4.1118 reviews
Price
$20/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
6 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$20/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
6 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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Learn more about alerts →Wilder Ranch Campground
1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
263,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Horse campers with a truck and trailers will find rare dedicated infrastructure at $20 a night. Fall is the sweet spot: trails firm up, the marine layer clears, and 35 miles of coastal and redwood trail open up from camp. Whale watching from the bluffs runs December through April
No fire rings, no grills, no shade, and no showers. Dogs are banned (service animals excepted), so anyone bringing a non-working dog can't stay. The exposed sites cluster together with nothing between them, and summer fog gives way to full sun on unshaded trails.
Availability, what to pack, similar spots — ask anything and get an instant answer.
Fall brings the best riding and camping conditions. Daytime temperatures range from the mid-50s to mid-70s°F, with clearer skies and less marine layer than early summer. Trails dry out and firm up, ideal for horses. Ocean views sharpen in the crisper air. Crowds thin after Labor Day while weather remains pleasant. Summer sees more fog and exposed trails bake in full sun, a complaint in multiple reviews. Spotty cell service means downloading offline maps before arrival, as one reviewer learned when trail connections proved unclear.
Fall offers best riding and camping—clearer skies, milder temps, trails firm up.
Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.
Wilder Ranch State Park only offers equestrian camping, with six designated equestrian campsites available year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Amenities are limited, particularly for non-equestrian campers. Each equestrian site includes a 10x10 pipe corral and can accommodate trucks and horse trailers. Additional vehicles require a $10 fee. Picnic tables are available at the sites, but no fire rings, food lockers, grills, or shade are provided. Potable water is available in the park, but showers, flush toilets, and electricity hookups are not offered. Only portable toilets are accessible near the campsites.
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