How to Get a Steep Ravine Cabins Permit
Nine wood-stove cabins on a marine terrace above the Pacific, one mile south of Stinson Beach - and you get in by drawing, not by refresh speed.
Check Steep Ravine Cabins permit availabilityFree to enter the reservation drawing; nightly cabin rate is set in ReserveCalifornia at booking
Permit Cost
1-2 nights
Duration
easy
Difficulty
About Steep Ravine Cabins
Steep Ravine Cabins are nine rustic cabins on a marine terrace at Rocky Point, one mile south of Stinson Beach, inside Mount Tamalpais State Park. Each cabin has a small wood stove, a picnic table, sleeping platforms and an outdoor barbecue - and no running water. Restrooms and water faucets are nearby. Only one vehicle and five people may occupy each cabin. These do not book on the normal six-month ReserveCalifornia window. In October 2023 California State Parks made Steep Ravine the pilot for its Reservation Drawing program: you apply for free up to eight months ahead, the drawing runs seven months ahead of the reservation date, and winners have 30 days to claim and pay. Anything nobody claims goes back into the regular six-month rolling window - which is the opening a cancellation watch is actually for. The park around the cabins is 6,300 acres with more than 60 miles of trail, and the Steep Ravine Trail up Webb Creek starts within walking distance. Mount Tamalpais State Park is open daily 7 a.m. to sunset year-round.
Steep Ravine is the reason California State Parks built a lottery in the first place. Demand was so far past supply that the department made these cabins the pilot for its Reservation Drawing program in October 2023, and by July 2025 it had logged more than 100,000 entries for this one site. Nothing else in the state park system carries that number.
The Experience
The cabins sit on an open terrace with the surf directly below, so the sound never stops. There is no running water inside and no electricity - you feed the wood stove, you cook on the outdoor barbecue, and you walk to the faucet. Fog rolls the Marin coast most of the year, and when it clears the ocean opens up straight off your steps.
This is a drive-to stay, not a hike. The campground sits on a marine terrace one mile south of Stinson Beach, below Highway 1, and California State Parks limits each cabin to one vehicle and five people. Everything you carry down is what you have for the night: the cabins have a small wood stove, a picnic table, sleeping platforms and an outdoor barbecue, but no running water. Restrooms and water faucets are nearby on the terrace. Up the mountain behind you, the Steep Ravine Trail follows Webb Creek through redwoods and finishes on a steep ladder - the park's most-loved short hike and an easy add-on the morning after.
What to Expect
Nine rustic cabins on the terrace, alongside seven primitive environmental campsites in the same campground
A small wood stove, picnic table, sleeping platforms and an outdoor barbecue in each cabin - no running water inside
Restrooms and water faucets nearby on the terrace
A hard cap of one vehicle and five people per cabin
Fog much of the year: park guidance is highs in the 80s and 90s in spring and summer, 50s in fall and winter, with fog common
Cabin #1 and environmental campsite #7 are the accessible units
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Permit Requirements
Only one vehicle and five people may occupy each cabin or campsite
Reservations are required - there is no walk-up for the cabins
Drawing winners must claim and pay for the reservation within 30 days or lose it
Dogs are allowed only in developed areas; they are not allowed on trails, dirt roads or in backcountry areas
Drones are prohibited parkwide under Superintendent's Order 22-660-002
Mushroom collecting is not allowed, and all rocks, flowers, wood and wildlife are protected by law
Park hours are 7:00 a.m. to sunset, daily, year-round
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •All your drinking and cooking water - the cabins have no running water
- •A sleeping bag and pad: the cabins have sleeping platforms, not bedding
- •Firewood and fire starter for the wood stove
- •Charcoal or fuel for the outdoor barbecue, plus a lighter
- •A headlamp or lantern - there is no electricity
- •Layers and a windproof shell; this is an exposed coastal terrace and fog is common year-round
Hazards & Safety
Exposed coastal terrace above surf - stay well back from the edge, especially in wind or fog
Fog can drop visibility on the access road and on Highway 1 with little warning
Wood stove use in a small enclosed cabin: keep the vent clear and never leave a fire unattended
No running water in the cabin - dehydration is the easy mistake on a warm, windy day
Best Time to Visit
September and October are the payoff months on this coast - the summer fog thins and the terrace opens up. Spring and summer highs run in the 80s and 90s per the park, fall and winter in the 50s, and fog is common in any season. Because the drawing runs seven months ahead of your dates, decide your target window roughly eight months out and apply then.
Pro Tips
Pick your target dates roughly eight months out - that is when the drawing application opens, and the drawing itself runs seven months ahead.
If you win, put the 30-day claim deadline in your calendar the day you are notified. An unclaimed win goes back to the public pool.
Unclaimed drawing inventory drops back into the six-month rolling window - that release is one of the few predictable openings on this permit.
Bring more water than you think. Nothing runs inside the cabin, and the faucet is a walk away in the dark.
Bring firewood. The stove is the only heat, and there is nothing to gather on a marine terrace.
Fall gives you the clearest ocean; summer gives you fog. If the view is the point, aim for September or October dates.
Book Pantoll or Bootjack as a backup - both are first-come, 15 sites each, about 100 yards from the parking area.
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Steep Ravine Cabins permit?
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Steep Ravine Cabins permits are distributed through a lottery system. Apply during the lottery window, and if you're not selected, check for cancellations as they become available.
When is the best time to visit Steep Ravine Cabins?
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September and October are the payoff months on this coast - the summer fog thins and the terrace opens up. Spring and summer highs run in the 80s and 90s per the park, fall and winter in the 50s, and fog is common in any season. Because the drawing runs seven months ahead of your dates, decide your target window roughly eight months out and apply then.
How difficult is Steep Ravine Cabins?
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Anyone who wants a night on the open Pacific without carrying a pack. You drive to the terrace, so the only work is hauling water, wood and bedding from the vehicle.
What if I don't win the Steep Ravine Cabins lottery?
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Cancellations happen regularly. Use PermitSnag to monitor availability and get alerts when spots open up. You can also check for walk-up permits or consider similar alternatives in the area.
What gear do I need for Steep Ravine Cabins?
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Essential gear includes: All your drinking and cooking water - the cabins have no running water, A sleeping bag and pad: the cabins have sleeping platforms, not bedding, Firewood and fire starter for the wood stove, Charcoal or fuel for the outdoor barbecue, plus a lighter, A headlamp or lantern - there is no electricity. Additional specialized gear may be required based on conditions.
Don't Miss Your Steep Ravine Cabins Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Steep Ravine Cabins availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
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