Best Camping Within 2 Hours of San Francisco. Aug 29 at 3pm When you’re trying to plan a weekend camping trip and half your friends work until 5 p.m. on Friday, you can be sure you’re not getting to Yosemite or Big Sur before nightfall.
Nobody likes setting up a tent in the dark, and leaving Saturday morning cuts out valuable outside time. Fortunately, San Francisco happens to be a stone’s throw away from a few dozen parks, beaches, and recreation areas, many of which have campgrounds that can hold their own against most national parks. All campsites (except Pantoll Campground at Mt. Tamalpais and Rob Hill) on my favorites list can be reserved online here. If you know of spots not mentioned here, be sure to share your favorites in the comments below. Distance from SF: 67 miles Dogs: Campgrounds, paved roads, and picnic areas only. Don’t forget to pack: A good set of cookware. Check this out nearby: Castle Rock State Park has some of the best outdoor climbing anywhere on the north coast. Distance from SF: 31 miles. The Seven Best Camping Beaches in the Bay Area. 1.
Endless Redwood ExploringThe spot: Sleep under a canopy of old-growth Redwood trees at Butano State Park on the San Mateo coast. With a natural buffer zone between your tent and your car, each site has a relaxed and secluded feel. Perks and amenities: With 4,628 acres, the hiking is almost endless. The 5-mile Mill Ox Loop leads through lush fern groves to panoramic views of the Pacific. The route crosses Little Butano Creek and leads up to the Butano Fire Road that has sweeping views of the coast. Best sites: Book sites 23, 27, or 30 for close trail access. Family Friendly Events, Kids' Activities & Contests. Camping. Bay Area camping (links to pages for parks with hiking, or nearby) North Bay (Marin, Sonoma, and Napa Counties) • Angel Island.
Hike-in campsites. (For descriptions, go to the Angel Island website) • Austin Creek State Recreation Area. San Francisco Sea Caves. Located off Highway 1 from Point Reyes Station.
From Highway 1, head west on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, make first left on Bear Valley Road and right of Limantour Road. Follow Limantour Road for approximately 3 miles and park in parking lot on left for the Sky Trail Trailhead. Follow the Sky Trail for approximately 4 miles to the Coast Trail, make a right and follow for a short distance to Kelham Beach. From Kelham Beach head north and through the cave to Real Secret Beach. Real Secret Beach is a tiny sand beach with picturesque rock formations backed by coastal bluffs. Discover the Best Camping in China Camp State Park.
Biking Among other things, China Camp offers some awesome riding for intermediate riders.
In fact it offers some of Marin's best mountain biking and singletrack bike trails. Discover the Best Camping in China Camp State Park. Soak at the Steep Ravine Hot Springs - Marin. Rough week?
How about a post-sunset seaside soak? Visit the secluded natural hot springs at Steep Ravine, about one mile south of Stinson Beach on Highway 1. The easiest way to reach this watery oasis is to walk down the road through the Steep Ravine cabins, then continue north along Steep Ravine Beach until you reach the end of the sand. After that you clamber over rocks (trek with caution: wear sturdy shoes with traction and bring a flashlight if going after dark) for about 500 feet to the "grotto.
" Most bathers here lounge au naturel in steamy sulphur-scented "hot tubs" (made of stone and sand bags). Look for the Steep Ravine gate and sign on Highway 1; park on the east side of the road. Discover the Best Camping in Point Reyes National Seashore. Backpacking With rolling hills and astounding scenery as your backdrop, you can’t go wrong backpacking at Point Reyes.
The park has four backcountry campgrounds that can make backpacking more comfortable for novices. Biking Another great way to see Point Reyes National Seashore is via bicycle. The area provides a variety of off-road biking opportunities traversing diverse habitats and terrains. Boating For those of you who would rather travel on water than land, Tomales Beach is the perfect place to dock! Caving Not for the faint of heart, there are a few “hidden treasure” locations that let you explore the magical landscape of Point Reyes. Fishing Point Reyes is surrounded by the beautiful and abundant Pacific Ocean, making it a great spot for fishermen. Foraging If you’re looking for a place to forage , look no further than Point Reyes.
Hiking The National Seashore has about 150 miles of magnificent hiking trails to explore and run around. Horseback Riding Kayaking & Canoeing Surfing. Discover the Best Camping in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Backpacking Big Basin is the centerpoint for the famous Skyline to Sea trail .
The trail begins in Castle Rock State Park, goes through Big Basin, and ends at Waddell Creek Beach 32 miles later. This is a hefty 3-day backpacking trip, but a great one-- it’s practically a rite of passage for the locals. If you have any questions about the hike, they are all answered here. Ajax_json_jquery_slides.