Recently camped at Bootjack again. Scroll down to my first review for most of the technical camping specs. Read THIS review to find out how you're camping wrong. Since I was so early in the season (mid April), when I got there, I was the only one there. Having Bootjack to yourself, or to yourself with a few other very quiet people, is a blessing. Creeks run in multiple directions through this campground, so there are several spots located right next to the water. In early spring, some even have creeks on both sides. It can be so incredibly peaceful here if you come at the right time. I've watched turkeys, deer, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and butterflies cross my site. The only issue I've ever had with Bootjack is that, especially as the weather gets warmer, highly inconsiderate locals come here to party, and not just on the weekends. Sometimes it feels like, no matter what my strategy is for picking the quietest spot, the worst camper there will also use the same strategy. Or maybe people think, "That's just a woman camping alone, so she won't care or be able to do anything if we completely wreck her experience." What I've been witnessing over the past few years is just an absolute breakdown of common courtesy and campground etiquette. Bootjack is just one of many campgrounds that have been affected. As a camp host myself, I've heard all of the arguments that people should be allowed to blast music, and all of the arguments are wrong. You are in a public space. Everyone else who paid to be there has a right to enjoy the environment they paid to enjoy. Disabled people with sensitivity to light and sound have a right to not be tortured by your antics. You have a right to play music and use bright lights FOR YOUR OWN USE ONLY. If other people can hear your music, it's too loud. It's 2025. You can get a fantastic pair of noise canceling ear buds on Amazon for $15, and be entirely enveloped in your terrible music without ruining the natural soundscape for everyone else. There's just no excuse. The argument that you should have a right to infringe on everyone else's enjoyment when you could very easily just use ear buds is just dumb. If other people's campsites are illuminated by your lights, you're being inconsiderate and rude. If you are looking around the campground with a head lamp on after dark, that's rude. How would you like having a bright light pointed at your face when you're trying to fall asleep? It's really not that hard to contain your lights to your own needs. As to string lights: congratulations on figuring out the best way to attract insects to your site! They love those! Also, your light pollution is ruining the Northern Lights for the rest of us. So what I'm saying is, if you're looking for a good night's sleep in between hikes while backpacking Mt. Tam, you might not be able to find that here, even though this campground was literally built for that purpose. But it's as beautiful as can be, and the access to hiking trails could not be more ideal. Pantoll is just a .4 mile hike away. I did have a super creepy experience on my last night here. I was the only one in the campground, and someone else set up a hammock on my site in the middle of the night (and abandoned it there before dawn). I had actually woken up to a headlamp, but convinced myself that no one would be outside my tent in the rain. Maybe they were from Appalachia and thought it was normal to set up on the same site. Let's hope it was that. Because otherwise... Lastly, don't forget to lock up your food. Raccoons are very active at night, and they will rip your tent open for a Cliff bar. I have a ripped rainfly to prove it. Also (adding this based on another experience at this campground I just remembered), raccoons aren't scared of light, so please don't be that camper that leaves food in your tent and then wakes everyone else up with your flashlight because you failed to follow the rules in the first place. read more

See all

I didn't camp. But I parked. In the parking lot for this campground as a starting point for an incredible hike down to Muir Woods. Day parking is $8 here. Get here early!! This area becomes packed! The boot jack trail goes down, down, down, into the redwoods. Eventually you'll end up at Muir Woods monument that requires a reservation. It is cold down there among the redwoods!! The entire area is absolutely majestic. The canopy trail loops back up towards the parking lot and then across. What happens on this trail is outstanding as you toggle between chaparral and redwoods. Watch out for the roots and steel posts leftover on the canopy trail from previous trail markers. Excellent area to explore. Can't wait to go back for more. read more

See all

Good place to park at mount tam. They have some bathrooms and water. It's a decent place to start a hike and they have camping space available too. It's near some of the better trails. read more

Bootjack Campground - Campgrounds Near Me - Mill Valley, California

Bootjack is hidden in the shadow of its older sibling Pantoll - which means the odds are in your favor if you need a minimally-planned weekend getaway. There's no ranger station to call ahead of time to confirm though, so try your luck! Tyrone T. does a nice job of summing up the campgrounds. The 15 available spots are scattered across a hillside, although the landscapers were nice enough to level out each one and pave trails leading to the campsites unlike at Pantoll. Our group arrived just after noon on a Saturday morning and there were still at least three available spots. In fact, it was easier to get a campsite than a parking space. I loved the massive stone table and benches in the center of each campsite because it felt like a cozy solar system with a sturdy stone sun. Unfortunately, the neighboring galaxies are close enough where you can overhear conversations whether you want to or not, and you might have people trudging through your campsite in the middle of the night. Two bathrooms were functioning while we were there, stocked with toilet paper, and large enough for a gaggle of girls to brush their teeth in at the same time. Bring a flashlight though; once the natural light is gone it's pitch black in the restroom. Drinking fountains are interspersed throughout the campsites for you to fill up canteens and wash any dishes you have. A constellation of trails intersects at Bootjack so you'll have some decisions to make when setting off for the day. If you're too lazy to pick up a map, Bootjack is (un)fortunately within Internet/phone reception range so you COULD use your "ask Google" lifeline. We ventured out to Cataract Falls, which is about a 3-4 mile hike each way (depending on how many detours you take). You're in for a lovely treat no matter where you go, but try to go somewhere with a view of the Bay! :) read more

On Spring days on the weekend this place is really crowded. It's easy to see why. This is really a great staging area. There are lots of hiking trails very close by. And if you bite a short ways, you can get on the trail up to West Point Inn. You pay for parking using some provided envelopes. It's about $8 per day per car. There are also convenient restrooms close by. If you're a biker, it appears as though the trails here are not suitable for bikes. If you are a biker, you probably want to park at Pantoll, rather than Bootjack. There's only space for about 20 cars or so, and I was fortunate to be able to get a spot today. When I came back from my bike ride there are tons of cars million around trying to get a spot. read more

We stayed 1 night at campsite #2. This is a hike up campsite. No parking next to site. Our site Close to potable water beyond campsite 1 by the day stay areas picknik benches and BBQ grills. There was a no fire and no BBQ fire warning signs but the afternoon ranger came by around 7pm said the wind warning goes in effect at 11pm (fires out by then) so we were able to use the campsite stone grill pit. Luckily there was some firewood stashed in the wood box. The late arrival campers were the drinking group and because they were late they were camped up higher than us so we weren't to bothered by their lack of volume control as the had campfire conversations. Bring earplugs FYI. At night I think a raccoon or small critter was roaming around the campgrounds other than that it was quite until daybreak. This campsite does get full sunlight from around 9am until about 3pm. Great if your bringing a camp shower aka black thermal water bag. Because after about 2 hours with 3 gallons it was around 100 degrees. But full sunlight so it was super hot packing up around noon. We got here Friday night a little past 3pm and there were hardly any cars but about 5-6 camps occupied up in the hillside but Saturday the parking lot was packed, the street along side was packed with cars parked. We had guests waiting for our parking spot as we packed up the car. So get there on a weekday and it's gonna be quiet and chill and you won't have to worry about parking. read more

See all

This review is for bootjack campground near Pantoll campground. Bootjack is first come, first serve. We arrived on saturday 8:30am and was able to grab one of the last spots. Ended up seeing a couple coyotes near our campsite which is cool, they dont seem that scared; they are fairly small. People at neighboring campsites very extremely friendly. Cost: $25 per night per site. $8 per car per night. Pros: Nice weather in august (80F-60F). firewood can be bought at pantoll station (or if you see a ranger just ask them). the hiking in this area is very nice. rangers are very nice and can suggest routes. Firepit was nice for small fires, large ones not allowed. Good size cabinet provided for storage. Toilets were clean but only 1 out of 4 was operational which wasn't a problem for everyone. Running water for cleaning provided. Cons: The sites are very close to each other, like a few yards away. Campsites range in footprint area, we ended up with a small one but was fine for 2 people. There is a disabled persons site they keep available till 5pm, if it's unclaimed by then it opens to the public. Overall i would stay again, but advanced or picky campers probably wont like this site. Be sure to star gaze in the parking lot, quite a view. If you do nab a site early in the morning, but then drive away for breakfast or the beach, be prepared to fight for a parking spot on your way back; around noon lots of hikers/bikers/campers pile in. We hiked the bootjack trail (davis trail), hiked to Westpoint Inn and the amphitheater, hike was fun and sites were really cool to see. read more

This is a great first-come, first-serve campground right off the road. We came early on a Saturday morning in January and only 2 out of 15 sites were occupied. We got a spot next to a little stream. The sounds of the flowing water also helped our dog sleep through the night since it drowned out the noise of other people/dogs and cars on the road. The camp site is dog friendly but the trails that surround it are not. The closest dog friendly trails would be from Rock Spring Trailhead (dog friendly-- Rock Spring to Alpine Lake, Barth's Retreat Loop, Potrero Meadow Loop, West Peak Loop). read more

The road up here is pretty windy, beware. For a simple tent site near the city, it's doable. However, the sites are not drive up, you have to climb up a hill, which can be a hassle for bathroom visits at night. Also have to keep hauling stuff from your car. A lot of trails in the area. Flush toilets were clean. No showers. read more

If you love being swarmed by wasps during the day, mosquitoes in the evening, hikers and campers pretty much all day, and lugging your camping gear up a steep hike about 100+ yards from your car, then this is the campground for you! Added bonus- do you absolutely hate sitting around campfires? Perfect! They don't have any pits at Bootjack! All sarcasm aside, this campground seems like it's designed for overnight usage only. It's good for folks who just want a place to hang their hat overnight in between hiking and/or trips to the beach. Don't plan to spend several days lounging here with your family and friends as the sites are rather small and the location is pretty much the Times Square of hiking trails- meaning there are several trails that start here so hikers and day-users will be stomping through from morning until evening, and there is very little privacy. During the summer the insects can be overwhelming at times. It's all too bad because the weather and nearby vistas are great. The lack of campfires is a big bummer for me, personally. Can't say I'll return here ever again unless I'm absolutely desperate. read more

Great nature spot for hiking, scenic views, and a summer outing with a picnic lunch. Highly recommend this wonderful spot to all nature lovers. read more