Hammock camping in the bay area?

**Djaffe** · 08-24-2015, 23:03

So I was thinking of either Castle Rock or Big Basin after work on Friday and relax for the night. Has anyone had a good stay at either?

Thanks

**bigfanboy** · 08-28-2015, 17:15

Originally Posted by Djaffe

So I was thinking of either Castle Rock or Big Basin after work on Friday and relax for the night. Has anyone had a good stay at either?

Thanks

I am considering Wadell beach to Saratoga Gap next weekend Sept 4-7. It's 30 miles I am in Horrible shape, read slow, so I want to take my time. I am thinking of getting to Wadell in the late afternoon, early evening and getting a few miles in. I need to finish by Late Sunday or very early Monday as I have a 1:00pm flight from SFO.

**kormi** · 08-28-2015, 21:55

Originally Posted by Djaffe

So I was thinking of either Castle Rock or Big Basin after work on Friday and relax for the night. Has anyone had a good stay at either?

Thanks

I wanted to do Big Basin but was told no hammocks. Please let me know if that is not the case.

**bigfanboy** · 08-28-2015, 22:54

Originally Posted by kormi

I wanted to do Big Basin but was told no hammocks. Please let me know if that is not the case.

I'm thinking of going, not asking for permission and see what happens. If I hang from 12 inch trees in 1 inch huggers...

**Djaffe** · 08-30-2015, 20:49

I ended up getting to the Castle Rock parking lot around 7:15pm or so, and just hiking down the ~3 miles to the campground. I got there in the dark and set up with the help of the headlight. nice quiet night in the woods, and even woke up to some nice heavy mist. I'm pretty new to this, so it was amazing to wake up swaying in the trees in the hammock. I'm gonna have to go back in a few weeks and do it again!

I want to try Big Basin as well, it looks like there are plenty of good places there, and I want to do the same as fanboy, just set up.

**ToxicGranny** · 09-01-2015, 21:28

I just moved up to Santa Cruz and called a couple places. The Forest of Nisene Marks allows hammocks but when I called the trail camp office they said no hammocks for all of the trail camps up in the SC mountains. That office is based in Big Basin though, so maybe they just said no without checking each of the other parks up there.

**Djaffe** · 09-04-2015, 20:13

I'm thinking of doing the Skyline to Sea trail starting in Castle Rock next Friday (or in the weeks to follow if anyone is interested in coming) and ending up in Santa Cruz on Sunday. I found the Castle Rock campground to be great for my Hammock, but I want to finish the hike and make it all the way. Sounds relatively mellow, and the weather this time of year is beautiful, so if nothing else, I'll have a nice relaxing weekend in the woods

**Jhath4** · 09-08-2015, 20:44

Thanks for all of the awesome input!

**Rilord** · 09-16-2015, 20:07

I did some Hammock Camping at Butano State Park, in their walk-in campsites, and they seemed to tolerate/allow it. I'm going to Mount Madonna State Park next weekend. Fingers crossed it won't rain. I haven't camped with a tarp yet...

**mk2rocco** · 09-21-2015, 19:29

Originally Posted by Rilord

I did some Hammock Camping at Butano State Park, in their walk-in campsites, and they seemed to tolerate/allow it. I'm going to Mount Madonna State Park next weekend. Fingers crossed it won't rain. I haven't camped with a tarp yet...

Mt Madonna is a Santa Clara County Park, they allow hammocks as long as no trees are damaged.