Salt Point State Park
A comfy campout with 2 to 5 mile hikes
Driving to and sleeping at a campground
Ideal for first-timers
Perfect for families with young kiddos
Trip · 3-day camping trip
For · Friends and new campers
Vibe · Relaxing and chill
Reservations · Yes, reserve a site at Woodside Campground
Drive · 2.5 hours from SF and LA
Ideal dates · June to September
Pets · Welcome at camp, but not on beaches and trails
Salt Point State Park (SPSP) is a 6,000 acre park that packs panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean along with unforgettable sunsets. It's home to one of CA's first underwater parks: Salt Point State Marine Conservation Area. Like most coastal spots in NorCal, the weather is wet and mild, with foggy summer days averaging in the 60s, so dress in layers when you visit. Don't let that discourage you from experiencing SPSP's rugged beauty, 20 miles of hiking trails, and tidepools. All of which make this a special place worth visiting.
Main image credit: Ronan Furuta
Each campsite comes with a:
SPSP has two campgrounds: Gerstle Cove and Woodside. Lower and Upper Woodside campsites range on the smaller, cozier, woodsier (heh) side, but it's a beautiful campground that shelters tent campers from breezy weather. You can buy firewood from the visitor center, and it's open seasonally so be sure to reserve a spot in advance.
Check-in: After 2 PM · Check-out: 12 PM
Nightly Rate: $35
.png)
Salt Point State Park is named after the formation of salt crystals in the cracks and crevices of its rocky coastline.
The Kashaya Pomo tribe were the earliest known residents in this area. They were expert artisans and fishermen.
Tafoni is a natural phenomenon found in the sandstone at Gerstle Cove and Fisk Mill Cove. It refers to the honeycomb-type erosion caused by seasonal wetting and drying of the rock.
You won't be saving money, but you'll save space and weight with these camp sandals.
Clothes
Sleepover! This is a tent you can stand up in and have plenty of space for air mattresses, doggos, and more.
Shared Gear
A reliable, popular, and relatively affordable dual-burner camping stove that is fairly heavy, but performs well.
Kitchen
It's pricey, but the New York Times' Wirecutter recommended this attachment as a way for wheelchair users to navigate uneven terrain.
Essential Items
Instead of transporting stuff on your lap, use this storage bag to easily store items underneath your wheelchair.
Essential Items
Never dig around your pack to find some hand sanitizer. Instead, hang this one on the outside of your pack.
Personal Stuff
If you're an experienced backpacker, this is the lightest full-size, full-featured, frameless pack made.
Essential Items
Add a little magic to your experience by hanging these twinkling lights around your tent every night.
Shared Gear
Sometimes you just want a camp chair that gets the job done. Nothing glamorous or fancy. Well, this is it.
Shared Gear
The more you backpack the lighter your shelter becomes, and the lighter it is, the more expensive it can be.
Shared Gear
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.
