Do I need a permit to backpack Castle Rock Trail Camp?
Yes. You need a permit to backpack Castle Rock Trail Camp in Castle Rock State Park, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
Permit required
What the Castle Rock Trail Camp permit costs and covers
- Fee
- $15 per site, per night, which includes overnight parking for one vehicle. Each additional vehicle is $10 per night. There is a $8 non-refundable reservation fee. Vehicle day use at Castle Rock is $10.
- Group size limit
- 6 people
- Season starts
- Year-round
- Season ends
- Year-round
What the rules require
- 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, and are arranged by calling (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
- Castle Rock is the one exception to the no-ground-fires rule: fires are permitted in the designated metal fire rings during the rainy season, never during fire season, and signs are posted either way. Do not gather wood - firewood is sold when fires are allowed at $15 per bundle, cash and exact change
- 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
- No smoking on any trail or in any trail camp
- Do not wash dishes or clothing in creeks, and do not bathe in creeks
- Hammocks may be used with tree straps only and must not be attached to any redwood trees
- Campers under 18 must provide written permission from a guardian or be accompanied by one
- Campers must display permits when parking and carry their backcountry permit at all times
Published rules for the Castle Rock Trail Camp, quoted as written.
Getting one
Dates for Castle Rock Trail Camp sell out and then come back as people cancel. PermitSnag watches Castle Rock Trail Camp and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.
Common questions about the Castle Rock Trail Camp permit
Do I need a permit to backpack Castle Rock Trail Camp?
Yes. You need a permit to backpack Castle Rock Trail Camp in Castle Rock State Park, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
How much does a Castle Rock Trail Camp permit cost?
$15 per site, per night, which includes overnight parking for one vehicle. Each additional vehicle is $10 per night. There is a $8 non-refundable reservation fee. Vehicle day use at Castle Rock is $10..
How many people can be on one Castle Rock Trail Camp permit?
6 people.
When is the Castle Rock Trail Camp permit season?
Season starts: Year-round. Season ends: Year-round.