My family used to camp here over 25 years ago so it was really nice to return with my grown…read morechildren & grandchildren. Just as beautiful as I remember. A few things to take into consideration before you go: there is no water, garbage cans (you pack out your own trash), you leave your car in parking lot and carry your gear in (wagons are super helpful), and no cell service. That being said it's pretty nice being off the grid for a few days. And really great for the kids to play in nature without electronics. All the sites are beautiful- some up a hill or across a creek bridge. I prefer not to carry my gear up a hill and have my tent on a flat space. You cannot reserve spots in advance- day of only. The campground also has the Pomo Canyon trail which leads to Shell Beach (maybe 5 miles of hiking). The grandkids were quite happy exploring the campground trails and creek. Campsites come with a picnic table & fire ring. There are a couple pit toilets in the campground (stinky of course). Yet this is a beautiful place- I'd say it's very peaceful & zen.

How long after we (humans, on Earth) are all gone will it be until Nature reclaims all we have…read moretaken? That was my thought when the girlfriend & I visited the Pomo Canyon Environmental Campground on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Nestled into the edge of a redwood grove, it's hard not to wonder because of how this place looks now that the campground is closed. It's been closed for a year now. Already the paths & the clearings for the camp sites are covered in a thick layer of detritus from the trees above. It's eerily silent. Like a ghost town without the town, only picnic tables, fire pits & a few outhouses. It felt like a glimpse into our post-Apocalyptic future. Who knows? Maybe the Mayans were right. Eh, probably my imagination getting the best of me. Anyway, even with the campground closed, there are still some nice, fern-lined trails that meander through the beautiful redwoods. Because the campground is closed, the gravel road leading to it is also closed. There's very limited parking back at the road & it's a short hike in. We explored the area a while in complete solitude & headed back for the car before it got dark. For a walk in the woods with absolutely no one else around, this is it. The Pomo Canyon Environmental Campground may be closed but it is, nonetheless, a good starting point for nice hikes in redwoods. It's also a place that may make you wonder what the world will be like without us.

Had a great time at reef campground, though I am glad we got a spot away from the highway at the…read moreend. Did some hiking along the coast, stayed petty warm there too because of trees and brush. The camo ghost was really helpful too!

My wife and I pulled in here today to see if there was any available camping sites. We saw that it…read morewas full, so we decided to just drive in to see what they looked like, so that we could possibly stay here next time we found ourselves coming up the Coast Highway 1. No sooner than we get into the park, and go to turn around at the end (no more than 3-5 minutes), an extremely rude ranger came up to try and write us a ticket for parking without paying. She tried to claim we had to have been there a couple hours since she did not see us coming into the park. After I called her on her B.S. she told me "I am a firm believer in Karma, so I won't write you a ticket this time." Sure, if by believing in Karma, she meant not blatantly trying to rip people off. You could tell by the look on her face that she knew she was in the wrong, but was trying to play it off. So after she said her spiel, I just ignored her as she kept on babbling, and took off....not worth the aggravation. Other than that, the campgrounds don't look too bad, although some are very close together. Unfortunately after a bad experience with park staff like this, I have no interest in returning, and will advocate the same to those that I know.

My friends and I were originally going to go to Pomo Canyon, until we realized they were closed,…read moredue to construction. Then we happened to come upon Willow Creek. We left on a Friday morning, around 10ish, and the drive, from the East Bay, to this place was about two hours. Getting there was a bit hard. There was no sign to tell you where it was. So we missed our entrance by a little bit. It's before driving over the bridge and a restaurant, and you would have to make a right turn. Then you drive along a one way road for another 5-10 minutes and you will see a sign, directing you to the campgrounds. After arriving there, since this was our first time at Willow Creek, we had no idea where to pay/sign in, since it is a self-registration. We talked with a couple that stayed the night before and he was very helpful. There's a sign near the tree where you would have to take a slip, fill out that form, place the money inside and place it in a compartment where the ranger will then check it. It's $25/night and $8/vehicle. There are 11 campsites to choose from. Each, which are roughly a couple of feet from each other. Some are out near the walk-way, while a few others are in an enclosed area. The 11th campsite is about a mile from the parking area. We ended up with campsite 10, and it was such a hassle carrying all of our things over. We made about 4 trips, each, since we were staying for 3 days and 2 nights. We got all settled in, and explored the area. Each campsite has their own picnic table and a fire pit. There are only two pit toilets, which were less than 3 minutes walk from each other. Trees were every where, of course, and is close to a tree of mountains. You can find all kinds of creatures living there. Insects, amphibians, reptiles, deers, cows, coyotes, etc. It didn't seem like there were rangers there, so it felt as if you camped out with no authorities there. We chatted with a few other campers there, and they were really cool. Gave us some helpful information about things, on account of being first-time campers. Overall, this is a pretty decent place for a last minute camping trip. I'm not sure if I will come back though.

Beautiful camp site. Quiet and peaceful. We stayed in site #3 which can't be seen from the main…read morepath and has its own trail to the river and a beautiful rocky beach. The bathrooms are well maintained and the campground is mowed and maintained as well. We saw many animals including quail, deer, river otters, water fowl, a fox and had a racoon ransack some of our things left out on the table. The site has a fire pit, grill and picnic table. We stayed for 3 nights. The only draw back was the run in we had with a cougar/mountain lion/bob cat on our last night on the way to the bathrooms. I hid in the bathroom while my boyfriend scared it off so we could get back to our site. We left the next morning.

We spent two nights at Wildhaven Sonoma with two families. After the trip, I wanted to share some…read morepractical things that would have been helpful for us to know before booking, especially around when to go, the tents, kids, the Russian River, cooking, restrooms, showers, and what to bring. A special thank you to Fred, our onsite host, who was warm, welcoming, and quick to help whenever we needed anything. **When to go** If you have flexibility, I definitely recommend going on weekdays, especially Thursday and Friday nights. It was much less crowded and more relaxing for us than a weekend would be. Weekend pricing is also on the expensive side, while weekday pricing felt more reasonable. Two nights was a good amount of time for our family. **Check-in** If this is your first visit, try to arrive during the check-in window (they do have late check-in instructions post 6pm) so you have time to ask questions and get familiar with the property. The onsite team is also responsive by text or phone if you need something after hours. **The tents** The tents are cozy and comfortable, and the heated mattress is great for colder nights. The Standard 1-Queen tent worked well for one family, and there is also a heater/fan and charging ports inside. The tents are fairly close together, so you can hear the neighboring family talking, but we never found it uncomfortably loud. **Kids** Kids will have a blast here. If you are traveling with children, check the cot, linens and pillow when you arrive. Our cot setup was initially missing, but onsite host Fred responded within about an hour and got everything we needed very quickly. **Russian River** There are multiple river access points, and we used the farther one because it was shallow and more kid-friendly. We brought both adult and kids' tubes, but decided not to tube because the current was fairly swift and we did not want to take the risk with the kids. We also noticed quite a few flies around the river in the morning and evening, so around 10 AM to 11 AM worked best for us. **River-facing tents** Personally, I would not pay extra for a river-facing tent. The river is easily accessible from the property, and we spent plenty of time there without needing a river-facing tent. In fact, if possible, get tents closer to the rest room by asking the property or host which is much more useful, especially when kids or adults want to use restroom in the middle of the night. **Grilling** Having a firepit grill right in front of the tent was one of our favorite features. We could also park fairly close to or behind the tent, which made bringing food and supplies much easier. We brought our own campfire cooking grill and preferred using it because it gave us a clean cooking surface. **Healdsburg** Safeway in Healdsburg is very convenient for food and supplies, and you can get pretty much everything you need for the stay there. They even have paneer if you want to grill something vegetarian, although it is a little pricey. There is also a Starbucks in the same shopping complex, which was convenient for getting coffee. Healdsburg does have Thai, Indian and Mediterranean options for lunch/dinner. **Restrooms** The restrooms were clean, but they could get crowded during busier periods. This is one area where I think upgrading the existing restrooms would be a worthwhile improvement for the property. The additional outdoor restrooms were a lifesaver for us on multiple occasions. **Showers** The showers were clean and comfortable, and they provide shampoo and body wash. This was better than what I expected from a glamping property and made the stay much easier with kids. **Dish washing** There is a communal BBQ and dishwashing area where you can clean your vessels and cutlery. They provide dishwashing liquid and scrubbers, which was a nice touch and made cooking for the family much easier. **Nights** The property gets quite dark at night, which is part of the charm but something to be prepared for. Headlamps are a must, and I would recommend bringing one for every person, especially when walking to the restrooms with kids. **What to bring** Our most useful items were a campfire cooking grill, grill tools, skewers, fire starter, lighter, firewood, headlamps, water shoes for both kids and adults, trash bags and cups for tea or coffee. They have hot water available, so having your own cups is convenient. **Overall** We stayed for two nights with another family, with two adults and one young child in each family. It was a very relaxing family getaway, and the combination of comfortable tents, river access, campfire cooking and being close to Healdsburg made it easy to enjoy without doing traditional camping.

This was our second stay at Wildhaven. If you had asked me after our first visit last fall whether…read moreI'd recommend this place, my answer would have been an emphatic yes. We loved it so much that we planned to make it an annual family tradition. Unfortunately, this trip completely changed my opinion. This time we booked one of the cabins instead of a tent. My reservation clearly stated there would be four guests, yet the cabin only had three pillows. My kids slept on the futon, and the blanket provided for them had obviously not been washed--it was covered in dog hair and goathead stickers. When I asked for extra pillows and blankets, I was told they didn't have any available. I ended up having to Instacart pillows and blankets on the second day because it was too late to get them the first night. My kids used my blanket that first night. I understand and appreciate that Wildhaven is dog-friendly, but I think there should either be designated pet-friendly cabins or a much more thorough cleaning process between guests. What if my children had severe dog allergies? That simply isn't acceptable. The campground was also completely booked, so I expected the shared facilities to be cleaned more frequently. Instead, the men's restroom was filthy by 7:00 p.m., and the cleaning log showed it hadn't been serviced since 4:19 p.m. The handwashing and dishwashing stations were also out of paper towels. The final disappointment was the wagon policy. Campers are encouraged to buy firewood on-site to help prevent the spread of invasive insects, which we happily did. However, we were told we had to pay to rent a wagon just to transport the firewood and ice to our cabin. Last fall, guests were allowed to use the wagons at no charge for this purpose. Charging extra for something that supports campground rules and conservation efforts felt frustrating and unnecessary. Wildhaven is still a beautiful property, and that's what makes this experience so disappointing. We truly wanted this to become a yearly family tradition, but after this visit, I don't think we'll be returning. I hope management addresses these issues because this place has so much potential, and our first experience showed just how great it can be.

I go camping as an intentional exercise in self-sufficiency and humility, and for that reason don't…read moreshow up with any entitlements or expectations. If my reserved campsite is available when I arrive, I'm good to go. Woodside did not fail me in any way, shape or form during my 2-night stay this summer. I made my reservations ahead of time on ReserveCalifornia.com, but if you show up out of the blue the rangers put in the meticulous effort every day of marking which sites have no-shows or cancellations, allowing you to essentially walk right into a premium summer camping location. My site had a placard with my name and date range on it, a little detail of service I completely love. Showing up after 5 pm was nbd, because our place was saved. $80 very well spent. At site 41, we were a short walk to the restroom, but had a water spigot and small, clean trash cans right next to the site. For convenience, we often used the restroom while we were coming and going to Stewarts Point Store for breakfast or the beach for hiking. No problemo. No showers at Woodside, yay to a washcloth and soap to clean up after a long day of hiking. In the campground we saw bats, chipmunks, baby deer (with white spots still on their fur), woodpeckers, jays, and all sorts of other birds. Gratefully, no mosquitoes in mid-July. We loved sliding into nighttime with a campfire. If you haven't camped in Salt Point, you're in for a treat. The area has an interesting history and the bluff trails have to be experienced firsthand. Your reservation includes Day Use fees for all areas of the park, including Gerstle Cove and the Salt Point Bluff trails. Make a reservation and get out there!

Our original campsite was for Gerstle Cove, but due to a water pipe leak and tree maintenance, we…read morewere notified we'd be relocated to Woodside one week before our trip. I get it. $hit happens. No one told us for sure, but we guessed the water was not drinkable due to the water leak? Some advance notice of this would have been appreciated. The site and facilities were not in the best shape. We stayed at site 46. My bf found empty canned food tins in the brush, and the unisex bathrooms were gross. Thankfully, I was only in there to wash my hands because we ran out of water in the camper. Also to note: No hookups, no shower facilities or dump station. For $35/night plus a $7.99 reservation fee, this was just sad.

Nothing like the Sonoma Coast State Parks! Sun, sips, and…read moresensational views! Summer days spent lounging on the beautiful shores of Sonoma Coast State Park have my heart. From the ocean waves at Wrights Beach to cozy camping nights under a starlit sky, every moment feels like a dreamy road trip adventure.

We had so much fun here! Salmon creek is here which is a shallow lake with a stream that runs into…read morethe ocean. We literally spent hours here just wading in the water and having fun. It was a little hard to get down with our tent and our supplies but well worth the effort.

I rarely ever post reviews. But I was in such a desperate situation today. We got a flat tire and…read morehad no cell reception or data. We found Alona and her shop. She is such a kind and generous person. She allowed me to use her WiFi, her phone, and let me and my kids wait for hours while our tow truck came. While waiting we got to see the plants and items she sells at her shop. She has beautiful hand crafted items as well as plants that are clearly very healthy and well cared for. Each plant was in a unique mug surrounded by sea glass or tiny sea stars. She has very neat antiques and even handmade crocheted items. I got to see her building some of her artwork made of natural materials like driftwood and abalone shells. She gifted my children a book and other things to keep them occupied while we were stranded. She has such a beautiful heart and beautiful store. It's definitely worth a stop by.

What a wonderful plant shop!!! So many unique and and amazing plants and cacti! I went back twice…read more:) I love the special touch of stones and shells from the beach, in the pots with the plants. The lady who helped me was very friendly and had personally put together 10 clay pots of little cacti that was I wanting to bring home with me. I also bought a few other bigger plants - it was hard to choose. I was very impressed with everything there!! Thank you so much! I will definitely be back and mention your store to everyone :)

This beautiful area is nestled in the larger Salt Point Stare Park, hidden away on the Sonoma…read moreCoast. This area of California is relatively untouched-- much of the area is forest that runs all the way to steep cliffs atop the rugged rocky NorCal coastline. Due to the protective headlands and it's unique alignment on the coast, Gerstle Cove doesn't receive the full force of the Pacific swell; this has created a unique natural area with quiet waters for tide pools, pinniped haul out, and some great nature watching for visitors. Gerstle Cove has had some minor changes to its designation as a Marine Protected Area over the last several years. This is a quiet cove to launch a kayak or a small inflatable, and we've used both to head out a little offshore to fish. Great diving at different times of the year too, but check conditions and weather before you go. It's distance from civilization will likely keep this place wild for years to come. If you go, best to take only photographs and leave only footprints... and watch your step on the rocks-- they can be slippery or covered with living critters!

We camped there this weekend... Love that there is only 30 sites there that are pretty spaced outs…read morewe were in 11 and 13. There is also a group camping site. There are Flush toilets.. but no showers Camp sites are a quick walking distance down to Gerstle Cove Admittedly the journey there from the Bay Area truly is nerve wracking on the very windy road.. but we loved it and loved the camp hosts and the whole environment