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Nestled along the shore of the San Pablo Bay, China Camp State Park offers magnificent panoramic views of the waterfront and miles of multi-use trails. History buffs, water enthusiasts, hikers, cyclists and equestrians will all find unforgettable experiences at China Camp.
Features of the park include an extensive intertidal salt marsh, meadow, and oak habitats. There is a variety of wildlife, including deer, squirrels, coyote, and numerous birds. The park is even home to endangered species such as the California clapper rail and the salt marsh harvest mouse, which live in the salt marsh.
A Chinese shrimp-fishing village thrived on this site in the 1880s. Nearly 500 people, originally from Canton, China, lived in the village. In its heyday, there were three general stores, a marine supply store and a barber shop. Fisherman by trade in their native country, they gravitated to the work they knew best. Over 90% of the shrimp they netted were dried and shipped to China or Chinese communities throughout the US. The museum at China Camp Village helps tell the story of these hardy shrimp fisherman.
Seasons/Climate
The climate is coastal-temperate. Winter temperatures are in the 50s, while summer temperatures are in the 70s-90s. The park has an average of more than 200 fog-free days per year.
The climate is coastal-temperate. Winter temperatures are in the 50s, while summer temperatures are in the 70s-90s. The park has an average of more than 200 fog-free days per year.
Operating Hours & Contact
General park hours are 8am to sunset. The gate at Back Ranch Meadows Campground is open from 8am to 9pm. Gate is closed at 9pm.
Telephone: 415-456-0766
General park hours are 8am to sunset. The gate at Back Ranch Meadows Campground is open from 8am to 9pm. Gate is closed at 9pm.
Telephone: 415-456-0766
Camping
At Back Ranch Meadows Campground reservations can be made for the peak season April 1st - October 31st. All campsites at Back Ranch Meadows campground are HIKE-IN SITES for tent-camping only. Visitors must hand-carry all equipment from the parking lot to the campsites. Campsites range from 50-300 yards from the parking lot. Eight persons maximum are allowed in each site. Check in time is 2pm or later and check out is noon.
Make Campground Reservations
Enroute camping is available for RV's with a grey water holding tank for one night only. No dump station or hook-ups are available. Check-in for enroute camping is 6pm and check-out is 9am.
At Back Ranch Meadows Campground reservations can be made for the peak season April 1st - October 31st. All campsites at Back Ranch Meadows campground are HIKE-IN SITES for tent-camping only. Visitors must hand-carry all equipment from the parking lot to the campsites. Campsites range from 50-300 yards from the parking lot. Eight persons maximum are allowed in each site. Check in time is 2pm or later and check out is noon.
Make Campground Reservations
Enroute camping is available for RV's with a grey water holding tank for one night only. No dump station or hook-ups are available. Check-in for enroute camping is 6pm and check-out is 9am.
Activities
A "Hike and Bike" site is available for those who travel to China Camp on foot or by bicycle.
At China Camp Village there is a museum describing an early Chinese settlement. There is beach access, swimming, and picnicking available at China Camp Village.
Visitors can enjoy wildlife-watching, mountain biking, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, swimming, boating (small vessels) and windsurfing at the park. Undeveloped boat launch areas are available at Bullhead Flat and lower China Camp Village. Easy access is tide dependent.
The Quan Bros. snack shop at China Camp Village is open on weekends. Food, beverages, and ice cream are available. You can meet the long-time resident and shrimp fisherman Frank Quan here.
DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON TRAILS. Leashed dogs are allowed in the campground and in the day use/picnic areas.
China Camp SP has three reservable picnic sites. Buckeye Point and Weber Point are day use areas situated along San Pablo Bay with views of the water. These two sites can be reserved for up to 50 people. Each site has BBQs, picnic tables and flush toilets.
Miwok Meadows Picnic Area is a grassy meadow among Oak and Bay woodlands. It has BBQs, picnic tables, a horseshoe toss area, and chemical toilets (no running water). It can accommodate up to 200 people.
A "Hike and Bike" site is available for those who travel to China Camp on foot or by bicycle.
At China Camp Village there is a museum describing an early Chinese settlement. There is beach access, swimming, and picnicking available at China Camp Village.
Visitors can enjoy wildlife-watching, mountain biking, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, swimming, boating (small vessels) and windsurfing at the park. Undeveloped boat launch areas are available at Bullhead Flat and lower China Camp Village. Easy access is tide dependent.
The Quan Bros. snack shop at China Camp Village is open on weekends. Food, beverages, and ice cream are available. You can meet the long-time resident and shrimp fisherman Frank Quan here.
DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON TRAILS. Leashed dogs are allowed in the campground and in the day use/picnic areas.
China Camp SP has three reservable picnic sites. Buckeye Point and Weber Point are day use areas situated along San Pablo Bay with views of the water. These two sites can be reserved for up to 50 people. Each site has BBQs, picnic tables and flush toilets.
Miwok Meadows Picnic Area is a grassy meadow among Oak and Bay woodlands. It has BBQs, picnic tables, a horseshoe toss area, and chemical toilets (no running water). It can accommodate up to 200 people.
Landscape
More than 100 acres of tidal marsh at China Camp represent transitional wetlands at the edge of San Francisco Bay. Brackish seawater marsh makes up the park’s marine habitat. Surrounding the marsh are several other habitats. Native grassland, mixed evergreen forest, oak woodland and chaparral lead to a ridge dotted with coast live oak, California black oak, Manzanita, bay and madrone trees.
Spring brings profuse wildflowers. Broad meadows fill with lupine, blue-eyed grass, and Indian paintbrush. California milkwort, buckeye and orange sticky monkeyflower bloom on hillsides in summertime.
Birders may see chickadees, spotted towhees and black phoebes in the park or shorebirds gliding along thermal drafts.
More than 100 acres of tidal marsh at China Camp represent transitional wetlands at the edge of San Francisco Bay. Brackish seawater marsh makes up the park’s marine habitat. Surrounding the marsh are several other habitats. Native grassland, mixed evergreen forest, oak woodland and chaparral lead to a ridge dotted with coast live oak, California black oak, Manzanita, bay and madrone trees.
Spring brings profuse wildflowers. Broad meadows fill with lupine, blue-eyed grass, and Indian paintbrush. California milkwort, buckeye and orange sticky monkeyflower bloom on hillsides in summertime.
Birders may see chickadees, spotted towhees and black phoebes in the park or shorebirds gliding along thermal drafts.
Accessible Features
Camping
Back Ranch Meadows Walk-in Campground: Eight walk-in or bike-in sites are generally accessible in dry weather. It is about 200 feet from the accessible parking spaces to the sites over gravel that is level and very firmly packed. Large sites include accessible tables, water spigots, cook stove, and tent spaces. Restrooms with showers: Toilets are generally accessible and showers are at least usable, but some assistance may be needed to reach shower controls.
Make Campground Reservations
Picnic Area
Weber Point and Buckeye Point Day Use Areas have very usable picnic sites. Generally accessible parking and restrooms are available. Bullhead Flats has a usable site with a generally accessible restroom and parking. Routes between sites and supporting facilities are usable.
Trails
The Back Ranch Campground Trail is a loop trail accessible for its entire 0.24 mile. The trailhead is located in the campground with potable water and generally accessible parking and restrooms.
The Shoreline Trail is accessible from the Back Ranch Meadows Walk-in Campground to San Pedro Road, just north of the intersection of Shoreline Trail and the Miwok Fire Trail, a total one-way distance of 1.5 miles. It is an oak woodlands trail with riparian areas and offers very nice views of San Pablo Bay.
The Turtle Back Hill Trail is a ¾ mile accessible loop trail along the shoreline of San Pablo Bay with tidal marsh, bay and oak woodland hillside views. There is generally accessible parking at the Turtleback Hill Trail Head. A generally accessible restroom is available at the Back Ranch Meadows campground. An interpretive audio tour is available for this trail.
Camping
Back Ranch Meadows Walk-in Campground: Eight walk-in or bike-in sites are generally accessible in dry weather. It is about 200 feet from the accessible parking spaces to the sites over gravel that is level and very firmly packed. Large sites include accessible tables, water spigots, cook stove, and tent spaces. Restrooms with showers: Toilets are generally accessible and showers are at least usable, but some assistance may be needed to reach shower controls.
Make Campground Reservations
Picnic Area
Weber Point and Buckeye Point Day Use Areas have very usable picnic sites. Generally accessible parking and restrooms are available. Bullhead Flats has a usable site with a generally accessible restroom and parking. Routes between sites and supporting facilities are usable.
Trails
The Back Ranch Campground Trail is a loop trail accessible for its entire 0.24 mile. The trailhead is located in the campground with potable water and generally accessible parking and restrooms.
The Shoreline Trail is accessible from the Back Ranch Meadows Walk-in Campground to San Pedro Road, just north of the intersection of Shoreline Trail and the Miwok Fire Trail, a total one-way distance of 1.5 miles. It is an oak woodlands trail with riparian areas and offers very nice views of San Pablo Bay.
The Turtle Back Hill Trail is a ¾ mile accessible loop trail along the shoreline of San Pablo Bay with tidal marsh, bay and oak woodland hillside views. There is generally accessible parking at the Turtleback Hill Trail Head. A generally accessible restroom is available at the Back Ranch Meadows campground. An interpretive audio tour is available for this trail.
Park News Alert
Service reductions are in effect for this park.
Starting October 15, 2011, Back Ranch Campground will only be open Friday and Saturday nights, and selected holidays, on a first-come, first-served basis until further notice. Restrooms are closed when the campground is closed.
Group Picnic/Day Use Areas, Buckeye and Weber Points, and Miwok Meadows Group Picnic Area will be closed November 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012.
Service reductions are in effect for this park.
Starting October 15, 2011, Back Ranch Campground will only be open Friday and Saturday nights, and selected holidays, on a first-come, first-served basis until further notice. Restrooms are closed when the campground is closed.
Group Picnic/Day Use Areas, Buckeye and Weber Points, and Miwok Meadows Group Picnic Area will be closed November 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012.
Getting There
The park is north of San Rafael off Highway 101 on North San Pedro Road about 5 miles east of the highway.
The Day Use Annual Pass is accepted at this park.
The park is north of San Rafael off Highway 101 on North San Pedro Road about 5 miles east of the highway.
The Day Use Annual Pass is accepted at this park.
Trails
Summary
Difficulty
Distance
Guides
A short loop at China Camp State Park
Loop around Black Ranch Meadows in China Camp State Park
Community Trips
This is a long loop around China Camp State Park.
This was a challenge for Diane, the non-mountain biker who will do anything for a geocache.
This was my first time in this park. There are some hills, but they aren't very high, and I mostly hugged the coast. The first part of the hike, and the last, go by some of the best unspoiled salt marsh on the Bay, and the trail around Turtle Back has some educational signs. As I took the trails more inland, as a hiker I felt like an oddity; the mountain bikers...
Beautiful weather and trail conditions for today's ride with Joe Breeze, Jacquie Phelan, Alan Bonds (all mtb hall of fame members), John Loomis, and a few of my buddies who think of themselves as legends. One counter-clockwise lap with the crowd and lots of stops, then a second, shorter lap.
So, ride 1 of the reunion tour was this one. I figured a long but fun spin would be a good opening ride for the trip. This was a LOT of fun and the scenery was great. It was hot, but being near the bay provided a nice breeze. A little bit had changed since the last time I rode here but it was still just as fun as ever. Long easy...
Reviews
