.
- Never feed wildlife or allow wildlife to access your food. You are required to use the food lockers to store your food.
- No bikes are allowed on the single-track trails. Bikes are only permitted on fire roads.
- No dogs are allowed in the trail camps or on the trails.
- No horses are allowed in the trail camps.
- Campers must display permits when parking and carry their Backcountry Permit at all times.
- Camp in designated areas only and only in your assigned trail camp.
- 6 people maximum per site.
- Campers under 18 years of age must provide written permission from or be accompanied by a guardian.
- Hammocks are to be used with tree straps only and are not to be attached to any redwood trees.
- In case of emergency call 911 from one of the pay phones near a ranger station or from a call box on Highway 1 or Highway 9 and a ranger will be dispatched. It is unlikely your mobile phone will have coverage in the backcountry.
- All Trail Camps are serviced seasonally May 1 through Oct. 31. If you are trail camping in the off-season, there are no trash or pit toilet services provided. You must pack it in/ pack it out and bring toilet paper. Some Trail Camps close during the winter season.