River, stream, or creek camping near San Jose with fishing
South Bay camping awaits.
94% (1531 reviews)
- San Jose
94% (1531 reviews)
Popular camping styles for San Jose
Dog-friendly getaways
Star Hosts in San Jose
9 top river, stream, or creek campgrounds near San Jose with fishing
86%
(2519)
The Enchanted Forest Retreat
54 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents45 acres · Los Gatos, CA
Welcome to the Enchanted Forest Retreat! We are a meditation retreat center with 45 acres of some of the most gorgeous redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains to enjoy hiking, creeks and small water fall exploration, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, star gazing, relaxation, meditation and more.
Our campground has running water from a natural spring, Men and Women's Restrooms each with 2 toilets and 1 hot water shower, laundry shed with sink and hot water, and an outdoor amphitheater, (the kitchen and washer/dryer is Staff Only not for campers). We have meditation teaching at the amphitheater and campers are welcomed to attend for free.
4-6 guests maximum with 1 car included in the nightly rate. Each additional vehicle is $15 per day and will be added at checkout once you add the correct number of vehicles you will be bringing. You can bring a maximum of 2 cars.
PLEASE NOTE, we do not have a trash service on site, we require all campers to PACK OUT THEIR GARBAGE with them!
Pets are $10 per day, 1 pet per group ONLY. Please add this as an extra at the time of booking, you will see the option to add extras once you begin the checkout process. Dogs must be on leash at all times!
Quiet hours are 10pm-8am. No drugs of any kind including marijuana allowed. No loud music allowed. This is a private property so no visitors are allowed, only paid guests. Our onsite staff will go around and enforce the rules.
NOTICE REGARDING RVs and TRAILERS: While we can not offer hookups, theoretically we have no problem with RVs, the road is steep in a couple of places getting down to the campground and VERY narrow in one spot (10ft). If you feel you're willing to take this risk (we won't be held liable), you're welcome to reach out to us and we can see if the site is good for RV/trailers.
Only sites 8, 12 and 5 are good for trailers. No vehicle can drive into Site 7, 9, 10 and 11 (the parking area is separate). Other sites may be ok with small trailers. Check with the host. Any trailer larger than 20ft, take your own risk, there is a narrow point only 9ft wide.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Showers
Trash
from
$80
/ night
100%
(8)
Sacred Earth Retreat (SER)
1 site · RV, Tent50 acres · Boulder Creek, CA
For over 40 years, Sacred Earth has been cherished by many as an example of sustainable off-grid living immersed in nature. While it is just 12 minutes drive from the village of Ben Lomond, 30 from Santa Cruz beaches, and 90 minutes to Berkeley, this valley feels as though you are deep in the wilds, complete with old growth Redwoods you can stand inside and far- reaching majestic Madrones. The land is home to the headwaters of Love Creek, with springs to be found in fern gullies and gentle babbling brooks. The breathtaking ridgetop has expansive views down the San Lorenzo Valley southeast and westerly views to Ben Lomond Mountain, the final hill between this place and the Pacific. Don’t miss the sunrise with meandering mist rising off the valley. Large sites allow for family and group gatherings/activities, while small tucked in tent sites provide hidden nooks. Hiking trails (open in dry season only) encircle the land and allow for moderate walks throughout its mostly vertical terrain. What is truly dynamic about Sacred Earth is the sheer diversity of plant and animal species combined with its proximity to world-class surfing, sailing, scuba, mountain biking, hiking, birdwatching, etc. Make your stay in Santa Cruz Mountains at SER.
Toilets
from
$65
/ night
100%
(89)
Redwood Basin
1 site · Lodging10 acres · Soquel, CA
Family-owned since the 1960's my parents chose this ridgetop location on 10 acres for its beauty, serenity, bio-diversity, and amazing peaceful healing
energy. The main house is called Rainbow Ridge where a double rainbow appears across the skyline on occasion. We have decided to share this land with conscious folks who want to retreat to the woods
from the hustle and bustle but be close to all the action and have all the creature comforts of home with a camping vibe.
We have one private site with a glamorous A Frame cabin and a modern tiny home and a tiny retro trailer. The site comes as one single package and is exclusive to you and your group!
Nestled on its own private 3-acre redwood and oak forest, leading down to a creek. The site is located just 4 miles (10 min drive ) from Soquel Village and just 5 miles from the beach at Capitola.
The site offers:
- A 20ft modern container home with one queen sofa bed, large screen with
Apple TV, kitchen, patio, fridge, microwave, cooktop,
shower, and toilet.
- A custom, outdoor kitchen, and bar for entertaining with gas BBQ, fridge freezer, sink with hot and cold filtered water, Sonos sound system.
- Large gas fire pit and seating area.
- One A Frame eco cabin with option for one king size day bed OR two singles, A twin mattress can also fit in the cabin when in the two singles configuration. The cabin has electricity, fan and heating for colder nights.
- One very cute retro airstream style 1950's trailer with a twin bed for a couple or one person.
- Space for 1-2 additional tents. For groups of 8 or more and special
events please contact us so we can discuss the possibilities.
- Onsite you should find all the basic amenities from home
including all bedding, towels, kitchenware, cooking utensils, dining ware, herbs and spices, cleaning products, gas for the BBQ and fire pit is included etc. There are a few things you should bring: Food, drinks,
ice and fun!
The site looks down into a private and secluded redwood and oak forest with trails for small hikes into the redwood fairy circles or all the way down to the creek.
The glamping site is on a sunny flat area surrounded by steep terrain up to a ridgeline and down to the creek. The creek is accessible although the final route requires a rope down so may not be suitable for everyone.
Within 15-20 min drive you will find almost all major attractions in the Santa Cruz area including The Mistery Spot, Nisene Marks State Forest, Capitola Pier, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and many famous surf breaks from Capitola to The Point, The Hook, Steamer Lane and many more., as well as many amazing mountain bike trails.
There are also several Santa Cruz Mountain wineries to explore in a 3- 5 mile radius. Further afield you will find Monterey Bay Aquarium and the coastal beaches north up to San Francisco Bay ( 1 hour 30 mins north) and down to Big Sur about 1 hour 20 mins south.
We ask all our visitors to be respectful of the environment, our wildlife, and our neighbors. Please drive slowly and respect the quiet times: between 9.30 pm and 8.30 am. We check all our guests in and provide a quick tour. We can offer a number of additional amenities and services including shopping, stocking up on your favorite supplies, catering, romantic packages and special picnics on the Rainbow Ridge, and much more, so please just ask about all the possibilities.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$475
/ night
75%
(24)
Redwood Ranch with Sweeping View
8 sites · Lodging, Tents6 acres · Gilroy, CA
Our 6+ acre ranch Misthaven sits in the redwood forest at Gilroy, just 20min from Gilroy downtown and 45min from San Jose. This ranch has huge space, lots of ranch amenities and many ranch related activities. If you are planning a short trip that you do not have to drive several hours to the busy lake Tahoe, Misthaven would be an ideal destination for family retreat, team building, or even a birthday party.
The ranch includes a 2,000 sq ft large barn with spacious indoor space, a 400 sq ft woodworking and crafts workshop, a 1,000 sq ft ranch center with microwave, oven and refrigerator, an amazing zipline, a shooting range for archery and BB gun under our staff guidance and supervision, a fenced petting zoo with goats, chicken, bunny and guinea pig, hammocks in the redwood forest and plenty of beautiful redwood trees.
With the ranch booking, you will have the access to:
- BBQ and fire pit usage (charcoal/propane with extra charge of $20)
- Fire-Roasted Golden Marshmallow Challenge (bring your own marshmallow or purchase with us, we provide skewers)
- Trampoline
- Hammock
- Tree climbing
- Petting zoo ($5/cup snack food for pets and animals)
- Edible garden
- 2,000 sq ft large barn indoor space
- 400 sq ft woodworking and crafts indoor space (woodworking activities need to be booked separately)
- Water gun
- 18ft inflatable Water slide
- Outdoor movie projector/screen
- Tables and folding chairs
There are plenty of ranch activities that you can book with us WITH A FEE separately during your stay. All will be supervised and guided by our professional instructors:
- archery
- Knife Throwing
- Learn survival techniques for lighting your campfire
- Spear making
- Water filtration in an outdoor environment
- Shelter building
- Tomahawks
- Outdoor BB gun arcade
- Camp Zipline and fun forest features.
- Woodworking such as Candy dispenser making, Bird feeder making, etc
- Pizza making and Ice cream making, butter churning
- and many others
20min to the Mt. Madonna County park.
20min to the Gilroy Garden theme park.
50min to Santa Cruz beach and the beautiful Capitola beach.
1hr to Monterey/Carmel.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Showers
Trash
from
$70
/ night
98%
(118)
BANKS RANCH IN THE REDWOODS
2 sites · RVs, Tents37 acres · Santa Cruz, CA
Purchased from the original owner in 1998.
Doug has been clearing and improving the ranch for over 20 years.
After surviving the CZU Fire in the summer of 2020, the clearing is continuing and the green growth is thriving all over the ranch.
Come revive and energize your soul as you experience the the magic of this private redwood forest.
Feel the soothing sound and atmosphere of the pristine creek and its' endless flow as it meanders through the ranch.
The seclusion and calmness of this place is addicting!
PITCH YOUR TENT UNDER THE MAJESTIC REDWOODS ON THE OLDTIMERS SKID LANDING AND ENJOY THE PRIVACY, SERENITY AND THE SOUNDS OF NATURE ALL AROUND YOU.
EASY WALKING ON OUR PRIVATE LOGGING ROADS.
SEE THE RESULTS OF THE CZU FIRE AS YOUR HIKE DOWN TO THE PRISTINE AND BEAUTIFUL YEAR ROUND CREEK THAT RUNS THOUGH THE RANCH.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
from
$125
/ night
97%
(138)
Redwoods Mountain Getaway
2 sites · Lodging2 acres · Ben Lomond, CA
Our property sits on 2 acres of pristine mix of redwoods, madrone, and oak trees. Amazing valley views, gate access from yard to hiking trails, and very quiet at night.
Neighborhood overview
Felton/Santa Cruz is full of things to do:The Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad is a 3 ft narrow-gauge tourist railroad.Henry Cowell State Park, most famous for the 40-acre grove of towering old-growth redwood trees.Mystery Spot: Experience gravity-defying demonstrations on the short but steep uphill walk.Garden of Eden: Secret swimming hole with lots of fun boulders to jump off and swim around. We will fill you in on how to get there.Cruise on bikes down West Cliff DriveHang out at beach and relax..And of course, world famous surfing in Santa Cruz.
We have a two-night minimum on weekends.
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
$175
/ night
99%
(112)
Mission Ranch "Mi Querida"
7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · CA
Annular Eclipse Saturday, October 14, 2023 Nearby SF Bay Area viewing 9:20am PDT (16:20 UDT)
The New Moon—on October 14—will coincide with the Great American Annular Eclipse, providing a fantastic opportunity to observe the “Ring of Fire” – an incredible thin ring of sunlight that is visible around the moon during this phenomenon.
The Nearby Second Best viewing opportunity is a quick and easy 60 minute drive from the SF Bay Area. At Mi Querida we will be viewing a 80% Annular Eclipse on Saturday morning 9:20am, while live streaming the full path of the eclipse from Mexico through Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Oregon. Your booking includes a pair of safe solar viewing “eclipse glasses” for your safety. NEWS FLASH: Charge your EV on-site while watching the eclipse!
Come to your "Nearby Getaway" at Mi Querida - an easy drive from the SF Bay Area - for great Annular Eclipse views. Book today. Space is limited.
Contact Host for Special Daytime Eclipse Viewing rate.
Learn more about this land:
This is a large flat site with rolling hills, lovely rural views, rolling oak studded pastureland, open views, lovely sunsets and beautiful mornings. Very quiet, private, peaceful and serene. Afternoon breezes while red tailed hawks ride the thermals, and woodpeckers work on their treasure hoarde. Wildlife abounds.
Easy access from Highway 101, yet private and secluded. Historic San Juan Bautista Mission and town nearby. Monterey/Carmel 30 minutes. Santa Cruz/Beaches 30 minutes. Hollister, Salinas, or Gilroy 20 minutes.
Site will accommodate RV, Sprintervan, or trailer 50/30/20 amp service. Tents welcome too! Water. Ranch "outhouse" with flushable RV style toilet, running hot & cold water, shower and electricity.
Bunkhouse accommodations available. Contact Host for details.
Tent and Car Top Tent sites also available. Contact Host for details.
Beautiful peaceful historic San Juan Bautista. Quaint historic mission town nearby with restaurants. Hiking trails nearby Horseback riding woods & beach. Equine Facilities available. 20 min to beach or redwoods. Beautiful rural area. Weddings, anniversaries, celebrations of life; event camp; event site. Family groups and events always welcome! Call for more information.
NOTE: This property is located in a very private country area. It is approximately 10 minutes from the small historic town of San Juan Bautista. We meet our first time guests at the Park & Ride as a welcome courtesy so you can easily follow us in and around the potholes on our rural roads!
Let us know if we can assist you with any special interests or attractions in the Monterey Bay and Central Coast Area.
As your hosts, our goal is that you will rest easy, enjoy the relaxation, peace and harmony for your "getaway."
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$115
/ night
99%
(410)
Grey Oaks
8 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Aromas, CA
Grey Oaks' Rustic Campsites, are a boutique camping experience with real old-timey style. We have 2 RV/tent campsites and currently 2 tent-only sites for club member use, that we also have listed on HipCamp for dates that aren’t being used by official club members. Reserving a campsite through HipCamp makes one a guest of the club for the duration of your stay.
Grey Oaks is located on 20 acres of land, with hiking and mountain biking trails, a 12 foot deep in-ground swimming pool, multiple interesting and cool landscape features, hot water shower, and animals up by the house (1/4 mile from the campsites) that you can interact with during your stay here, too (8 hens, 2 pasture horses, 2 friendly dogs, and 1 awesome cat). At the campsites, we have picnic tables, fire pits, bbqs, ice chests, and more. A clean and fresh well water hand/dishwashing station, plus Alhambra Crystal Fresh drinking water, and two outhouses are conveniently located to the campsites. Eucalyptus, oak, and/or pine firewood is provided free for you during your stay with us. It really is a beautiful and wonderful property. There is wildlife, and it is private and peaceful. It is very dark at night and the view of the stars, moon, and planets is amazing. There is poison oak on the property so please be aware. We will show you what it looks like, so you can easily avoid it.
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from
$100
/ night
100%
(6)
RV Camping with Easy Access
2 sites · RVs2 acres · Tracy, CA
Learn more about this land:Enjoy a unique stay closest to Bay area! You can experience a campsite like no other! The owner of the property is very friendly and always willing to give suggestions for fun activities, places to eat nearby,
This is not a park, or hangout spot. Please book a stay. We thank you for understanding and bearing with us! Can't wait to see you at Tracy Ranch
Potable water
Trash
from
$50
/ night
Available this weekend
Nearby parks
Explore the area’s public lands.
River, stream, or creek camping near San Jose with fishing guide
Overview
San Jose sits in the southern part of California's Bay Area. San Francisco and Oakland are about an hour to the northwest. A very mild climate results in high temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 all year round. As a bonus, rain is practically nonexistent from May to September. Post up at Coyote Valley RV Resort if you're coming to the area in a big rig or medium-size trailer. This RV park's about 20 minutes southeast of San Jose proper. Here you'll have access to 127 sites with full hookups and complimentary Wi-Fi. There's also an RV wash service, which is great if you've been on the road cross-country! If tent camping is more your thing, try Joseph D. Grant County Park. This green space is just a few minutes east of San Jose. It features nearly 11,000 acres of verdant grasslands in the Santa Clara Valley foothills. Hiking and horseback riding trails are both popular here. Rather explore California's famous Redwood forests? Try Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. This spot sits in the peaceful Santa Cruz Mountains. Hike through here, and you'll get up close and personal with trees that are over 1,800 years old and over 250 feet tall!
Safety at Hipcamp
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.