Recently camped at Bootjack again…read more 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.

I didn't camp. But I parked. In the parking lot for this campground as a starting point for an…read moreincredible 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.

The drive into the area lets you know you're entering an absolutely gorgeous and special place…read more We haven't camped here yet, but we do have camping reservations for later this summer. Have been to the day use area a handful of times, and love it. Immersed in redwoods, it's a perfect place to enjoy reading a book, picnicking with loved ones, and learning about the days past of this former outdoor resort/gathering place. Bathrooms are simple and not stinky, so that's a win. Sometimes, there are bees aplenty, but that's nature so...deal with it and eat in your tent or van or ??

Beautiful redwood park -- calm, shaded, and perfect for a low-stress day…read more What matters: * Baby-friendly (just watch uneven ground) * Bathrooms throughout (some have showers) * Parking is limited, so go early * Tons of shade * Lots of picnic tables * BBQ allowed * Campsites available * Dog-friendly, but only in picnic areas, campground, and the main trail (not most hiking trails) * No store -- bring everything Kids can roam, older kids can bike, and it's not overly crowded. Note: Creek access is closed seasonally (until June 15), so plan around that. Pro tip: bring a waterproof picnic blanket and plan to stay -- this is an all-day kind of place. Adding photos because it was hard to picture the layout before going.

If you manage to snag one the campsite nearest the ridge (lot 4 is my personal favorite) you'll…read morefeel as though you're floating above the ocean at night. Just an incredible, picturesque place. The cabins are popular, and book out for the year quickly, but for me the outdoor camping is the thing.

It was my first time at Steep Racine Campground. Love at first site…read more A little glamorous camp. Must bring sleeping pad, sheets, and blanket/sleeping bag. Bring lights and lots too. It gets really dark at night and you definitely need it for the cooking, reading, and toilet. There is water and a grill by the cabin. You can purchase firewood $10 per bundle. Bring your own coal if you want to grill. Bring your own cooler and lock your food. I had a little visit who loved my avocados and wanted more. Sunset watching and sunrise is amazing. Love!! I hope to come back again.

Beautiful area, lots of landscape/seascape diversity to explore in a single day. Especially lovely…read morefor summertime when I want to escape the heat.

Pt. Reyes is a treasure. This was our third camping trip to the park, and first time backpacking…read moreinto Coast Camp. From the Bear Valley Visitor Center, it is about a 6.5-7 mile hike, depending on which route you take. The Mt. Wittenberg trail is the steepest, and we went with the Bear Valley trail to the Meadow trail. From there you take the Sky Trail to the Woodward Valley trail, and then there is 0.9 miles on the Coast trail to the campground. In terms of surroundings, you go from meadow, to pine forest, to ridge line, down to the coast covered in chaparral. It's lovely. The campground is just 100 yards from the beach, but because of the large slope, you are protected from the heavy winds. That said, you still get a nice view of the water from sites 1-7. We stayed in site 2, which had everything we needed, including a bear box and picnic table. The larger campground has potable water, vault toilets, and trash bins. After we set up camp we went down to the beach, and walked a mile south to Sculptured Beach, which has lovely rock formations and tide pools. We saw anemones, urchins, and mussels.

I'm 76 years old and I have an airstream and a Dodge truck so I was a little intimidated about…read moregoing camping. Olema campground made it very friendly and safe for my adventure. The place is beautiful quiet and even though you're parked next to someone the trees make it it's secluded. The park manager and her staff are outstanding. I plan to go there at least once a quarter.

We had items stolen from our site while we were sleeping. The staff didn't care much and said we…read moresigned a waiver stating they aren't responsible. That same weekend the managers house onsite was also broken into and she went around to peoples sites asking if we knew the person. A little unsettling. There are animal droppings everywhere all over the sites which is gross. And they charge you $20 to dump! Won't be back

Connie is our go-to person at Ducey's on the Lake. She is awesome and provides great service every…read moretime we go up there. We are going up again Memorial day 2026 to stay in one of the suites overlooking the lake. We love this place. -Randy & Carol

Great place to go if you like noisy, trashy hicks who scatter their trash everywhere and try to…read moreoutdo each other on the obnoxiousness level. Stayed here once and can't see any reason to ever, ever, come back.

The perfect definition of a secluded beach. It's tranquil, it's peaceful, and best of all; it's…read morepretty much void of the general populations that frequent the park. This is because you'll have to hike at least 5 miles one way just to reach this beautiful beach. One of the most rewarding elements of making it here is being able to see the hidden waterfall right as you reach the bottom of the steps leading down the beach. There are probably a few different connector trails that you can take to get here. The quickest and less aggressive way would be to take the Bear Valley Trail to the Coastal Trail. This route is mostly flat and measures about 5 miles one way. It's also the popular trail within the park. If you're looking for more of an adventure and killer workout, take the Mount Wittenberg Trail to the Sky Trail which will also lead you to the Coastal Trail and down to the beach. Not only is this trail filled with tons of great inclines and ridges, but it's also insanely gorgeous! You'll be walking amongst the most beautiful trees and have stunning views of the coastline on your way there. This is the trail that I took to get there. It's about 7 miles one way, but you can also take the Bear Valley Trail back to make it a 12 mile loop instead of 14. Once you make it there, you'll be rewarded with calming waves and beautiful white water right beneath your feet. The sand is soft and there's plenty of flat driftwood to sit on. Use it to relax and have lunch while you take in the sights and sounds of Kelham. I think I saw about 2, maybe 3 people while I was there. I stayed at the beach for a little over an hour or so. Basically had it to myself for the majority of the time. If you're looking for a secluded beach to relax at during your trip to Point Reyes, this is the one. The trek may be long, but the sights and solidarity make it totally worth it.

Kelham Beach was the destination for my boyfriend and I's Point Reyes hike. It is about 5 miles…read moreone way from the Bear Valley Visitor Center to get to this beach. Once you see the sign for the Kelham Beach Trail, go down the several steep steps to the beach. Once you reach the beach, you will be treated to a nice sandy beach with not too many people. When we were there, there might have been only a few other groups there. It feels very remote and secluded. It is defiantly a nice place for a romantic picnic. The beach also a small waterfall which was a nice surprise. If you have never been to Point Reyes before, hiking to Kelham Beach is a good starting point. The terrain wasn't too challenging and the beach was easy to find. I would defiantly recommend checking it out if you are able to.

I can hear this past Saturday around 11:20 am with 3 other friends and it took about 4 hours to do…read more10 miles. There's some incline but nothing crazy. I forgot the trail name but it led to a beach which was very secluded and nice. There weren't many people hiking but a ton of mosquitoes. Don't forget to wear repellent. No fee for parking.

I love coming out here because it's more remote with lots of wildflowers, birds, and cattle grazing…read moreon the hills. The parking lot to the trail has bathrooms and a picnic bench. I'd recommend using both before the hike as there are no bathrooms on the trail nor a good place to sit for lunch along the way. For the first mile the trail is shaded and goes through a forest area until it hits a bridge at the estuary. From there it's open with views of the water and hills but no shade. Point Reyes is foggy most of the time even if it's sweltering in the rest of Marin but definitely bring layers and a hat because if you get a rare hot day this trail would be a lot more difficult with the absence of shade. It fluctuated in elevation, which was nice, but this made it more of a moderate as opposed to easy hike. There were a couple of ponds where birds would congregate so it's a great place for birder, I don't know all the kinds I saw but definitely some herons and California Quails. I also saw some elk grazing in the hills. At about 2.5 miles the trail forks and you can take the Sunset Trail or Drakes Head. The Sunset is a little shorter and at the end there's a bench to sit and look out. Altogether about 8 miles 3.5-4.5 hrs. depending on stops.