Campgrounds and RV parks near Bonny Doon, CA

The headline attraction is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, with its 40-acre old-growth grove, the Redwood Grove Loop Trail, and an observation deck at 805 feet with views over the Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey Bay. The park has roughly 20 miles of hiking and horseback trails, plus seasonal swimming and fishing on the San Lorenzo River. The Fall Creek Unit, a short drive north, is day-use only and adds over 20 miles of connecting trails through second-growth redwoods. Families often pair camping with a ride on the Roaring Camp Railroad steam train from Felton, a day at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, or a visit to Natural Bridges State Beach. The Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve offers short loop hikes through sandhill chaparral with rare wildflowers in spring.

Summer is the peak RV season in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Days are warm and dry, coastal fog often burns off by mid-morning, and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground is heavily booked between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Private parks like Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort and Smithwoods RV Park also fill on weekends; reserve well in advance for July and August. Spring and fall are quieter and often the most pleasant times to visit. Wildflowers in the Bonny Doon sandhills peak from late winter into early summer. September and October typically deliver warm, clear weather as summer fog lifts. Winter brings the bulk of the region's rainfall, with heavy storms possible from December through February. The San Lorenzo River can flood, and Highway 9 occasionally closes for slides or downed trees. Henry Cowell Campground operates year-round, but conditions and access can shift during major storms; confirm status with California State Parks before booking. Private RV parks in Felton generally operate year-round.

Sites in the Felton valley are surrounded by mature redwoods, which means deep shade, cool nights even in summer, and limited solar charging. Cell coverage is patchy in the canyons and inside the state park; expect spotty service away from Highway 9. Roads into the campgrounds are narrow and winding, and Highway 9 north of Santa Cruz is not recommended for large rigs; approach Felton from Scotts Valley via Mount Hermon Road instead. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground has flush toilets, coin-operated hot showers, picnic tables, fire rings, and bear-resistant food lockers, but no hookups. Private parks like Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort offer full hookups, Wi-Fi, and laundry. Bring quarters for state-park showers, layers for cool evenings, and a flashlight for the dark redwood understory.