My wife and I wanted to treat a visiting friend who is from Sacramento, like us, but has been living in New York for a few years. In younger friends, this friend and I and a few other co-adventurers loved to take (often last minute) trips to the coast, usually settling at Lawson's Landing in Dillon Beach. Have you BEEN to Dillon Beach in the last 5-10 years? I'm too old for that crap. Who wants to be crammed between two motor homes for a weekend? The last time we three attempted to go camping on the coast we paid at Lawson's Landing, drove around for 10 minutes, saw two spots a younger crowd of campers might consider good enough, got our money back, and headed further north. At that time, we stayed at Stillwater Cove, a fine place to camp. THIS time, last Wednesday I decided my idea was GOING to come to fruition. Caution be damned if it's Labor Day weekend. The wife and I researched a few spots and found ONE remaining spot at Salt Point State Park at a site called Gerstle Cove. From the map it looked like we'd be camping a mere short walk from the beach. After packing up, collecting ourselves, and driving from Sac to Jenner then a bit further North, we made it (at 9:30pm, mind you...my mistake) to the site. BBQ pits, room enough at our site (#10) for three tents, and sure enough, not more than 1/2 a mile from the water! We took a bit of a night hike to the cliffs on the beach just to check it out. The stars that night were SO beautiful and plentiful. I trekked down again upon waking to see if I had missed the tidepools. Unfortunately, lowest tide was at 2am while we visited, but the tide was still out and I could see lots of barnicles and enjoyed watching the sun shining over the kelp forest as divers explored the beutiful scenery below the surface. The erosion on the rocks of the cliffs looks like sponge. A truly amazing sight. I'm already looking forward to booking another, hopefully longer, trip back to Gerstle Cove. The camp sites were very well spread out and at least one of the two bathrooms we visited were rather clean and in good condition. Running water spouts weren't too far from our site, either. Two thumbs up! I was highly surprised the one spot wasn't taken by the time we'd all three confirmed our desire to go 32 hours after we first discovered the opening, but I'd highly recommend checking the Salt Point site and reserving your camp spot ahead of time. If you don't show up during a time when a ranger is present, they post your site number, if not pre-assigned, on a board at the gate. read more

This was one of the best camping experiences I've ever had! It started out a little windy but once that died down it became truly perfect (except from our raccoon visitors which wanted to sit at the dinner table with us while we ate - needless to say we shooed them away). We will definitely be back when we have some free time. When you're on your way in/out, definitely take time to stop in Jenner for lunch. We stopped at an adorable place called Cafe Auquaitca (I think) for soup and sandwiches with an incredible view. What a cute little town! read more

Love this spot! Most campsites are private, with bushes and trees to keep you out of sight of neighbors. You reserve a spot in advance, but you don't pick your campsite until you arrive. Once you arrive, you drive around looking for a spot, and then let the ranger know which spot you'll take. We arrived at 4 p.m. on a Saturday in May, and we were very happy with our spot. The rangers here are so friendly, funny, and they really stay out of your way and want you to have a good time. The bathrooms are clean, and the beach is beautiful. So worth the drive. Route 116 will take forever, instead take Pepper Drive to the 1, and take that up the coast. This saved us lots of time. Also, if you run out of wood, they sell a stack for $6. Also, the fire pits are placed next to the picnic table, so if you don't have enough chairs, no worries, several people can sit at the table and still be warmed by the fire. read more

The place is beyond beautiful, peaceful, interesting. There are so many trails along the coast, up in the forest.. for hiking or biking. You could take a zillion of pictures and more. The campsites on Gerske Cove side are well spaced out for great privacy and isolation. There are couple things I don't like: no shower available and reservation is not site specific. We definitely coming back though. We went in July this year but it was cool during the days, hardly any sun and even colder at night. Who knows which month it get above 70 degree here? read more

We stayed at the Woodside Campground for three days. We like to travel during the week and after everyone else has gone back to school because usually there are much less people wherever you go. So, true to form, we had the entire upper loop of the Woodside campground to ourselves. We stayed at what I think is the best campsite there, #91. It's a nice big campsite with multiple spots for large tents and smaller spot in the woods for a smaller tent. Other campsites that look nice are #'s 34, 70, and 76. The reason I give this campsite 3 stars is because of two things: there is very little to do in this general area without driving far distances. Gerstle Cove itself is too rough and rocky to enjoy, Stump Beach is infested with flies, and there's no parking nearby for Stillwater Cove. The other reason I take a star off is because of the da*n birds that inhabit this campground. If you enjoy the bellowing squawkes of eagle-sized crows, the ear splitting rattle of blue jays, and the incesant twilling of wood peckers, all at 6am then you will love Woodside! The birds started at 6am and went for hours. I understand it's nature but these birds were unlike anything I have ever experienced before. There is also a large echo factor at this campsite. I could imagine this place being very loud on a busy weekend. #91 is equal distance to the two bathrooms and whenever one person allowed the door to the bathroom to swing closed we could hear it very audibly at the campsite. So just a warning if you consider a campsite near the bathrooms. There are lots of nice camp spots here, they aren't cookie cutter at all, lots of nooks to put tents. The camp spots on the outside of the loop road are more wooded and protected than the spots on the inside of the loop road. Woodside is a nice place to stay I just wish there was more to do in the surrounding area. read more

This is one of my favorite spots for a leisurely hike along the coast. The views are amazing. I love the waves splashing on the rocks.

Breathtaking, stunning--Northern California's pride and joy! Salt Point State Park is the most authentic coastal beach camping you can ever get! This is Mother Nature at her best. The grassy campgrounds are spacious and clean. Each site has its own fire pit, picnic bench and food pantry. The bathrooms are kept nice and clean but no showers. This was definitely okay with me and my camping crew since there were 10-15 mph winds constantly blowing. With the ocean air, the winds were especially chilly. So there was no need to unclothe and shower! Luckily, we had the bright warming sun and the clear blue skies to counter the winds. There are numerous trails to meander about. It is not long before you reach a magnificent cliff with a dramatic drop to the crashing waves or a gentle cove tucked away from the ice cold winds. My eyes always had something beautiful to observe, from the grassy meadows filled with cala lilies to the rustic roads lined intermittently by wooden fences. If you love wildflowers, luscious green pastures, endless blue skies, and ocean that goes on for miles and miles--camp at Salt Point this season! Do watch out for raccoons as some stole our eggs and pushed down our coolers. Parking is limited so make sure you carpool. Do bring a nice camera to capture all the beauty! Do hug your mother earth! read more

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Absolutely phenomenal! Arrived Friday afternoon to snag the very last available campsite (#8). Rich the camp resident is a real friendly fellow and while you're forbidden from gathering your own wood, he will supply you with all the wood you'll need for the evening and morning of your camp-out. The beach, Gerstle Cove, is fantastic, truly a perfect slice of NorCal coast. Definitely worth the steep price because it is the best campground for miles around. Be sure to get there early to get a spot with sunshine! read more

Stunning! When the world has got you troubled, remember that this is the world too. Salt Point is a gorgeous place to get away, recharge, and hunt for mushrooms. If you are terrified of heights like yours truly, you will do well to ride with a skilled driver who saves his travel beer for after you get home. This is the stuff of sunset magazine folks. read more

This is one of my favorite places to go hiking in the winter time because you can forage mushrooms! This park is really expansive and a truly beautiful terrain! It's forest by the coast so isn't that all you need. You can park on the side of the road or at the state parks camping for like $7 . There is great camping near by at Gerstle Cove! There is streams throughout the park if you need to fill up water just being a filter. read more

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I am not the most experienced camper out there...but there were some weird things about the area. #1 we were in the woodside site but we were under the impression that the beach was super close...not having to cross a highway. #2 we went on "hikes" and kept ending up along the highway or in doody holes (as my old roommate likes to call it). though everyone said "oh just cross the highway" shouldnt there be a trail that doesnt lead that way and more naturey? #3 we didnt know we had access to the beach campsite so we were driving up and down the highway trying to find a beach that we didnt have to pay for. there really werent any beaches just cliffs and such along the water. beautiful but not layout and enjoyable. #5 Aren't small towns supposed to have friendly people? Every person at a store or restaurant were the most humorless & miserable people I have seen in a while. Perk it up buttercup! Everyone is bending over backwards to try to make you smile! #6 DO NOT GO TO SALT POINT LODGE BAR & GRILL! Worst service of my life. The owners wife is an absolute idiot. She got everything wrong and decided playing outside with her daughter was much more important. And yellow hot dog mustard on bbq'd oysters...are you for real?! #7 Ranger Dick...well who knows what his name was. But man everyone in the campgrounds had a good & bad story about him. dr. jekyll and mr. hyde much?! Make sure you turn down music and hush up at 10pm or you will have a drill sargeant screaming he will arrest you in your face. lol! He really perked up the next night though and we ended up liking him! Now that I am done ripping on them...lol, I had an amazing time. Thought it might be b/c my friends are awesome. We had a great site (Pick #80 it's HUGE and near the restrooms). All our fellow campers were super friendly and we all were sad to leave. We didnt have any critter problems but a neighbor had a few raccoons. It was overall a fun time and everyone wanted to go back again. read more

Had a great experience camping here midweek in the beginning of June. The weather was wonderful; clear skies, no wind, and about 60+ degrees. We stayed at Woodside in the lower loop, site #45. It was a great site a little up from the road unlike many of the other campsites. We had good privacy and a nice amount of space. Unfortunately because of our shitty Governator the state has cut a lot of money for parks so the upper loop and the walk-in sites were closed, and may stay that way :) If you go camping here just BEWARE of the Bandits (raccoons). They are stealth, brave, persistant, and not very afraid of you! Keep an eye out for the albino one too, he looks yellow and is especially cute but very sneaky! read more

Amazing place. I was here in the middle of summer last year, and there were very few people on the Hiking trails. There are very few places in California where you can get solitude, tranquility, and the beauty of ocean bluffs and sheltered coves. read more

I started looking for campgrounds to stay at a month back and wasn't having much luck with the most popular ones around, so decided on Salt Point State Park. It is a lesser-known park, but still beautiful and can offer just as much as some of the other parks. The days are cool and the nights can be a little wet once the fog rolls in around 7 or 8. Wanting to camp along the beach, I initially made reservations for Gerstle Cove, but after looking at previous reviews of the park, I decided on camping at Woodside (which may have been the wrong decision as my boyfriend was disappointed upon the discovery that we wouldn't be sleeping next to the water). We arrived around 6pm on Friday and many of the sites were already taken. The park ranger was very nice and accommodating when it came to choosing a site. There was a general area of sites around #88 that were not taken yet, perhaps because they were relatively open areas and not covered by trees. We stayed at #88, which was nice because the site went off to the side a little bit and was more isolated than other areas. We shared a water spout with the site across from us, which worked out well. The bathrooms were close on either side of our site and were always clean, except for when a couple of girls went in and started splashing water at each other. The raccoons are pretty frequent visitors. One climbed onto our picnic table while my boyfriend made a trip to the bathroom and I had to shoo it away from our food on my own. My boyfriend came back disappointed that he had missed his chance to catch a glimpse of the raccoon and sympathized with the creature. Just be aware of where you are putting your food! Hiking the area is relatively easy. Going to the prairie and Pygmy Forest is uphill all the way and then down all the way, but the hills are never too steep. There was a small trail next to our site that led to the main trail, but these were quite overgrown. Nevertheless, we were able to find our way to the main trail and it was a good hike the rest of the way. In addition to the trails in the park, you can also go through the Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve for a hike. We had driven to Stump Beach, parked, and hiked up through the reserve, back down through Fisk Mill Cove (although the area is closed off) and down towards Stump Beach. I would take another trip back here. Northern California is a beautiful place with breathtaking views of the coast and some really cool houses to see alongside Hwy 1. The one gripe I have is having to drive out of the park to shower. We ended up going to Ocean Cove, where we had to pay a $7 day-use fee and $2 per shower, amounting to a total of $11 for my boyfriend and I to shower. I will have to plan a little better on the next trip... read more

Great spot to watch the whales mosey up and down the coast. On our hike we also saw seals hiding from the crashing waves.

We camped here on a recent trip up north, and found it to be a pretty, quiet and really nice campground. The camp hosts were very nice and accommodating, and the site was clean and large. Bathrooms were kept up well. There are no showers, but we were only there for a night so it didnt matter. The park itself is beautiful, and we loved the walk down to the beach overlook - had to climb down and enjoy climbing around on the rocks at water level, it was great! I would stay here again. read more

Lovely campground. Affordable with great views of the ocean. Private camp sites and friendly staff. Will use again

We really enjoyed camping at Gerstle Cove at Salt Point State Park. If you go, the main entrance for this campground in NOT where Google Maps pinpointed it. Coming from the south, the entrance is on the left of Rt 1, several miles farther north of where GPS wanted us to go. The bathrooms are very clean (no mirrors though). Drinking water is available at spigots throughout camp. A quiet, relaxing area. Lots of shady and sunny spots. Loved going to sleep to the sound of waves (beach is within walking distance). A fog bank came through mornings and evenings which kept the air moist, with very little wind. Just be sure to fold all your chairs before you go to sleep. Every morning everything was wet. We didn't see any bears and didn't see many signs about predators. However, raccoons and foxes came through camp every night--on the table tops, the picnic benches--lots of muddy footprints and poop. So just remember to pack away tablecloths at night too. The kids had a great time climbing along the rocky shoreline (there are sandy beaches about a mile or more away) and hiking the trails that parallel the coast. The kids also participated in a junior ranger class at 10am on Saturday, learning about local wildlife (crabs, seals, tons of bird species, so much to see!). read more

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Good campground with access to a beach down the road. Unfortunately, the campground itself isn't closer to the beach. We were just stopping for the night on our drive down highway 1, so we didn't stay long enough to appreciate what the park has to offer overall. read more

I have been alternating camping with lodging on our trip ip the coast. I love waking up here and strolling the sea cliffs. If you enjoy photography you will have plenty of subjects! read more

Went here last year with the family for a 2 night camping trip. It actually rained for most of the trip, but personally I thought that was awesome. It's fun to hang out in the tent taking shelter from the rain and sitting around talking. Moving on... I thought the scenery was absolutely amazing. The ocean is roughly a mile from the campsite and we ended up hanging around down there for a lot of the second day. Got to see sea lions hanging around some large rock formations just off shore. The only reason I'm removing 1 star is because I felt the camp sites were a little bit too close together. I'm not really a camping expert and I don't know if that's the norm, but more spacw would have been nice - not to mention I snore and nobody wants to hear that! Anyhow, it was a very fun experience overall and hoping to go back again soon. read more

Best nights sleep ever! Tent camping was quiet and relaxing. Visitors center was not open which was sad and no showers...hey a girl likes to shower. But would love to go back again! read more

A Father's Weekend! Not a good experience this past Sept 3 & 4 . At 65 years old I only wanted to enjoy this park. My experience with the park ranger and his staff was a disaster. Paid a senior rate, did exactly what I was instructed to do and still, they did poor record keeping of my daily payments and I have now gone public with this matter. What a shame when the park ranger did not check both payment envelope stations prior to attempting to issue me a citation with his deputy in escort of me to his attendant station. This is an outrage, an outrage! A violation of my patron rights and their protocols. After speaking with so many deputies (3) waiting for another campsite to open on the 4th which I paid at 9 AM early on the 4th, then I tolerated their abuse, right down to being escorted to the ranger's post in the early evening of the 4th. He had not checked the pay-stations and upon "my" request he dsicovered his lack of proper procedures! Not a good situation, not good protocol at all! Why! Well, now there are several interested parties looking into this matter! I continued being polite and most understanding as a park patron for many years. My story and support was witnessed by the park hosts Jannie and Peter! Thanks to these two wonderful people and they were Truly puzzeled as I was! Not only do I pay taxes in CA but I support these parks, I am a veterain, and am very well aquainted with law enforcement procedures. Yes, in the past years I have trained and supported energency services and first responders at the highest level of our government, and still am employed in the same responsibilities. It has been my career for 28 years. What a shame, the opportunities to be doing your job well and serving the public! What were they they doing? Not a good camping experience! read more

Nice state park with stunning ocean views comprehensive camping & nice clear trails for hiking

The area is beautiful to drive on CA 1 for sure, but be sure to stop. I would especially recommend a small hike on the overlook of Stump Beach Cove. The waves were crazy on the day we went, so we climbed out on some rocks and got pretty well soaked. Totally worth it though. We would both do it again in a second. However, when the waves come in high, there is a tide pulling back, so it is best to play it safe and keep pretty far from the water...definitely not a place you would want to fall in the water! read more

Just went camping there, it is awesome. Great tidal pools nearby. Can be overcast in the mornings.

Just a quick drive up Sonoma Coast is Salt Point State Park. This is one of our favorite camping spots for the quick one or two night stay. Besides the great proximity to the ocean and the many hiking trails, there is a dog friendly Sonoma county park/beach which is fun for hiking with the four legged family members. The one thing that sets this park apart from all others, is the amazing Park Ranger, Jackie. This woman LOVES her job and it shows. We've had the pleasure of encountering her the last two times we went, and she is the epitome of customer service. When we showed up without reservations (both times) she was able to get us in, and offered witty options of the forest, or the beach if I didn't mind getting my hair messed up from the wind. We appreciated her friendly waves and "welcome home #74 (the campsite we were staying in)! glad to have you back!" Even at the end of the day after a 10 hour shift, she was a ball of energy and helpfulness. Kudos Jackie!! If for no other reason, visit Salt Point State Park to meet Jackie!! read more

Just returned from two nights at the Woodside campground with the boyfriend and a few other friends. We were all Salt Point virgins, and were not disappointed by the high expectations that we had after reading so many positive reviews of the place. First, the entire place is flat-out beautiful. The campgrounds felt very forest-y, and the ocean was only an easy 15 minute walk away. Even the long drive to the campground was majestic. Our campsite was clean, the people were friendly, and it was quiet. We were able to fit 3 cars easily in the parking spot for our campsite (but there is an $8 nightly charge for additional vehicles), and it was secluded enough that we could smoke joints all the live-long day without worry! Just a couple of random weird things propel me to give the place 4 stars instead of 5. First, it was nearly impossible to find a trash can in the entire campground. Recycling bins abound, but it appears that there is only one trash dumpster for each loop of 30ish campsites. It's not a huge issue, just minorly annoying. Similarly, there were only two unisex bathrooms near our campsite. Each bathroom was clean and spacious, but that was also the only place that had any sinks. So whether or not you actually needed to use a toilet, you used the entire bathroom. We stayed there for two nights and literally every single time that I wanted to use the bathroom, I had to wait a minimum of 10 minutes for some jabroni to peruse the entire newspaper whilst abusing the hell out of the toilet, or for a woman to apply an entire face of makeup. The last oddity was the manner in which you choose your campsite. When you reserve a campsite, they don't assign a specific site. So when you arrive at the campground, you check in with the park ranger, then you drive around the campground and write down your 1st and 2nd choice of campsite. If you have additional cars with you, they must follow you. Then you drive back to the park ranger, wait in line behind any cars that have since arrived, and tell the park ranger where you want to camp. If no one else had taken your 1st choice, then it's yours, and you drive back to the site. It was just all a bit awkward. So they were not huge issues, just weird and annoying. Overall, we really enjoyed the campground! read more

This is not a dog friendly park. It's one of the only parks in CA that doesn'tt allow dogs in the regular or group sites.

We discovered Salt Point on an impromptu drive and ended up by Miller Creek.. We headed down by the creek and saw the most magnificent owl perched on a tree looking down at us. Best hiking experience I have ever had. There is just so much to do! If you want to play by the coast and pick up salt deposits you can or you can hike around in the forest and collect edible mushrooms. The possibilities are really endless. Anytime I need a rush, I always head towards Salt Point read more

This is an incredibly breathtaking stretch of coast line. It is rugged, wild beauty. Went two days after New Years and while there were a few people around there was plenty of opportunity to get lost and away from everyone. This is a crown jewel in the CA Park System. read more

Very nice park. Great staff. Needs more upkeep. Like every other State of CA campground, there is no soap in any bathroom. Bathrooms ran out of toilet paper every day. Water spigot nearby leaked constantly and formed a large pool of muddy water. Visitors deserve better for the fees they pay to camp in our State parks. read more

Our family stayed there this past wknd...8-11Aug...the trip up is pretty...very winding...we give Woodside a 7...the campsites are clean & big... the spaces between campsite is great...the jr ranger prog decent... no campfire program... :( no showers(not too bigy) restrooms could be cleaner...(better bring tp) most of the trails are marked tho 3 of them end up on the highway with no safe walking path or some hikers could end up walking thru your site as 2 trails near us looped back into our site...the food lockers need replacing or fixing... 3 sites near us had more than 8 people...(one site had 12) & was noisy way past 11...no real beaches close by...need to go into Manchester or Albion or even Mendo or Ft Bragg going north or going south (a ways past Jenner) there are plenty of state beaches that have better access than the ones near Woodside(Portuguese Beach is great) don't get me wrong...the ocean views at Gerstle Cove & along the coastline is beautiful but mostly rocky cliffs & lots of walking...the formations are pretty cool! lots & lots of walking to get to the tide pools or beach from the parking lots that are on the coastline... the rangers & camp host are friendly & helpful..all in all it was a nice weekend... read more

Be-U-T-FULL! Amazing coastal trails and up into the mountains too. Remote but that's a good thing too. Dale and Jeri were campground hosts for this summer and were very helpful, especially with the RV we rented and had problems with. Salt Point is a "dry" campground so there is no showers. We'll definitely go back there. read more

nice view along the coastal trail, but other trails are not that good. the map isnt accurate. we hiked the northern trail and find a little hard time following the map. some trails are unmaintained and pretty much almost never been used. read more