Portola Valley

Find & reserve the best family-friendly a-frames near Portola Valley, California. Tent, cabin & RV camp on private & State Parks, on local farms, vineyards & nature preserves.

Discover the best family-friendly a-frame rentals near Portola Valley, California

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Waldhaus Redwood Retreat

Tucked away in the Portola Redwoods, you will find your very own bohemian grove.  Designed by prominent architect in San Francisco, your will find 4 comfortable cabins, modern open kitchen and spa-like bathrooms.  Less than an hour away from the Silicon Valley, this is our weekend sanctuary.  Like John Muir once said - “Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”  

Entry to bathrooms on left side of the building, outdoor dining area

Fireplace fires allowed! Perfect for hangouts and s'mores

Enjoying the hammock in the main clearing

Driveway on left leading to main building and hwy

Cooking equipment

Santa Cruz's Rudy Ranch

Are you looking for a serene getaway surrounded by the majestic redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains? Our rental is perfect for adults seeking tranquility in a peaceful setting. Our peaceful eight-acre parcel is 13 miles from Santa Cruz, CA, and within walking distance of downtown Boulder Creek.

While we enjoy the liveliness of children, we've decided to host mature guests in our quiet neighborhood for a restful retreat. Before booking, please review all the information we provide to avoid any confusion upon your arrival.

Have a fantastic time at our place, whether you're Gen X or Z, we dig all Hippies!
Pool area officially opens May 27th!

In the back of the RV is the double sized bed with a view of the pool.

Lots of sun on one side of the pool and shaded area on other. 

Pool shared with host's family and other Hipcampers. Lounge chairs, floaties, and bathroom available!

Private cement patio for cooking and hanging out. 

Hiking path behind host's house. Great for sunset walks. 

This is the host Gordon! He and his whole family are very nice!

Pool has extra sunscreen, bug spray and paper towels!

Audrey Edna Cabin at Alpine Ranch

Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all.

Situated on top of a ridge with expansive redwood forest and coastal views, the Audrey Edna Cabin provides a completely private gathering place and destination for visitors with reservations. The cabin has spectacular views of forest, sky, ocean and the Butano ridgeline. It's a short hike to 8000+ acres of county parkland where you can hike, bike and ride horses (though please note, there are no facilities for horse boarding at the cabin.) The cabin is located at Alpine Ranch, a property adjacent to Sam McDonald County Park that was protected by Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST). 

Whether you are looking for an active experience or just want to relax in a peaceful, remote setting, there's something here for everyone.

This is a rustic hike-in cabin designed for a introductory pack-in experience. Bedding is not provided. It is about a 1.7-mile hike on a rolling dirt road from the Sam McDonald County Park parking lot, with about 650 feet of elevation gain. Most hikers can reach the cabin in an hour or less. Guests should plan to arrive at least 2 hours before sunset, and pack water and flashlights or headlamps. Guests with limited mobility, please contact us for information regarding accommodations that will allow you to access this shared resource.

*A note about reservation availability: On the weekends, POST offers priority reservations for the cabin to our partners at the San Mateo County Health Department and Park Rx to provide patients with equitable access to the benefits of nature. Occasionally, we have last-minute public weekend reservation availability due to cancellations. The cabin is reservable up to 3 months in advance, on a rolling basis.

Love the idea of a hike-in cabin, but unable to visit us Sunday-Thursday? Check out the nearby Sierra Club Hiker's Hut in Sam McDonald County Park. 

Property History: 

At one time, the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains was a thriving center for trade between tribes of the coast and the bay, which we still find evidence of today in cultural sites and artifacts throughout the region. Native people have cared for this land since time immemorial, including the local Muwekma and Ramaytush Ohlone who are still active in the area today. This property specifically is host to a tributary to one of just a handful of waterways that support salmonids in this region, which are a species of tremendous importance to native people. 

Over 1000 acres here were eventually purchased by entrepreneur Ridgeway Rowley, who built a home on the ranch in the 1880s as part of an unsuccessful wedding proposal to Fannie Page, daughter of a local mill owner (ever heard of Page Mill Road?) After being rejected by Fannie, Rowley operated the ranch for a decade in conjunction with his work as District Attorney and publisher of the Palo Alto Weekly, before eventually returning to his hometown of Cortland, NY, where he lived as a bachelor until his death. Over the course of the 20th century, the ranch was divided, some parts of which became Pescadero Creek County Park. POST purchased the 350 acre home property, now called Alpine Ranch, in 2012 through our Heart of the Redwoods campaign, an initiative to protect 20,000 acres of Redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Alpine Ranch borders Pescadero Creek County Park and Sam McDonald County Park, adding to the area’s protected open space and containing more than a mile of tributaries to Pescadero Creek, which flows year-round and is a major spawning stream for steelhead trout.

The Audrey Edna Cabin at Alpine Ranch is situated at one of the property's most scenic overlooks. The cabin was built in the early 1900's, and completely reconstructed up to modern building codes by POST in 2018 so that all could enjoy this special place.

Morning view from bedroom 1 (french doors open to a cute deck)

Bedroom 1 (single bed on the left not pictured)

Pets

This is the spot with the partial ocean view!

Ocean Cliffside Cottage Driveway

Hi!  I'm John, with a fantastic driveway spot that's literally right across the street from the cliff overlooking the ocean in Moss Beach.   Hear the ocean roar at night, dark, quiet neighborhood.   Also 1 block away from the Fitzgerald Nature Preserve, where you'll see seals on the beach under the 100' cliff overlooking the ocean.  At the other end of the park is a fantastic historic restaurant/bar (Moss Beach Distillery).  Walk/bike to miles of cliff-side trails overlooking ocean.  Boating/surfing within 10 minutes.

15 minutes to Half Moon Bay or Pacifica.  20 minutes to Purissima redwood forrest.  Perfect getaway!

The spot has water, electric;  WIFI:  Surfcottage;  Password:  Daniel25

A few minor restrictions:   I'm in a residential neighborhood and to keep the neighbors from ragging I can't host a typical "campground scene".  So we have to avoid cookouts, guitar jams all night, etc.  Sorry!    Only self-contained vans up to 23'.

Moon Crest Valley Ranch

Join us to host your next getaway at the beautiful Moon Crest Valley Ranch. A perfect spot for intimate get togethers that immerse you in nature and offer breathtaking views and countless activities on over 45 acres. This is a magical spot for our family and we can’t wait to share it with yours.  You will be the exclusive campers on the property after booking and the owners will reside in their house.

Potential activities on site include Private Hiking Trails, Breathtaking Ocean Views, Bocce Ball, Wiffle Ball, Golf Chipping, Soccer, and more...

Guests are responsible for bringing their own camping gear.  Of note, the main campsite is 1/2 mile hike from parking and has a portable camping toilet setup.  

One of our favorite spaces is the barn area which has a fire pit, multiple seating areas with views, an oversized picnic table, bocce ball, a grill and even a TV.  This is a must hangout spot during the evenings for many guests before they hike back up to the campsite to retire for the night.  There is also a portable toilet at the barn for guest convenience.

Moon Crest Valley Ranch is located less than 10 minutes from the beautiful Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay and 15 minutes from scenic Main Street Half Moon Bay.

We are also only 1/2 mile away from the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve Trailhead that has an additional 30+ miles of gorgeous trails to explore. Bring your hiking shoes or bike!

For additional information, please visit www.mooncrestvalleyranch.com

Hiking from the campground back down to the barn.  Beautiful views down the canyon at the campsite.

Enjoy a fun game of soccer during your stay.

A view down the Purisima Creek Canyon from the campsite up top on the property.

Overhead drone shot of the campground which includes a golf chipping range, small soccer field and wiffle ball field.

The golf chipping range is the host's personal favorite.  Work on your chips from 13 and 31 yards!

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