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.

Just past SF this park has so many different trail options perfect for all hiking levels. The…read moredownside is this place gets PACKED! My sister and I arrived before 8am at the Watershed parking lot and barely found a space. We did the trail that took us to the West Point Inn for the pancake breakfast and round trip was close to 5 miles so it was a great workout. There's gorgeous views and well! On the way back to the 101 however it's a mess. The road on the way down is crowded with parked cars, which makes driving through challenging. That's the only thing about this park, other than that I'd love to come back in spring when everything is green and vibrant!

My first association of Mt Tam is from Cowgirl Creamery's best seller, Mt Tam Triple Cream with…read moreHeart cheese. Ever since then, I've wanted to hike this peak, today I have achieved my wish. Early June with mild coastal temp, 50s-60s. Started up Matt Davis Trail in the foggy forest, to Pantoll Campground, to West Point Inn where we can look down to the top of the fog layer, to the Fire Lookout building at the Peak. Then we came down reverse but split off to Steep Ravine and Dip Sea trail after the campground. I've also always wanted to climb that ladder. This hike provided views of the Pacific ocean on the West as well as views of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on the East side. I thoroughly enjoyed the cool lush forest, but actually my favorite section was the single track along the slope of the open area after the Mt Tam State Park sign.

Beautiful stretch of beach and convenient to the center of "town" where you can gather…read morerefreshments, beer, wine, or stop for food. Note, visited during the federal shutdown and the lot was closed. Locals informed me it would NOT be opened for so long as the government shutdown is ongoing. Made for a rather quiet and pleasant day at the beach.

This beach has been on my bucket list for "25"/"26" I finally made it & it ws gorgeous. The views…read morewere amazing as I drove along the windy roads to reach this destination. I passed all the shops, storefronts and rental places on my way. I was so excited once I arrived I couldn't help but take a few photos. There's plenty of near by parking, accessible bathrooms, and BBQ pits for barbecuing. I'm so glad I decided to come this day.

Magical coastal place. Open to the public. Educational programs available. Reservations required…read morefor overnight camp.

The three stars are for my experience at an event. It looks like a great place to take kids to…read morelearn about the environment and animals, etc. I would give it an extra star for the gorgeous views. It loses stars for the reasons stated below. For a more formal event, it's not ideal for older people especially. (those over 80 and those with any disability) There is a somewhat steep and uneven slope down to the Yurt area where the ground is flat but again, uneven and covered with hay. This caused shoes and feet to be covered in dust soon after arriving. This would be ok if wearing proper sneakers or others made for walking on that type of surface. Wearing the clothes we did, gave us no protection from ticks which the website indicated are prevalent there. In addition, the only restrooms are porta potties. This is a little rustic for a formal event and not so easy for people in wheel chairs. There is no lighting on this path back up to the parking lot. This is entirely unsafe after the sun has gone down. All of that said, I would recommend this venue for a school field trip where students are dressed appropriately and are visiting during daylight hours. I would not, however, recommend it for a formal event.

I was able to.get a spot early friday morning, but they fill up fast!! Spot 5 stays shaded almost…read moreall day.

I recently camped here again, so, it's time for an update…read more I'm not changing my rating, since the campground details are essentially the same. Everything I said in my first review is still true. That's where all the useful campground details can be found, so scroll down if you're looking for those. Otherwise, I have a camping PSA for everyone: Did you know that your headlamp is literally a flashlight that points at whatever you're looking at? So, if you're looking at another person or their tent while wearing a headlamp, you are flashing a flashlight at them. If you want to look around the campground, politely do it during the day, not in the middle of the night with a flashlight on your temple. So, this was my issue here. I had set up early on site 16, which is the last site at the very top of the hill. The only thing I set up on my site was my one person backpacking tent, no rainfly. This is a Backpacker's camp behind a Ranger station, so, it's theoretically supposed to be a safe enough place to do this. My first night was great. Very peaceful and quiet. My second night was not. When I came back to my tent around 11pm, the men partying on sites 14 and 15 were too drunk to notice me. About half an hour later, I sneezed. This is when a bright light pointed directly at my tent. The man continued to stare at my tent, with his headlamp on, illuminating my tent, for what felt like forever. I sat up and stared back. He looked away for a second, then looked back. I finally yelled, "Hey, could you not point your light at my tent?!" He called back, "I wasn't trying to," in an offended little boy voice, as if I had deeply hurt his feelings by accurately describing his actual behavior. He then continued to point the light at my tent almost continuously until 3am. Several times, he started to stagger towards my site, then staggered back. In order for his light to point at my tent, he had to face my site from one specific area on his site. His excuse was ostensibly needing water. 60 times per hour. In a Backpacker's Camp. Between midnight and 3am. Wtaf. I was laying there awake, ready to defend myself. In the morning, I complained to the ranger, who said he would talk to them. They should have left by noon. But when I came back around 6, they were still there. I packed up and went back to Bootjack. Here's what I wish would change-- I wish that the camping kiosk posted an after hours number to call a ranger for situations like this, where maybe you don't want to call 911 and have the cops drive out from the city when a crime hasn't been committed, but it feels like maybe a crime would be prevented by a ranger doing an extra rove. If there had been an after hours number posted other than 911, I would have called for a ranger to come educate this man on how flashlights work, and how to stop pointing his directly at me while I'm trying to sleep. My other complaint is that, around 930pm that same night, a couple of rangers had knocked on my car window to ask me if I was sleeping in my car. There is no reason for them to have done this, because my camping pass was prominently displayed in my window the entire time, and my tent was set up on my site the entire time. It was only 930pm. It was not yet quiet hours. It felt clear that other campers had called the police because it bothered them that I was sitting in my car using my phone rather than sitting in my campsite. Which I was doing because I have PTSD and I needed to be alone, and the people camping next to me were very noisy and annoying, and had even disturbed me when I had tried to go sit by myself at the PTSD bench on Cardiac. So, now, on top of that, I've got two rangers knocking on my window making sure I'm not being a bad girl. Like.... my car was so full of stuff, where would I have even slept? If they had checked then they might have noticed the volunteer campground ranger stickers on my windshield. It just felt like a micro aggression. Like, they could have just left me alone. But I still love this campground and will probably continue to try to camp here again sometime in the future.

The loop is about 7.5 miles and 3.5 hrs. All Trails says 6.7 but mine was longer. I've heard the…read morecounterclockwise version is easier. I loved this trail for all the shade and ferns it had. It was truly magical and exuded good energy from the forest. The part after Panoramic Highway (Dipsea Trai)l before you hit the Steep Ravine Trail is very sunny and you can see out to the ocean. It kinda reminded me of Southern California. This part can get quite hot on a cloudless hot day but the rest of the trail is very shaded. It goes past the famous Steep Ravine waterfall stairs. This is one of those trails that is very nice and peaceful during the week but the weekends can get crowded and you'll get a different experience. I'd highly recommend the weekdays if you can swing it.

Amazing 4 hour trail! We started at Stinson beach and had a blast! It starts quite steep but still…read moremanageable with the steps on the trail as you gain elevation. Great views as you're going up and we experienced some small pockets of sprinkles due to the fog roaming around. Not too many wet areas but we did come across some muddier patches. Pretty solid moderate trail. It can feel hard in the beginning but it gets better. I felt really hydrated with all the moisture around me. It's mostly shaded so that helps as well. Highly recommend!

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.

I had forgotten just how gorgeous this hike is--the scenery is incredible the entire way. Be…read moreprepared for a steady climb through most of the route, with plenty of wooden stairs, gnarly roots, and rock steps, but the stunning views make every bit of effort worth it. There are many great spots to stop for photos, take a break, or enjoy a picnic--we did all three. Thanks to the recent rain, there was still plenty of water flowing, which made the trail even more beautiful. The picnic area at Laurel Dell is especially serene, with a babbling brook nearby. There's even an outhouse, which is always a welcome sight. I actually found climbing up much easier than descending as one has to really pay attention to their footing. We were happy seeing Alpine Lake again knowing we were close to end of hike.

Went here with a friend and her dog and had such a great time. Such a beautiful, peaceful hike and…read moredefinitely one of my favorites on Mount Tam. The drive in was beautiful too, the views of Alpine Lake along the way made the whole trip feel extra special before we even got to the trail. Be prepared for a lot of stairs, so it can definitely get your legs working, but the waterfalls make it completely worth it. Hearing the water and being surrounded by all the greenery made the whole hike feel so calm and relaxing. The views throughout the hike are gorgeous, and it's such a nice escape if you're looking for something peaceful and scenic. Definitely recommend checking out Cataract Falls if you're up for a little workout with a really rewarding payoff. Definitely will be coming back :)

The campsite is quiet and pleasant, surrounded by large woods and hills, with fresh air, perfect…read morefor getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There is a proper distance between the campsites, so it won't feel too crowded, and there are many flat places suitable for tents. The hiking trail is very convenient from the campsite. I especially recommend the trail to Tennessee Valley, which has beautiful scenery and you can see some wild animals along the way. The infrastructure of the campsite is relatively simple. Although there are not many modern facilities, it is also its original ecological feeling that makes people relax. The only slight shortcoming is that the water source and toilet facilities are relatively basic, so it is recommended to bring some extra supplies.

Why in the world should I have to hike to my campsite, when there is a perfectly good dirt road…read morethat can access it? Bathrooms are glorified portapotties, but better than nothing (I've had my share of backwoods camping). There are no water spigots, so pack in your water. Food can (and should) be stored in bear lockers on site. The "hike" there is about 1.7 miles and easy...if you pack light.

Muir Woods is a must-see oasis in the midst of the Bay Area! Arriving to this specific National…read moreMonument is no easy fiat; it requires you to go thro some windy ups-and-downs to eventually reach the spot. If you suffer from motion-sickness, just drive slowly and mindfully. After arriving, there are several parking lots in which workers will guide you. ATTN: THERE IS NO CELL SERVICE IN THIS AREA & YOU WILL NEED A PARKING RESERVATION BEFORE COMING. Once you past all that --- the best part: the quietness of nature! I was informed the entire trail is about 1 1/2 miles around --- and that if you truly took your time, you could spend 1h30min+ here. I DID! There's something so soothing about the stillness of nature against the backdrop of the busyness of the city just below it. Looking at how grand these Redwoods are, make you realize how small "we" are in the grand scheme of things. It's a perfect visual and reminder that we are part of the great ecosystem of life, and should play our role in it --- to help preserve them & maybe ourselves in the process as well. Definitely recommend!

From city noise to ancient redwood silence in under an hour…read more You'll find flat boardwalks winding through the groves and longer hillside trails if you want a bit more adventure. Redwood Creek runs through the canyon, home to salmon and trout. You can see the highlights in a few hours or stay longer. I always recommend exploring Canopy View to Lost Trail, and Fern Creek for quieter, less-traveled pockets of forest. How lucky are those who live anywhere near this place. I love driving up early in the morning for the most magical fog. Arriving always feels like stepping into a living time capsule from the Middle Ages. Some of the tallest trees on Earth stand here, roughly 1,000 years old and rising over 250 feet. The air shifts as you enter: cooler, darker, scented with earth, cedar, and rain. Standing beneath trees that have survived centuries of storms, wars, fires, and human chaos makes your own worries feel smaller. It's humbling and grounding. Things to know before you go: You need a parking reservation, no exceptions. Entrance and parking fees apply (America the Beautiful Pass is accepted). A shuttle from Sausalito is an option if you prefer not driving on narrow roads. Cell service disappears, so save anything you need beforehand. It's always cooler here, usually 10-20 degrees, so bring a layer. Bathrooms are only at the entrance. Food is extremely limited (one small cafe) so bring water, snacks/lunch. Pets aren't allowed. And always take a moment by the creek, it's the quiet heart of the entire ecosystem.