Main Camp Site

Open — Open year-round by reservation or first-come, first-served. Fires are permitted in designated fire rings during rainy season only. Hikers must reach camp by sunset.

About

Castle Rock Trail Camp is the largest backcountry trail camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains, offering 20 primitive campsites on a wooded ridge within Castle Rock State Park. Accessible via a 2.5-mile hike from the Robert C. Kirkwood Parking Lot on Highway 35, the camp provides a wilderness experience just outside the San Francisco Bay Area. Each site accommodates up to 6 people and includes a picnic table and fire ring. The camp has piped water, pit toilets, and trash receptacles. Fifteen sites are available through the park's reservation system, which can be made up to 60 days in advance via an online request form. Five sites remain available on a first-come, first-served basis by registering at the Kirkwood Parking Lot. Campfires are permitted in the metal fire rings during the rainy season only; firewood must be purchased on-site for $15 per bundle. Backpacking stoves may be used year-round except during extreme fire danger. The camp is part of an extensive trail network connecting to Big Basin Redwoods State Park and the Pacific Coast.

Directions

Park at the Robert C. Kirkwood Parking Lot on Highway 35, 2.5 miles southeast of the junction with Highway 9. Hike 2.5 miles via the Saratoga Gap Trail or Ridge Trail to reach the camp.

Nearby Campgrounds