4.1118 reviews
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$20/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
6 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$20/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
6 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
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.
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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 cited as best conditions for riding/camping: clearer skies and less marine layer.
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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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