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Steep Ravine lottery
Nine rustic cabins above the surf at Rocky Point, and the hardest booking in the...
Steep Ravine Environmental Camp Permit
Mount Tamalpais State Park · California
One date at a time
Walk-in environmental campsites near the famous cabins.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Steep Ravine Camp were gone within 10 minutes.
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Steep Ravine Camp Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh8/10
SeasonYear-round - Year-round
CostNightly rate is set in ReserveCalifornia at booking. Mount Tamalpais State Park charges no vehicle day-use fee at this campground beyond the camping rate.
Steep Ravine Camp Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Steep Ravine Camp in Mount Tamalpais State Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Steep Ravine Camp is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Steep Ravine Camp runs year-round.
- Cancelled Steep Ravine Camp 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 MethodReservation
Demand Level8/10
LocationMarin Coast, CA
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.
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Varies
Duration
1-7 nights
Difficulty
EasyHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
☁️
78°
47°
Sun
☀️
70°
44°
Mon
☀️
81°
43°
Tue
☀️
87°
47°
Wed
☀️
89°
50°
Thu
☀️
91°
52°
Fri
☀️
90°
54°
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 a ReserveCalifornia account
Sign up at ReserveCalifornia if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: June through OctoberShoulder: November through March
Conditions
Green hills, wildflowers on Mount Tamalpais, and fog beginning to build on the coast.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Wildflowers on the mountain above
- +Long days for the Steep Ravine Trail
- +Warmer than the winter fog belt
Challenges
- !Fog can settle in for days
- !Bay Area weekend demand on six sites
- !Wind picks up through spring
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
Commitment1/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
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.
Recommended Experience
None, beyond being able to pitch a tent that will hold in coastal wind.
Not Recommended For
RVs and trailers, anyone bringing a dog on the trails, and anyone who needs a fully sheltered site on an exposed coast.
About This Permit
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 Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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.
The Feeling
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.
Trailhead Information
Steep Ravine access road (Highway 1)
Access road off Highway 1 about a mile south of Stinson Beach; the campsites are walk-in from the parking area on the Rocky Point marine terrace.
Restrooms
Water on site
Parking
Campsite #7 is accessible and conveniently located within a short distance of accessible parking and restrooms.
Getting There
From Highway 101 take Highway 1 to the Stinson Beach exit and follow signs. The park is open 7 a.m. to sunset and cars parked after hours may be fined.
Nearest Services
Stinson Beach, about a mile north.
Pantoll Ranger Station
Upper-mountain ranger station and trailhead, and the only place in the park that takes credit cards, during business hours.
Restrooms
Water on site
Parking
Parking fee applies. Credit cards are taken during business hours at Pantoll only; cash or check self-registration at East Peak and Bootjack.
Getting There
On Panoramic Highway.
Nearest Services
Mill Valley or Stinson Beach.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
Plan Your Trip
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Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Steep Ravine Camp
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Key Landmarks
Rocky Point terrace
The marine terrace one mile south of Stinson Beach holding the environmental campsites and the nine cabins
Steep Ravine Trail
Follows Webb Creek through tall redwoods and finishes on a steep ladder
East Peak
The Mount Tamalpais summit; on a clear day the view takes 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
Steep Ravine Camp FAQ
Do the Steep Ravine environmental campsites go through the cabin lottery?
No. The Reservation Drawing covers the Steep Ravine cabins. The environmental campsites book on ReserveCalifornia's ordinary schedule, which California State Parks describes as six months in advance beginning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific.
How many environmental campsites are there at Steep Ravine?
ReserveCalifornia lists six units in the Steep Ravine camp area, coded EN01 through EN06.
How do I reserve a Steep Ravine environmental campsite?
Through ReserveCalifornia, not Recreation.gov. Reservations open six months ahead at 8:00 a.m. Pacific and can be made online, by mail, or by calling 1-800-444-7275.
How long can I stay at a Steep Ravine environmental campsite?
ReserveCalifornia sets a maximum stay of seven nights on this camp area.
Are dogs allowed at the Steep Ravine campsites?
Dogs are allowed only in developed areas of Mount Tamalpais State Park. They are not allowed on trails, dirt roads or in backcountry areas, so the Steep Ravine Trail is off limits to them.
What is the weather like at Steep Ravine?
Park guidance puts highs in the 80s and 90s in spring and summer and in the 50s in fall and winter, with fog common. Pack for wind and damp in any month.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
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Write the First ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunset straight off the terrace. The sites face open Pacific, so the sun goes down in front of you rather than behind a ridge.
Best Light
The hour after a fog bank clears, when the light comes in low under the ceiling and the water lights up.
Beat the Crowds
Six sites means the terrace is never crowded. Midweek in the shoulder months gets you the whole thing, and staying overnight is the only way to have it after the day-use traffic leaves.
Classic Shots
- 📍Tents on the terrace with open ocean behind them
- 📍Fog pouring over the ridge above Rocky Point
- 📍The ladder section at the top of the Steep Ravine Trail
- 📍The Farallon Islands from East Peak on a clear day, 25 miles out
Can't Get a Steep Ravine Camp Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Steep Ravine Cabins
Same AreaThe nine rustic cabins on the same terrace, allocated by California State Parks' Reservation Drawing rather than the normal booking window.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A wood stove and four walls instead of a tent, but you have to win a drawing eight months ahead instead of booking six months ahead.
Pomo Canyon Environmental Campground
Similar ExperienceWalk-in environmental sites in the coastal hills of Sonoma Coast State Park, above the mouth of the Russian River.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Two hours further north and set back in redwoods rather than on an ocean terrace, but 20 sites instead of six.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Steep Ravine Camp trip
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