Reservation8/10
Steep Ravine Environmental Camp cancellations
Walk-in environmental campsites near the famous cabins....
Steep Ravine Cabins Permit
Mount Tamalpais State Park · California
Lottery, then cancellations all season
Nine rustic cabins above the surf at Rocky Point, and the hardest booking in the California state park system. They are handed out by the Reservation Drawing rather than sold first-come, and everything the drawing does not claim goes back on the ordinary ReserveCalifornia calendar six months out. Cancellations return the next morning at 8 a.m.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Steep Ravine Cabins were gone within 10 minutes.
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Steep Ravine Cabins Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodLottery
Demand LevelExtremely High10/10
SeasonYear-round - Year-round
CostFree to enter the reservation drawing; nightly cabin rate is set in ReserveCalifornia at booking
Steep Ravine Cabins Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Steep Ravine Cabins in Mount Tamalpais State Park, California requires a permit issued via lottery.
- Steep Ravine Cabins is one of the most competitive permits in the United States, rating 10/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Steep Ravine Cabins runs year-round.
- Cancelled Steep Ravine Cabins permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
SeasonYear-round - Year-round
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodLottery
Demand Level10/10
LocationMarin Coast, CA
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.
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Varies
Duration
1-2 nights
Difficulty
EasyHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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68°
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77°
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View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create an account before the lottery opens
Find this permit on the managing agency's booking system, then verify your email and add payment info ahead of time.
2
If unsuccessful, monitor cancellations
Permits get cancelled daily. Peak cancellation times are 24-48 hours before the trip date.
3
Set up PermitSnag alerts
Get notified when cancellations happen. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: Late spring through early fallShoulder: November through March
Conditions
Warm on the mountain - the park lists average highs in the 80s and 90s for spring and summer - with fog still common on the coast.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Wildflowers across Mount Tamalpais's grasslands
- +Long daylight on the terrace
- +Webb Creek running well on the Steep Ravine Trail
Challenges
- !Drawing demand is at its peak for spring and summer dates
- !Marine layer can sit on the terrace for days
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand1/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk2/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment2/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
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.
Recommended Experience
None. If you can run a wood stove and pack in your own water, you are ready.
Not Recommended For
Anyone expecting plumbing or power. There is no running water in the cabins and no electricity, and you are capped at five people and one vehicle.
About This Permit
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.
The Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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.
The Feeling
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.
Trailhead Information
Rocky Point / Steep Ravine Environmental Campground
The campground terrace one mile south of Stinson Beach, below Highway 1 - cabins and the seven environmental campsites share it.
Restrooms
Water on site
Parking
One vehicle per cabin or campsite, no exceptions.
Nearest Services
Stinson Beach, one mile north on Highway 1.
Notes
Restrooms and water faucets are on the terrace; there is no running water inside the cabins.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
Plan Your Trip
Lottery concierge
Your next shot at Steep Ravine Cabins
Next season’s application dates aren’t published yet.
We check for them every day. Track Steep Ravine Cabins now and your concierge picks them up the moment they land, then emails you when applications open, before the deadline, and when results post.
Better odds with a crew
Steep Ravine Cabins is a lottery. Every friend who applies adds another entry, so a crew gets more shots at the same permit than any one of you alone.
One of you runs the pool (Pro or a $19 alert). Everyone else joins free.
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Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Steep Ravine Cabins
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
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Key Landmarks
Rocky Point / Steep Ravine Environmental Campground
The terrace itself - nine rustic cabins plus seven primitive campsites, one mile south of Stinson Beach
Steep Ravine Trail
Follows Webb Creek through tall redwoods; hikers climb a steep ladder to return to the start of the trail
East Peak
Mount Tamalpais summit - views take in the Farallon Islands 25 miles out, San Francisco Bay and Mount Diablo
Pantoll Campground
15 first-come sites about 100 yards from the parking area, with drinking water, firewood and flush toilets - the backup when the drawing does not land
Lottery Statistics
Competitive
estimated success rate
Get detailed lottery statistics and tips. Sign up to track this permit.
Boost Your Chances
Apply with a crew to multiply your combined odds, and let auto win-detection tell you the moment you win — you never have to go looking for the result. Win-detection reads the result email you forward us, so it takes a one-time setup in your inbox (about two minutes, and we walk you through it). Pool and auto win-detection are on Pro or a $19 permit alert.
Steep Ravine Cabins FAQ
How do I get a Steep Ravine cabin reservation?
Through the California State Parks Reservation Drawing on ReserveCalifornia, not the normal booking race. You apply for free up to eight months in advance, the drawing runs seven months ahead of the reservation dates, and if you win you have 30 days to claim and pay. State Parks launched this here in October 2023 as the pilot for the program.
Does the Steep Ravine cabin drawing cost anything to enter?
No. California State Parks says there is currently no fee to apply for a Reservation Drawing, though it notes future drawings may require a small fee.
What happens to Steep Ravine cabins nobody claims after the drawing?
They go back on the ordinary ReserveCalifornia calendar, and so does anything anyone cancels later. California State Parks publishes both halves in the Reservation Drawing FAQ (parks.ca.gov ?page_id=31271): "Any unclaimed inventory is released for reservation during the normal six-month rolling window" and "Any canceled inventory is released during the on-sale six months in advance or the following day at 8 a.m. if it is within the six-month reservation window." That next-morning release is what a cancellation watch on this permit is waiting for, and it is why losing the drawing is not the end of it.
Does PermitSnag watch Steep Ravine cabins for cancellations?
Yes. The drawing decides who gets first claim on a night; the calendar decides who gets it after that, and the calendar is a normal ReserveCalifornia booking grid. We poll it and send you an alert when a cabin night opens. We do not run the drawing and we cannot enter it for you — that part is yours, free, on ReserveCalifornia.
How many Steep Ravine cabins are there?
Nine. The Rocky Point / Steep Ravine Environmental Campground has nine rustic cabins and seven primitive campsites, on a marine terrace one mile south of Stinson Beach.
Do the Steep Ravine cabins have water and electricity?
No. Each cabin has 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.
How many people can stay in a Steep Ravine cabin?
Five, and one vehicle. California State Parks applies that limit to each cabin and each environmental campsite.
Is any Steep Ravine cabin wheelchair accessible?
Yes - California State Parks lists Cabin #1 and environmental campsite #7 at Steep Ravine as accessible.
Can I bring my dog to the Steep Ravine cabins?
Mount Tamalpais State Park allows dogs only in developed areas. They are not allowed on trails, dirt roads or in backcountry areas.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Photography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunset, straight off the terrace - the cabins face open Pacific, so the sun goes down in front of you rather than behind a ridge.
Best Light
Late afternoon on a clear fall day, when the marine layer has burned back past the headland and the wood siding takes warm side light.
Beat the Crowds
You are one of nine cabins with a five-person cap - the terrace is never crowded. The crowds are at Stinson Beach a mile north, so shoot the coast early and drive down to town later.
Classic Shots
- 📍A cabin's weathered exterior with open ocean behind it, shot low from the terrace
- 📍Wood stove and lantern light through the window after dark
- 📍The surf line directly below the terrace, long exposure at dusk
- 📍Fog pouring over the ridge above Highway 1 from the campground
- 📍Webb Creek and the redwood canopy on the Steep Ravine Trail the next morning
Can't Get a Steep Ravine Cabins Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Steep Ravine Environmental Campsites
Same AreaSeven primitive walk-in sites on the same marine terrace as the cabins, booked through ReserveCalifornia.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Same view, same ocean, no wood stove and no roof. Campsite #7 is the accessible one.
Pomo Canyon Environmental Camp
Similar ExperienceWalk-in environmental sites at Sonoma Coast State Park, about two hours north.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Another walk-in coastal camp with a fraction of the demand - but no cabins and no wood stove.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Steep Ravine Cabins trip
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