Steep Ravine Environmental Campground

Pretty cool campsight in Stinson Beach. Pluses– it’s got parking close to the site which made it easy to carry all of our gear, it has an attendant selling fire wood in a neat little bundle, the fancy port-​a-​potty near the campsite is clean and has toilet paper, and the bathrooms near the cabins have running water, and the sights are amazing. The second night there the skies were clear and the moon was full and we were able to see the San Francisco skyline in the distance beyond the water. The minuses– the campsite next to ours was really close and they had about a half dozen pre-​teen girls giggling all day and night, situated on the edge of the cliff it was so windy it was hard to sleep over the rustling of the tent. Definitely will be going back, maybe trying a cabin next time.

I can’t imagine not giving this place five stars.
As a vet, here are my recommendations:
1. Bring hella bedding. If you have a futon, bring it. A down comforter, yes. As many pillows as you can. Bring a dark sheet to hang as a curtain. Bring tools (hammer, nails, tacks) as you can use them to dress up your cabin. I know folks who go to a fabric store and just get a few yards to hang as curtains. Totally worth it.
2. Bring a camp stove. A fancy one. Bring a cutting board, a cooler, hella food, beer and wine and nice plates, forks, glasses, spoons, mugs. This is camping at its best. Your cabin locks so don’t worry about raccoons…
3. Bring a table cloth, flowers and candles. lots and lots of candles. and a camping lantern. And matches.
4. bring wood and charcoal for days. and newspaper.
5. Bring hella towels, soap and a good kettle. Its cold as hell– even in summer (well, less so with global warming) and a warm face wash is heaven. Bring coffee, sugar, cream. Bring Whiskey. A fishing pole. A beach chair.
This place is heaven on earth.

Steep Ravine campground has 7 environmental sites (tent walk-​in campsites) and cabin (bring your own mattress and beddings) sites overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I love camping here even if it takes a little luck and a LOT of patience to book as it’s always full.
The view is worth it. On clear nights you just sit and stare in amazement of the ocean plus can hear the sound of the waves crashing on the beach and just stargaze.
There are wheelbarrows to haul your things to the campsites or cabins. The also sell bundles of firewood.
This campground has no showers only flush toilets with hot water in the sink.
There is a code to enter the «grounds» often people get confused but if you book through Reserve America they will provide the code for the gate, with that being said once you’ve put in the 4 digit code push the area where the numbers are «upwards» to unlock the lock (took me a while to figure this out).
Overall, this is one of my favorite campgrounds to stay in. You have Muir Woods behind you and the ocean (with access to the beach) in front of you, what more can one ask for…

Family Review: We have three kids (10, 8, 5) and thoroughly enjoyed our stay snug, well maintained Cabin 6.
Sleeping: I strongly encourage sleeping mats, foam or lots of blankets to sleep on. The platforms are hard! There are two bedrooms. One has two wide sleeping platforms, (double and extra wide twin) the other has a tiny child size single platform. There is a twin size platform in the main room with the table and wood stove. If you or your child sleep out there you will be awoken by daylight or bring curtains.
Several of the windows did have a rod with clips if you wanted curtains. We didn’t find that necessary but to each their own.
Food: you can cook using the wood stove top, the BBQ behind the cabin (sheltered from wind, bring briquettes) or bring a camp stove. There is a counter to do food prep. I recommend bins to keep things tidy and uncluttered. We brought a kettle and cast iron pan and those worked well for the wood stove top. We supplemented with the camp stove outside.
Table: wooden table. Clean enough but I brought a roll of IKEA paper. Kids could create and we could use it as a covering. Table cloth works too. There are two anchored benches and one small extra bench you could bring up to the end if you needed to spread out. It’s lovely to eat there and watch the sunsets.
Beach:
The beach has giant boulders to navigate to access the beach. Make sure you and kids have good footwear for this. Our kids loved this but they are part mountain goat. The beach is great at low tide and we spent hours drawing in the sand, searching tide pools, they made up games. It’s wonderful. It’s really accessible only by the campground so you have a very uncrowded beach. At high tide you can still go down and stand on the rock section of beach and throw pebbles into the ocean… really we did it for hours!
We saw seals, tons of rock crabs, starfish. No fires allowed on the beach.
Light: Bring a lantern to hang from the main room ceiling. There is a clip there. Bring headlamps/​flashlight to get to the immaculate bathroom up the hill at night.
Misc:
Wood stove heats the main room really well, but it doesn’t reach the bedrooms well. Have cozy sleeping bags and sleepwear. Fire is $ 8/​bundle cash.
Bring games. Bring a book to read out loud. If your bring a puzzle use a sleeping platform to make it or bring a flat surface to work on. The table is not even enough for pieces to stay together.
Bathrooms are very clean. Just a flush toilet and sink. I recommend some baby wipes for little hands and feet before bed.
I think is goes without saying but there is no electricity so leave electronics at home or plan to charge with your car.
Lots of wildlife, quail, deer, newts, birds, etc. we had no wildlife visit us inside.
There’s a picnic table tuck down the path near the cliff. Take some candles in jars and have a meal outside.
These are very cozy cabins. I thought they might be drafty but that not our experience. Grab a night if you can!

The cabins have been on my list of «must do» for years. They sell out within hours of the reservation window. The cabins are rustic, but are very clean and a comfortable step up from camping. There is no electricity. Water and shared flush toilets are a short walk from the cabins. The wood stove heats the main room well and wood is available onsite for $ 8.00 a bundle. We cooked dinner outside on the charcoal grill and it was well protected from the wind but still offered a great view of the sunset. The main sleeping platform in the «bedroom» does fit a queen size air mattress and made the night pretty comfy. The view of the coast is truly incredible. With some candles (bring something to set them on) and a camp lantern it is an incredible experience for a couple, a family or close friends. Worth every penny!

Wow, what an amazing spot, Truly incredible, and absolutely worth the hassle in getting a reservation. Also worth the price — just over $ 100 per night, when you include all the fees.
The cabins are very basic — essentially the only amenity is a woodstove — but they are so perfectly perfect — beautiful views, lovely architecture, clean and cosy.
The bathrooms, cabins, and whole site are perfectly clean and tidy. I’ve been to many rustic cabins like these, all over the world, and Steep Ravine was the cleanest and nicest.
We saw a huge owl, perched on the next door cabin, deer, a skunk, and lots of birds.
I went with my wife and two little boys (age 4 and 6) — the cabins are limited to 5 people each, and our family was a perfect fit. The site is compact and wonderfully accessible for our little boys.
ps. BE SURE to carefully read your reservation — you’ll need to call in advance to get a combination lock code for the gate — you cannot call from the gate (because there is no cell service there and/​or because the reservation office has limited hours).

(This is a review for tent camping at Steep Ravine)
STUNNING. We had no idea what we were doing when we booked this place. Two weeks ago we wanted a place to car-​camp with a tent near Mt. Tam, and happened to find one night at this place. Unbelievable that anything was open, especially at Campsite 1. We had 180 degree views of the ocean/​cliffside, an enclosed fire pit, the option to buy a bundle of wood for $ 8, a general spigot with running water, a wheelbarrow available from the parking lot to our site, a picnic table on our site, and a little lockable cabinet on our site (equipped with lighter fluid). The bathroom for the tent campers didn’t have running water or electricity, but was very clean and had a linoleum floor that made things feel less, well, gross.
The wildlife around there was amazing! Twice deer just walked through the center of the camp, my husband was woken up in the middle of the night by something very close to him (he slept outside of the tent so I could sleep inside our 2-​person tent with our toddler and infant), and it just wandered through the site. Lots of quail, rabbits, pelicans overhead… it was full of life!
This place is incredibly rewarding for the little effort it takes to get out there (no need to backcountry camp, just drive). Will be (trying to) stay here again!

This campground is great. Up on the bluff overlooking the ocean. It’s got some great campsites but we stayed in a cabin. The bathrooms are super clean and the firewood is available.
The rustic cabins are really well kept. It’s hard to get a reservation but in my opinion its worth the time to make a plan well in advance. They have a fireplace, a table and room to sleep at least 4 people very comfortably. The sleeping areas are wood platforms so it’s a good idea to bring a backpacking mat and a pillow. Large windows give you a great view of the ocean from the table where you can sit and relax by the fire. The beach is nice but the trial down is a little bit tricky.
I want to go back here, preferably when the full moon is setting to the west so I can sit by the fire and watch it slowly drop over the horizon.

I love this place so much that I stay here at least once a month. Bring all your sleeping gear, beverages and some board games for the dark hours. You will need flashlight/​lantern. You can get firewood at the grounds. The bathrooms on the grounds are clean. Watch out for the newts-​meaning don’t run them over on your drive down. If you forget something just run/​hike/​drive into Stinson. The folks there are really amazing.

The cabins are rustic with no frills but amazing none the less.
They currently run $ 100 which may seem pricey for a place without amenities, but location is everything. Your window looks out over the cliff onto the Pacific.
Hiking trails, the beach and a natural hot spring during negative tides are all within close proximity.
You can have 5 people in a cabin so if you split the cost it’s not so bad.
Inside the cabin there is a built in table with 2 benches. There is a closet and 2 slabs were you can set up your sleeping bags. It’s not quite big enough to bring a blow up mattress. If you do, you’ll have to put it on the floor in the kitchen next to the fire. I would recommend bringing some extra cushion, otherwise it feels like your sleeping on a hardwood floor. A counter to put your stuff and a trash can. There is also a wood stove. Wood is available through the camp host. There are wheel barrels if you need to bring stuff from the parking lot to your cabin.
The camp host keeps the two bathrooms with flush toilets, sink and mirror immaculate.
Only one car per cabin or campsite is allowed past the gate to Steep Ravine, even to unload or load. Fees include entry for 1 car. It is 1 mile south of Stinson Beach. There is a locked entrance gate that requires a code for entry.
There is also camping here, but there is no protection from the wind. Layers are highly recommended.
All sites are normally reservable Year-​Round. It would actually be nice to return on a stormy day and watch the rain, play cards and sip cocoa by the fire.

Most beautiful and you can hike to the Parkside café and eat and then hike back and burn off the calories. HA! I stayed here the end of August.
The cabins are so rustic but expensive. I enjoyed my stay although I saw plenty of folks breaking the rules of the park. I swear, the entitlement factor of people can ruin experiences for many.
Anyways, the rocky beach is so nice. I love to boulder and climb around the rocks and get sprayed in the face with ocean mist. The sound of the ocean puts me right to sleep in my cabin.
There is wood for sale there but it was pretty green wood hard to start a fire. I would bring tons of newspaper and your own wood. Once I did get the fire started, my cabin was super cozy!
Worth the drive from anywhere, really! A nice stay and a place where you can regroup and gain some balance. Actually, the whole mountain can be that way.

Beautiful site. Must book well in advanced. Here is a breakdown of somethings I feel aren’t covered in other reviews:
I stayed 8÷19−8÷21
Bathrooms: 2 main bathrooms near parking area and cabins with running sinks (no hot water) Sink is large enough to wash hair in if needed. Also 2 permanent port-​o-​potty type bathrooms near camping sites.
Beach: Access to beach from trail near cabins you must climb over large rocks but suitable for children (5 and up) to get down. Not disabled friendly. I recommend going during low tide (less of a climb on the rocks and if you venture North on the beach you will see hundreds upon hundreds of starfish, abalone, sea anemones, and other wonderful tide pool creatures. Be friendly and take pictures, but do not step on, touch or pry off any of these beautiful wonderful creatures!
Campsites: Each provides different elements. We had campsite #1 easily the nicest view and the closest to the parking area/​port-​o-​potty (which is a short 2 – 3 minute walk) but little covering and got windy, however there is a large rock to block the wind from the firepit. Each campsite has a firepit, campsites 3&4 had the most covering from what I could see, with trees surrounding their site each site is a 2 minute walk from each other and there is a lot of covering inbetween so you are totally secluded.
Campgrounds provides wheel barrows for carting and a limited amount of firewood ($ 6donation so bring cash) They also have a little cabinet/​shelving area for food that is lockable (bring own lock) at each site. Bring a tarp because you will not be setting up a tent on fluffy grass, it’s real camping.
Cabins:
We didnt stay in one, but we explored one that was empty for future reference (ranger let us check it out). Bed ‘shelves’ are all wood so bring mattress or cushioning as well as sleeping bag. Stove, little BBQ outside, closet. Pretty basic but very nice, and great views of ocean.
Trails:
There are many trails near Steep Ravine. A short one on the site itself and Matt Davis/​Steep Ravine/​Dipsea is accessible from Steep Ravin Campsite.
Amenities: A mile or so north of this campsite on HWY 1 is the small town of Stinson Beach. They have a few restaurants, a small market (limited but good offerings), book shop and galleries. Come here if you forgot something!
Definitely bring layers! It was chilly at night and warm in the morning/​afternoon. We went during perfect weather and got lucky but I know it’s not always the case. The wind wasn’t terrible late at night, the worst was from 7:30pm-9:30pm During our time there we were visited by a cute little bunny (came at the same time every morning to nibble on some plants near our tent). A momma and baby quail. When I woke up to use the restroom I emerged from my tent to dozens (and i mean dozens) of deer wandering on the trail and a coyote even visited me in the wee hours of the morning before the sun rose. It was beyond beautiful, and we are already planning for another trip next year.
HAVE FUN!

Gorgeous spot on the coast, off Hwy 1 at the base of Mt Tam, between Stinson Beach and Muir Beach. Not for the unprepared though. These are _​very_​popular and book up as soon as they’re available on the Reserve America site. (I got my reservation in the second it opened up, but all weekends were booked by the time my registration processed. Got 2 weekdays though.)
We just spent 2 nights there, in mid-​Aug 2012. I’d read the reviews here and on TripAdvisor, so we knew about the mice, the window coverings, and that we’d want to bring an air mattress. (Think car camping, but without a tent and with a nice cozy wood stove.)
The cabin was super cozy and the bathrooms (and the older outhouses) were clean and well maintained. The cost for the wood seemed pretty reasonable to us, so we didn’t bring anything but some charcoal for the grill outside. We had a seagull who came and visited us several, even though we never feed him. (Obviously, someone had!) Pelicans swooped by right overhead and we spent a lot of time just staring at the ocean.
We also got in a great hike while we were there. There’s a trailhead directly across Hwy 1 that connects to Dipsea, which takes you up to Pantoll on Mt Tam, or to connecting trails, including one that drops you right into Muir Woods.
Please note that the peak season here is 5÷15−9÷15, so the cost of the cabins drops a little after that. Still not cheap — they’re currently $ 100/​night, but it’s the location that you’re paying for, not the amenities. The campsites here look like a decent option too, if you’re prepared for lots of wind and pretty cool temps when it’s foggy.

A beautiful campground with the most amazing views. It was so nice to fall asleep under the stars with the sound of the ocean. Wonderful hiking trails and beaches nearby. I can’t wait to go back and stay in one of the cabins.

Amazing views, great beauty all around, and a wonderful experience!
We stayed here for three nights over our Spring Break (we’re teachers) and even though it rained off and on during our visit, we had a great stay at the cabins. Much nicer to stay in all day inside a cabin with a wood stove. Very cozy.
Very close to Stinson so if you need to pick something up or you want to get a bite to eat, it is very convenient. The Stinson Beach Market
is small but well stocked with food, firewood, batteries, etc.
As a note, you can buy wood at the campground – very convenient.
As I think others mentioned, we did get mice. HIGHLY recommend putting everything food related away every night because as the mouse moves around, it defecates. Gross. By the last night we finally figured out the best plan to put everything away.
Clean bathrooms – there are two unisex, single occupancy bathrooms for the campground with running water.
Great overall experience here!

This place is heaven. It’s perfect for a weekend getaway, or even a «get out of work early in the middle of the week and pretend that you actually live in a cabin and just commute to work the next few days because it is so freaken close to the city» sorta getaway. Regardless of how you arrange your trip be sure to do it here, with either the cabins or the camps.
They have small hiking trails leading south of the ravine where you can hang a line and fish. Just north of the cabins is a small beach with water that is surprisingly warm this time of the year. Continue further north along the beach and try to find (or smell) your way to the sulfuric hot springs, exposed only during the lowest tides. There’s a large boulder around the area where climbers frequently anchor in and ascend the face of the cool granite.

One of the most beatiful places I have ever been!
We were lucky and got a site the same week, probably because of a cancellation, and our site was situated on a cliff above the ocean. The views were amazing! The attendants was very friendly, we stopped by to check in, and when we asked if they sold coffee, we were promptly given a back! The wildlife was great, lots of deer, tiny little frogs, rabbits… Can’t wait to go back!

Wish I could give 10 stars, Best camping experience ever!!!

I’ve spent a lot of time camping, and I don’t think I’ve ever been in an established camp site as beautiful as Steep Ravine. While it is known primarily for the cabins that are legendarily hard to reserve, the camp grounds are just as beautiful, plus you get to sleep in a tent.
The site is surrounded on three sides by the ocean, with beautiful views of Stinson Beach, Bolinas, and San Francisco. Wildlife abounds, with each camp site having several cute chubby birds and a baby bunny in residence. As the sun sets, the lights turn on and you can watch from a distance as the city turns on, while the sounds of waves beat on all sides.
As with many Marin camps, the fog can be a blessing and a curse; the dense marine fog hugs the curves of the coast, and settles beautifully in the inlets and pockets, forming tiny tendrils that embrace the contours of the land. Of course, this means that if you’re not careful, you can wake up soaking wet. A little planning, and the right equipment can prevent this. It’s a small price to pay for the beautiful camp site.