marin camping Archives - Sonoma Magazine https://www.sonomamag.com/tag/marin-camping/ Things to do in Sonoma County Wed, 06 Aug 2025 17:48:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://d1sve9khgp0cw0.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/smagicon-150x150.png marin camping Archives - Sonoma Magazine https://www.sonomamag.com/tag/marin-camping/ 32 32 Best Places to Camp From Mendocino to Marin, According to Hipcamp https://www.sonomamag.com/best-places-to-camp-from-mendocino-to-marin-according-to-hipcamp/ Wed, 30 Jul 2025 22:51:54 +0000 https://www.sonomamag.com/?p=127614

From glamping getaways to rustic farm stays, six properties from Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino counties were recognized this year.

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Each year, campsite booking platform Hipcamp honors standout camping destinations across the country. In the recent 2025 Hipcamp Awards, the North Bay made a strong presence. From glamping getaways to rustic farm stays, six properties from Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino counties were recognized this year.

Salmon Creek Ranch, Bodega

A repeat winner in this year’s awards, Bodega’s Salmon Creek Ranch earned two titles: Best Treehouse and Best Hipcamp in California. Set on a 400-acre working ranch just outside Bodega Bay, the property offers a secluded tree house with sweeping forest views, a cozy wood stove and a private deck. Guests can explore redwood groves, visit livestock and enjoy farm-fresh produce during their stay.

Salmon Creek Ranch treehouse
A tree house with a view at Salmon Creek Ranch in Bodega. (Silas Fallstich)

The private preserve has an on-site farm store, featuring products such as grass-fed beef sausages and organic duck eggs. There’s also a private picnic area with a firepit and Weber barbeque grill. A stay at Salmon Creek Ranch starts at about $120 per night and goes up to $399 for the unique Eagle’s Nest Treehouse Farmstay — a premium glamping spot. 1400 Bay Hill Road, Bodega, 707-775-9604, salmoncreekranch.com

Finley Camp, Bodega

Also honored in the Best in Every U.S. State category, Finley Camp sits right along Finley Creek in west Sonoma County, just 20 minutes inland from Bodega Bay. The camp features 13 sites with firepits and picnic areas, as well as access to nearby hiking trails. It’s a peaceful base great for groups looking to explore Sonoma County’s coastal charm.

Camp site
Each campsite at Finley Camp in west Sonoma County includes a firepit and picnic table. Well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome. (Sonoma County Tourism)

The camp is located on an active cattle ranch, with grass-fed beef available for purchase. The farm also offers orchard tours where guests can pick apples, pears or blueberries (when in season). A stay at Finley Camp starts at around $85–$95 per night. The exact address will be provided after booking to respect the host’s privacy, according to Hipcamp. hipcamp.com

The Deck and Cozy Container, Albion

The Mendocino Coast at Albion. (Joel Shawn / Shutterstock)
The Deck and Cozy Container in Albion is a short drive from the Mendocino Coast. (Joel Shawn / Shutterstock)

Near the remote Mendocino coast, The Deck and Cozy Container offers a pared-down, off-grid experience with forest views and ocean air. The converted shipping container, complete with a 2,000-square-foot redwood deck, was named one of Hipcamp’s best in the state this year. Amenities include showers, potable water and cooking equipment, including a kitchenette with a fridge. It’s a low-key escape designed for quiet mornings, coastal hikes and nights under the stars.

A night with four guests at The Deck and Cozy Container is $143. The exact address will be provided after booking to respect the host’s privacy, according to Hipcamp. hipcamp.com

Estero San Antonio Wonderland, Tomales

The Estero de San Antonio flows into the Pacific at Dillon Beach Ranch, part of the 466 acres returned to Graton Rancheria. (David Dines/Western Rivers Conservancy)
Camp guests at Estero San Antonio Wonderland in Tomales can bring their own kayak and paddle down the Estero de San Antonio to Dillon Beach, only 3.5 miles away. (David Dines/Western Rivers Conservancy)

Recognized as one of the Best Farmstays in the country, this Marin County site sits on a serene ranch near the Estero de San Antonio waterway. Guests can camp in furnished bell tents or pitch their own, with access to farm animals, peaceful pastures and kayak trips down the river. There are six campsites as well as a farm store.

A stay at Estero San Antonio Wonderland ranges from $67–$94 per night. Learn more about the campsites from host True Grass Farms. The exact address will be provided after booking to respect the host’s privacy, according to Hipcamp. hipcamp.com

Heartwood Mendocino, Mendocino

This camping destination earned a nod in Hipcamp’s Best Glamping Sites category. Located in the hills outside Mendocino, Heartwood blends nature with thoughtful design. The site features three tent/RV sites and eight cabins — each with expansive forest views. Amenities include heated beds, luxe linens, a bath house with redwood tree shower and an outdoor camp kitchen, plus cooking equipment. Trails, rivers and the charming coastal town of Mendocino are all within reach. A night at Heartwood Mendocino goes from $76–$190. 40500 Little Lake Road, Mendocino, heartwoodmendocino.com

Forest camping
Heartwood Mendocino is surrounded by redwood forest with direct access to hiking and biking trails. (Salil Bhatt / Getty Images)
Waterfall Camp
Waterfall Camp is nestled on the edge of redwoods and pygmy forests, adjacent to Russian Gulch State Park. (John Burgess)

Waterfall Camp, Mendocino

One of the newest additions to Hipcamp’s roster, Waterfall Camp in Mendocino earned a spot in the Newcomers category for its quiet, back-to-nature charm. Hidden deep in the redwoods and accessible only by a short trail, the camp offers walk-in tent sites beside a gentle creek and a communal fire circle for evening gathering. The namesake waterfall is just steps away, offering a cool, shaded retreat after a day of hiking. With no cell service or crowds, it’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down, listen to the trees and fully unplug.

“Our goal is to make you feel right at home,” hosts Shay and Liz state on the booking site. A night’s stay at Waterfall camp starts at $90. The exact address will be provided after booking to respect the host’s privacy, according to Hipcamp. hipcamp.com

Want to camp right on the beach? Check here for beachfront camping in Sonoma, Mendocino and Marin. Check here for more favorite camping spots in Sonoma County.

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2 North Coast Campgrounds Named Among Best in US https://www.sonomamag.com/two-north-coast-campgrounds-named-among-the-best-in-the-u-s-by-matador-network/ Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:54:01 +0000 https://www.sonomamag.com/?p=124554

Tucked between ocean cliffs and towering redwoods, these scenic California sites were praised for their unbeatable views and wild seclusion.

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From dramatic waterfalls that tumble onto the beach to peaceful redwood groves hidden along fern-lined trails, Northern California offers some of the most stunning places in the country to pitch a tent. That’s according to a recent article from travel website Matador Network, which highlighted 60 of the most scenic campsites across the United States. Among them, two standout destinations — Wildcat Campground in Point Reyes and Van Damme State Park in Little River — represent the rugged natural beauty of California’s north coast.

Both campgrounds made the cut in the site’s West Coast roundup for offering more than just a place to stay. With striking landscapes and immersive access to the wilderness, they’re ideal for campers looking to unplug and reconnect with nature.

Marin County
Wildcat Campground
The safest way to get to the Alamere Falls, according to the National Park Service, is to hike to Wildcat Campground and then to Wildcat Beach. (Eddie Hernandez / Shutterstock)

Wildcat Campground, Point Reyes

Perched on windswept coastal bluffs with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Wildcat Campground offers an unforgettable backcountry camping experience. It’s one of the few places where campers can hike to a secluded beach and watch a waterfall, Alamere Falls, plunge directly onto the sand. Accessible only by foot, Wildcat features eight walk-in sites spaced apart for solitude, surrounded by rolling meadows that burst with wildflowers in spring and early summer. During migration season, lucky visitors may spot gray whales breaching offshore.

Hiking distances to the campground vary depending on trailhead, but expect to trek at least 5.5 miles one way. There are vault toilets and water access on site, but no campfires are allowed. Advance reservations are required year-round. 1 Bear Valley Road, 415-464-5100, nps.gov

Mendocino County
Van Damme State Park
Abalone diving group Ab Camp, at Van Damme State Park in Little River. (Chris Hardy)
Pygmy Forest Swamp at Van Damme State Park in Little River. (R. Alan Meyer / Shutterstock)
Pygmy Forest Swamp at Van Damme State Park in Little River. (R. Alan Meyer / Shutterstock)

Van Damme State Park, Little River

Nestled in a quiet canyon just south of Mendocino, Van Damme State Park blends coastal access with ancient forest immersion. While the main campground offers drive-in sites, the best experience is found along the Fern Canyon Scenic Trail, where five walk-in campsites sit beside a babbling brook in dense redwood forest. It’s only a 2-mile hike to reach them, but the atmosphere feels far removed from the modern world — perfect for campers seeking peace and quiet without a long backcountry trek.

Van Damme is also home to pygmy forests, tidepools and beach access. Amenities are available at walk-in sites and reservations — especially in peak season — can fill quickly. 8001 Highway 1, 707-937-5804, parks.ca.gov

For something a little closer to home, we found the best springtime camping spots in Sonoma County.

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