Slate Creek Trail Camp Permit
Trail camp on the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail. Reservations are required and are made by request form, then paid by phone — not on ReserveCalifornia.
“Six sites in old-growth redwoods above Pescadero Creek, in a park California State Parks describes as a hushed getaway from Silicon Valley.”
How to get Slate Creek
There is no online inventory to watch: the reservation is a request form and a phone call, as the block comment on this park records from the agency's own page. Live UseDirect check 2026-08-18 confirmed the facility carries AllowWebBooking:false with none of its units web viewable, so nothing is sold on a calendar we could poll.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
How to get Slate Creek
There is no online inventory to watch: the reservation is a request form and a phone call, as the block comment on this park records from the agency's own page. Live UseDirect check 2026-08-18 confirmed the facility carries AllowWebBooking:false with none of its units web viewable, so nothing is sold on a calendar we could poll.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we watch.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
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Slate Creek Quick Facts
Slate Creek Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Slate Creek in Portola Redwoods State Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Slate Creek is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Slate Creek runs year-round.
Key Information
Key Dates
Permit Details
Pro Tips
- •Submit the request form the day your dates come inside 60 days. A request is not a reservation until you pay by phone.
- •Requests are only processed weekdays between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., so anything sent on a Friday evening waits for Monday.
- •Plan to reach camp well before sunset. Hikers must be off trails by sunset and a late arrival is turned back at the trailhead.
- •Carry all your water and a way to treat creek water as a backup.
- •Do not count on a phone. State Parks says it is unlikely your mobile will have coverage in the backcountry.
- •Groups of 13 or more can only book Sunday through Thursday, so plan a midweek trip rather than fighting for a Saturday.
- •Changes and cancellations need a full 48 hours notice on (831) 338-8867, which is also when someone else's cancellation appears.
What to Expect
Route Details
Highlights
- •six sites, with a maximum of six people on each
- •A 60-day booking horizon through a request form, not ReserveCalifornia
- •Requests processed weekdays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., paid by phone, permit emailed
- •No drinking water - the camps are primitive and surface water has to be treated
- •No mobile coverage in the backcountry
- •A sunset deadline for being off the trails, enforced at the trailhead
- •No dogs, on trails or in camp
Best Time to Visit
Spring through autumn. This is a damp canyon and the winter rainy season is genuinely wet, with the added risk that the park closes in severe weather. Spring is the best of both: the creek is running and the redwood understory is at its greenest.
Hazards & Considerations
- !No mobile coverage. In an emergency, call 911 from a pay phone near a ranger station or a call box on Highway 1 or Highway 9 and a ranger will be dispatched
- !A sunset trail deadline that is enforced at the trailhead - late arrivals are not permitted to start
- !Fire danger, which closes even the one permitted fire location in the system
- !Poison oak throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains understory
- !Creek water that must be treated if you use it at all
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
70°
55°
Sun
66°
53°
Mon
82°
50°
Tue
82°
50°
Wed
82°
49°
Thu
85°
51°
Fri
85°
50°
How to Get This Permit
Create a California State Parks account
Sign up at California State Parks if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
When to Go
Conditions
Green, damp underfoot early on, and the best all-round backpacking weather of the year.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Creeks running
- +Comfortable temperatures
- +Redwood understory at its greenest
Challenges
- !Bay Area weekend demand on a small number of sites
- !Mud after rain
- !Fire season restrictions begin
Difficulty Assessment
Fitness and endurance required
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Route finding and trail clarity
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Bay Area backpackers, first-timers included, and anyone walking a section of the open Skyline-to-the-Sea corridor.
Recommended Experience
None beyond carrying a pack a few miles and being able to treat water if you use a creek.
Not Recommended For
Dog owners, groups of 13 or more hoping for a weekend, and anyone who cannot get to camp before sunset.
About This Permit
Slate Creek Trail Camp is one of four backcountry trail camps still operating in the Santa Cruz Mountains state parks, alongside Castle Rock, Waterman Gap and Butano or Slate Creek. All trail camps in Big Basin Redwoods State Park remain closed due to extensive fire damage from the CZU August Lightning Complex fires, which is why these four carry the whole of the Bay Area's state park backpacking demand. ReserveCalifornia lists six sites here.
Portola Redwoods is a canyon park, which matters for planning: the park warns that in severe weather it might be closed altogether, and day use runs only from 6 a.m. to sunset. Dogs are allowed at Portola only on campsites and paved roads, and the trail camp rules exclude them from the camps and trails entirely.
Booking does not go through ReserveCalifornia. Submit a Backcountry Trail Camp Request Form online up to 60 days in advance. Staff process requests Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. An approved request is held only until 5 p.m. the following business day pending payment, which is taken by phone on (831) 338-8867, and the permit is emailed once paid. Sending a request is not a reservation - it becomes one when it is paid. Changes and cancellations must be made a full 48 hours in advance on the same number.
Fees are $15 per site per night with a maximum of six people per site, plus an $8 non-refundable reservation fee. You may reserve up to two campsites per reservation. For groups of 13 or more the non-refundable reservation fee is a flat $25 no matter how many campsites are booked, and group reservations are allowed Sunday through Thursday only, not on weekends.
The camps are primitive: bring your own water, and treat any surface water before drinking it.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Slate Creek is the Portola Redwoods entry in the four-camp Santa Cruz Mountains system, and it is the one that puts you deepest into intact old-growth. Portola Redwoods sits in a canyon rather than on a ridge, which makes it darker, wetter and quieter than the Skyline camps - and the six sites go through the same 60-day request process as the rest.
The Route
Portola Redwoods State Park runs day use from 6 a.m. to sunset, with the visitor center open Monday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the park notes it may close in severe weather. ReserveCalifornia lists six sites at Slate Creek. Reservations for Slate Creek go through the Santa Cruz Mountains backcountry trail camp request process rather than through the park's own campground booking. Overnight parking for backpackers is only in designated trailhead parking lots.
The Feeling
The park describes several trails following meandering creeks where moisture-loving coast redwoods stand tall among thick ferns and redwood sorrel, and that is exactly what the walk in is. It is dim at ground level even at midday, and it is one of the few places this close to Silicon Valley where you genuinely cannot hear anything built.
Trailhead Information
Portola Redwoods headquarters (end of Portola State Park Road)
Slate Creek Trail Camp is 2.7 miles from park headquarters.
Before you rely on this water
A faucet with potable water is outside the visitor center. No potable water at the camp — Slate Creek is approximately one-eighth of a mile away.
Parking
$10 vehicle day-use fee. Extra vehicles are $10 per vehicle per night, paid at the entrance station or the self-registration station. Overnight parking for backpackers is only in designated trailhead parking lots; display your permit.
Getting There
From Highway 35, turn west onto Alpine Road, go 3 miles, and turn onto Portola State Park Road, which dead ends in the park. Use low gear — both roads are steep and winding. Expect a 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive from most Bay Area locations. Day use hours are 6 am to sunset, and in severe weather the park might be closed.
Nearest Services
La Honda — the nearest groceries are in Sky Londa and La Honda, 9 miles away on Highway 84. There is no gasoline available at or near the park and no store in or near the park.
Rules & Regulations
- •Trail camps are open by reservation only and no dispersed camping is allowed; camp only in your assigned trail camp
- •A maximum of six people per site, and you may reserve up to two campsites per reservation
- •Group reservations for 13 or more are allowed Sunday through Thursday only, not on weekends, arranged on (831) 338-8867
- •Overnight parking for backpackers is only in designated trailhead parking lots - do not park along highways or in undesignated areas
- •Hikers must be off trails by sunset; arriving after sunset means you will not be permitted to start your trip
- •No ground fires of any kind. The only exception in the whole system is the designated metal fire rings at Castle Rock Trail Camp during the rainy season
- •Backpacking stoves may be used for cooking in all trail camps except in cases of extreme fire danger
- •No smoking on any trail or in any trail camp
- •Do not wash dishes or clothing in creeks, and do not bathe in creeks
- •Never feed wildlife or allow wildlife to access your food
- •No dogs are allowed in the trail camps or on the trails, and no horses are allowed in the trail camps
- •No bikes on single-track; bikes are permitted on fire roads only
- •Campers must display permits when parking and carry their backcountry permit at all times
- •Campers under 18 must provide written permission from a guardian or be accompanied by one
- •Hammocks may be used with tree straps only and must not be attached to any redwood trees
Gear Checklist
Required
- All your drinking water. State Parks says the trail camps are primitive and to bring your own; surface water must be treated before drinking
- A backpacking stove, which is permitted in all trail camps except in cases of extreme fire danger
- A headlamp - you must be off the trails by sunset, so camp chores happen after dark
- Rain gear through the wet season, which in the Santa Cruz Mountains is most of the winter
- Tree straps if you are hanging a hammock, and never on a redwood
Plan Your Trip
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Slate Creek
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Experienced wilderness guides
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Key Landmarks
Slate Creek Trail Camp
Six backcountry sites in Portola Redwoods State Park
Pescadero Creek
The year-round creek the park is built around
Portola Redwoods Visitor Center
Open Monday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the park may close in severe weather
Safety & Planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Slate Creek.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Slate Creek FAQ
How do I reserve Slate Creek Trail Camp?
Through the Backcountry Trail Camp Request Form on the Santa Cruz Mountains Backcountry Trail Camps page, up to 60 days in advance - not through ReserveCalifornia. Staff process requests Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., hold an approved request until 5 p.m. the following business day, and take payment by phone on (831) 338-8867. Your permit is emailed once you have paid.
How many people can stay on a site at Slate Creek Trail Camp?
Six. California State Parks sets a maximum of six people per site across all four Santa Cruz Mountains trail camps, and you may reserve up to two campsites per reservation.
How much does Slate Creek Trail Camp cost?
$15 per site, per night, plus an $8 non-refundable reservation fee. For groups of 13 or more reserving more than two sites, the non-refundable reservation fee is a flat $25 regardless of how many sites are booked.
Is there water at Slate Creek Trail Camp?
No. California State Parks says the trail camps are primitive and to bring your own water. If you choose to use surface water you will need to treat it before drinking. Do not wash dishes or clothing in the creeks and do not bathe in them.
Can I have a campfire at Slate Creek Trail Camp?
No. No ground fires of any kind are allowed. The only exception anywhere in this system is the designated metal fire rings at Castle Rock Trail Camp during the rainy season. Backpacking stoves may be used for cooking in all trail camps except in cases of extreme fire danger.
Are dogs allowed at Slate Creek Trail Camp?
No. Dogs are not allowed in the trail camps or on the trails anywhere in the Santa Cruz Mountains trail camp system.
Are the Big Basin trail camps open?
No. All trail camps in Big Basin Redwoods State Park are closed due to extensive fire damage. The four camps still operating are Castle Rock, Waterman Gap, Butano and Slate Creek, and the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail is open from Castle Rock State Park to the Big Basin Redwoods day-use area.
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Trail Conditions
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Low evening light through redwood trunks, which is the shot this whole range is about.
Best Light
Fog. The Santa Cruz Mountains are at their best when the marine layer is moving through the canopy.
Beat the Crowds
The camps are small and the system is reservation-only with no dispersed camping, so there is never a crowd once you are in. Midweek requests are also far more likely to be approved.
Classic Shots
- 📍Redwood trunks receding into fog
- 📍Creek and fern understory in flat, overcast light
- 📍The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail corridor in early morning
- 📍Camp under redwoods with a stove going at dusk
Can't Get a Slate Creek Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Butano Trail Camp
Same AreaEight sites in the redwood canyon at Butano State Park, nearer the coast.
Tradeoffs
A couple more sites and closer to the ocean, but a longer drive from the Peninsula.
Castle Rock Trail Camp
Same AreaThe 20-site camp on the Skyline ridge, with bathrooms, tables and fire rings.
Tradeoffs
The biggest camp in the system and the only one with first-come sites, but on an exposed ridge rather than in old growth.
Waterman Gap Trail Camp
Same AreaSix sites on the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail in Castle Rock State Park.
Tradeoffs
The same size, on the through-trail rather than in a side canyon.
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Slate Creek trip
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