How to Get a Steep Ravine Camp Permit
Six walk-in campsites on the same ocean terrace as the Steep Ravine cabins, and unlike the cabins they book on the ordinary six-month window rather than a drawing.
Check Steep Ravine Camp permit availabilityNightly rate is set in ReserveCalifornia at booking. Mount Tamalpais State Park charges no vehicle day-use fee at this campground beyond the camping rate.
Permit Cost
1-7 nights
Duration
easy
Difficulty
About Steep Ravine Camp
Steep Ravine Environmental Camp is the tent inventory on the Rocky Point terrace at Mount Tamalpais State Park, one mile south of Stinson Beach and directly above the Pacific. ReserveCalifornia carries six units here, EN01 through EN06, with a maximum stay of seven nights. The important difference from the neighbouring cabins is how you get one. The cabins run through California State Parks' Reservation Drawing program - you apply months out and win or you do not. The environmental campsites do not. They go on ReserveCalifornia's standard schedule, which the department describes as six months in advance beginning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific, by website, by mail, or by calling 1-800-444-7275. These are environmental campsites, which in California State Parks means walk-in and minimal: no hookups, no RVs. Restrooms and water faucets serve the terrace. Mount Tamalpais State Park is open daily 7:00 a.m. to sunset year-round, and dogs are allowed only in developed areas - not on trails, dirt roads or in backcountry areas. Book through ReserveCalifornia. This is a California State Park, so nothing about it touches Recreation.gov.
The cabins next door are the most contested reservation in the California State Parks system - the department made them the pilot for its Reservation Drawing program in 2023. The environmental campsites sit on the same terrace, above the same surf, and they are not in that drawing. They release six months ahead at 8 a.m. Pacific like any other ReserveCalifornia site, which makes them the single most obtainable way to sleep at Rocky Point.
The Experience
A marine terrace one mile south of Stinson Beach with the Pacific breaking directly below, and no walls between you and it. The surf does not stop, the fog comes and goes on its own schedule, and on the clear evenings the sun goes down over open ocean in front of you rather than behind a ridge. Behind you Mount Tamalpais rises straight off the coast.
These are walk-in sites, not a backcountry hike: you park on the terrace and carry your gear in. ReserveCalifornia lists six units in the Steep Ravine camp area, coded EN01 through EN06, with a maximum stay of seven nights. The Steep Ravine Trail up Webb Creek starts from the same corner of the park and finishes on a steep ladder - it is the park's most-loved short hike and the obvious morning after. Pantoll, further up the mountain, has 15 first-come sites with drinking water, firewood and flush toilets, and is the backup when the terrace is full.
What to Expect
Six walk-in environmental campsites, EN01 through EN06, on the Rocky Point terrace
A maximum stay of seven nights
The Pacific breaking directly below the terrace, and surf noise all night
Fog common in any season on this stretch of the Marin coast
A six-month rolling booking window at 8:00 a.m. Pacific, not a drawing
Restrooms and water faucets on the terrace, shared with the cabin area
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Permit Requirements
Reservations go through ReserveCalifornia - website, mail, or 1-800-444-7275 - six months in advance beginning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific
Dogs are allowed only in developed areas of Mount Tamalpais State Park; 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
These are environmental campsites: walk-in tent sites, with no hookups
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •A windproof tent and extra stakes - this is an exposed coastal terrace
- •Layers and a shell. Park guidance puts spring and summer highs in the 80s and 90s and fall and winter in the 50s, with fog common
- •A camp stove, since these are minimal environmental sites
- •A headlamp for the walk between the parking area and the sites
- •Something to carry gear in from the car - it is a walk-in, not a drive-up
Hazards & Safety
An exposed terrace above surf. Stay well back from the edge, especially in wind or fog
Fog that drops visibility on the access road and on Highway 1 with very little warning
Coastal wind strong enough to flatten a poorly staked tent
Cold, wet nights even in summer, because the fog belt does not care what month it is
Best Time to Visit
September and October are the payoff months on the Marin coast, when the summer fog thins and the terrace opens up. Park guidance is highs in the 80s and 90s in spring and summer, 50s in fall and winter, with fog common in any season. Because ReserveCalifornia opens six months ahead, an October trip means booking in April.
Pro Tips
Set a reminder for 8:00 a.m. Pacific exactly six months before your target date. Six sites go quickly on a Bay Area weekend.
If you wanted a cabin and did not win the drawing, these sites are the consolation prize on the same terrace - and they are not in the drawing at all.
Aim for September or October. The fog thins and the ocean actually appears.
Stake the tent properly. This is an open marine terrace and the wind comes off the water without a break.
Walk the Steep Ravine Trail the morning after - it is the best short hike in the park and it starts right there.
Leave the dog at home unless it is staying in the developed area, because the trails are closed to dogs.
Pantoll's 15 first-come sites up the mountain are the backup if nothing frees up on the terrace.
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 Camp permit?
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Steep Ravine Camp permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Steep Ravine Camp?
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September and October are the payoff months on the Marin coast, when the summer fog thins and the terrace opens up. Park guidance is highs in the 80s and 90s in spring and summer, 50s in fall and winter, with fog common in any season. Because ReserveCalifornia opens six months ahead, an October trip means booking in April.
How difficult is Steep Ravine Camp?
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Anyone who wants the Steep Ravine terrace and does not want to gamble on the cabin drawing. Tent campers who like wind and surf noise.
What gear do I need for Steep Ravine Camp?
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Essential gear includes: A windproof tent and extra stakes - this is an exposed coastal terrace, Layers and a shell. Park guidance puts spring and summer highs in the 80s and 90s and fall and winter in the 50s, with fog common, A camp stove, since these are minimal environmental sites, A headlamp for the walk between the parking area and the sites, Something to carry gear in from the car - it is a walk-in, not a drive-up.
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