Long overdue review, but this is from 2019 trip, loved hiking there, checked out a few waterfalls,…read moreand the area is absolutely gorgeous. You do lose signals so it was hard to tell which trail you are on and can easily get lost, so plan ahead. Overall a gorgeous spot

I had been wanting to go to Uvas Canyon for over a year now and I finally made it on a Sunday in…read moreMarch! I recommend going after heavy rain so that the waterfalls are stronger. You have to buy a parking permit for $6 at least 24 hours in advance and bring a printed copy with you. We arrived around 10:30am and thanks to the timed entry system, it was not too crowded. We did the Upper, Basin, and Black Rock Falls via Contour and Waterfall Loop and used All Trails for directions. Hiking shoes not required but there were a few points where we had to cross a stream so could be useful for those portions. Took about 90 minutes for us to complete, so would say the trail is easy-moderate. Overall, the views were simple but the mossy forest and the waterfalls were very pretty. Trail was well maintained and the bathrooms at the trailhead were clean. Nice, calming hiking spot - I would come back next year after the rain!

Back in the mid-80's, my younger brother and I had a bit of cabin fever, and decided to walk from…read moreour grandparents' central Watsonville home, up to Mount Madonna park. We made it about 2/3rds of the way up the winding, two lane road before a passing motorist stopped for us. The driver told us to pile into the bed of his pickup truck, then shortly after dropped us off at the park. My brother and I briefly explored the park, but dusk was approaching. Back in the days when there were public pay phones aplenty, we used a dime (or perhaps a quarter) to telephone our grandparents to ask for a car ride back down the mountain. In our youthful minds, it was just a little adventure, but our grandparents spoke of it for years afterwards.

On a warm Sat at the end of Feb, I hiked with 2 friends on an 8 miles, 700 ft elevation gain,…read moreSprig, Merry-Go-Round, and Tan Oak Loop. Paid $6, parked at the Amphitheater at 9am. Headed over to the ruins of Miller's Mansion. The forest grove sure was pretty and tranquil. The lake was nice but far away. Saw some benches carved out of huge logs, very cute. Too bad we missed the white deer pen. We completed the hike exactly at noon, 3 hours hike.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park was definitely worth the visit! One of the highlights was seeing a…read moretree known as "The Giant," standing an incredible 282 feet tall, measuring over 17 feet wide, and weighing approximately 400 tons! To put that into perspective, it's about as tall as a 27-story building. It's absolutely amazing to stand next to something that massive. Another fascinating sight was a cross-section of a fallen redwood that was harvested in 1934. The tree was one of the oldest known coast redwoods and had started growing more than 2,200 years ago! Just imagining everything that tree had lived through is incredible. The trail itself was relatively short, but it was absolutely worth taking the time to explore. The views were beautiful, and seeing these enormous, ancient trees up close is something special. If you're visiting the area, I would definitely recommend stopping here. You don't need to spend hours hiking to appreciate the beauty and history of these incredible redwoods. Definitely worth the stop!

Gorgeous trails, ample parking, a gift shop, clean restrooms, and some trails are even dog…read morefriendly! Henry Cowell State Park boasts some of the most spectacular Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. One can opt for a trail hike, or make a campground reservation to spend more time in nature! Take in some fresh forest air, get your steps in, and take in the natural beauty around you. You surely will not be disappointed. $10 entry fee for the entire day. Such a deal!

This was such a magical, lovely stay!! We stayed in the luxury tent for about four nights. It was…read morequiet, clean, peaceful, and beautiful. We did not see a single staff member during our stay, but that isn't a complaint by any means. Driving into Monterey or Carmel was only 20 minutes, and it was nice to get away from the Labor Day crowds when we were done for the day. The beds were comfy, there were plenty of blankets, and the bathrooms were always clean. Our ONLY complaint was that we booked this trip around five months ago, and they gave us a luxury tent without an attached parking spot and we had to walk past someone else's camp to leave our campsite. Next time we would request to not stay in 48a, but we didn't know this when booking it. We will be back to stay here again though.

We had a nice stay at Saddle Mountain RV. We reserved site #24, Premium lot. The lot was perfect…read morefor a party of 2 and 1 dog. I love the big tree for shade, turf grass and a beautiful vine, floral plant lining for privacy. The campground is well-kept clean. People were respectful when it was quiet-time between 9:00pm - 7:00am.

We love camping here, its my new fav spot and close to san jose. Many sites available, wirh water…read morebut little shade

I can't express just how much I adore this park; it's easily my favorite in the entire Bay Area…read more The vastness of this place is awe-inspiring, and it's brimming with an abundance of stunning vistas. As for wildlife sightings, I've had some remarkable encounters. From playful turkeys to elusive wild pigs, even a rather startled Rattle Snake (don't worry, we kept our distance!), a coyote that seemed to be exploring its own adventures, graceful deer, and a bobcat that simply left me in awe. I've hiked on nearly every trail this park has to offer, and I just can't seem to get enough of it. It's one of those places where you want to return time and time again. The park's diverse beauty and its resident wildlife create an irresistible pull that makes every visit a unique and memorable experience. If you're a nature enthusiast, this park is an absolute must-visit!

Very clean park with a good store well stocked. We didn't get to use the pool, but it too was…read moreclean. Went to a winery nearby, DeRose and it was super nice! Our only disappointment was our spot, it was basically a parking lot. There was good space in between each spot, and again clean.

Love this peaceful and very secure location. Just a short drive south of Gilroy CA. Very nice…read moremanicured spots with perfect cable TV. I will always return here and enjoy this delightful camp spot. All staff very caring and available for any assistance. Put this on your list for the central coast in California !!

Pfeiffer Beach looks and feels magical and is one of our absolute favorite places to come every…read moreyear. It's where the forest meets the sea and the views are breathtaking Between the huge rock formations, purple sand, and the famous keyhole where you can see the ocean through the rock, it's such a beautiful place. There are also tide pools to explore and we've seen tons of starfish, sea urchins, and other little sea creatures. The everyone loves it :) The beach feels so different from your normal California beach it doesn't feel real.. it's so beautiful. It's definitely one of those places pictures don't do justice AT ALL !! If you're passing through Big Sur this is a MUST stop.. Trust me, you won't regret it Just be prepared for the drive down to the beach. The road is VERY narrow, almost one lane in some areas, and you'll have to move to the side to let other cars pass. There are some tight turns too, so just go slow and pay attention, especially with cars coming the opposite direction. It's a little adventure getting down there but completely worth it!

One of California's bigger and more popular state parks, rightfully so. Not as touristy as Yosemite…read morebut this is on a bigger scale than most other Cali State Parks. I ventured here once before in my early 20s back in my school boy days and felt it was time to see it again with decades worth of a wiser perspective. And I was rewarded in spades. This park is about 30 miles or so south of Carmel on Highway 1, which in my opinion is one of the most glorious stretch of road to drive. Even though it is only 30 miles or so, it still takes almost an hour to travel from Carmel. The road winds around through many curves and undulations so you simply cannot drive freeway speeds here, nor should you want to. Enjoy the views, roll down the window and take in that coastal air, play your favorite tunes and just soak in the moment. Once at the park there are campsites, as well as cabins and even a full service lodge for those that don't want to rough it at all. You are now in mountainous terrain so lots of trees, a big creek and lots of hiking trails. I did a 3 day camp stay and loved it. They keep the park clean, maintain the restrooms and patrol the grounds frequently. Even though they have almost 200 campsites available, they spread it out nice so not everyone is in the same area. I could sometimes hear my neighbors but they were never in my direct view. That is a big plus for me when rating camp sites. People can also just get a day pass and enjoy the trails and creek without having to stay. My camping pass also got me to see a couple other California State Parks nearby on the same trip, so well worth the price of admission. Very lively with animal life which are unfortunately very used to humans. Squirrels and blue jays will not be shy to investigate what they can scavenge so do not leave any food unattended. Upon setting up camp I had a ziplock bag of trail mix on the picnic bench along with the rest of my gear. While I was setting up the tent with me somewhat close by, a stellar jay swooped in and pecked at the bag. It didn't take it but ripped a good hole in the bag. So just a big fyi to keep your food on guard/lock. The big creek runs through many of the sites. Some parts are mellow whilst other parts the water rushes pretty good. I was about 50 yards from the creek so I couldn't see it but I could hear it rolling through the valley. It was very relaxing to hear the cool water rolling downstream, whether at night or waking up at sunrise. And a myriad of birds will contribute with their morning songs, which makes for the best alarm clock. TRUST A little too big for my preference but still beautiful enough that I can revisit every other year. And just outside the park are the California coastline with Highway 1 carving through it. Some of the most breathtaking views Cali has to offer. Pfeiffer thanks for the reacquaintance and the confirmation that you are still indeed one of California's top gems.

New Brighton State Beach is my new favorite beach! My daughter has been coming to Capitola for a…read morefew years now to get a facial. I finally came with her and dropped her off at her appointment. She told me to take our dog Lola to the beach at New Brighton State beach. Parking is $10 but was well worth the fee. The beach was located a short walk from the day use parking lot. Dogs are allowed on the beach to as long as they're on a leash. It was a beautiful day today and both Lola and I were in a zen. We even saw a seal! Memo to self. There's camping here! I'll definitely be back to camp.

Somewhat selective enforcement of camping rules. As a result our camping trip ended before it even…read morebegan. So last year my wife was diagnosed with cancer, so this year we decided to make the annual group camping trip a little easier by renting an rv. We rented a camper and arranged to have it dropped off to the campground, something the company had done regularly in the past. Unfortunately, a few weeks earlier, New Brighton started somewhat inconsistently requiring tow vehicles to be present at the campground at all times. I say inconsistent as it seems there are many campers at sites without tow vehicles present, and I am not sure why employees of the RV company we used, Alfredo and Roberto, had the lady at the gate so upset with them when so many other local campers seemed to have no issues. This afternoon, when Roberto was trying to drop off our camper at our campsite, she got so upset she threatened to call the police on him. I have some theories as to what might motivate the inconsistent treatment of visitors but I won't speculate openly. At any rate, with the camper denied entry, we dropped off our food at the campsite, which looked well maintained, and locked it in the generously sized bear locker for our friends before regrettably heading home - our weekend trip ending before it started. If you plan to camp here you should either plan to have your tow vehicle never leave, bring a drivable RV, or hey, maybe just not get the rules enforced on you because you were luckier than Alfredo or Roberto.

Great location ! country surroundings, peaceful. clean and…read morea fun place. The staff was so nice, especially (Debbie) from housekeeping; super helpful if we needed anything. We had the "get away Cabin" and it was awesome! They even had outdoor movies on Friday night for everyone. We loved this place and you will too. We drove nearly 375 miles and so glad we stayed here for 6 days. Richard A. in the Member services was super nice and helper, very likeable person.

Thousand trails Morgan hill was a great time. The last week shower curtain got taken but Dennise in…read morehousekeeping came to the rescue. And Carrie does a good job as well keeping them clean. The whole team is awesome