BANKS RANCH IN THE REDWOODS

98%

134 reviews

· Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California

37 acres hosted by Doug & Denise B.

2 RV/tent sites

Family-friendly

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.

Staff verified

Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.

Doug & Denise is a Star Host

Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.

Private sites

99% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.

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.

Activities

Biking

Boating

Fishing

Hiking

Natural features

Forest

River, stream, or creek

Mountainous

Ranch

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Reviews

98% Recommend170 ratings · 134 reviews

Doug and Denise offer a welcoming and secluded camping experience at their property in the Bonny Doon Hills, surrounded by beautiful redwoods and the sound of a nearby creek. The campsite is spacious and private, making it ideal for families and groups seeking a peaceful retreat. Visitors have praised the hosts' hospitality, noting their attentiveness and the chance to interact with farm animals. While the serene setting is perfect for relaxation, some guests mentioned the absence of a swimming hole and the challenging terrain near the creek.

Summary AI-generated from real reviews

Lauren C.

11 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2025

Awesome camping !

Tent ·

Creek Site

Oh my goodness!! I cant say enough great things!! Doug and Denise are awesome!! They are super attentive and such nice down to earth people. The property is freaking awesome!! Its perfect for our family and new puppy! We will be coming back soon, this time we will see the horses and chickens! Cant wait to come back!

Edward S.

5 reviews

Recommends

· February 2025

Tent · Group trip ·

PEACEFUL REDWOOD LANDING

This is a lovely private campground deep in the Bonny Doon Hills, but still close to Santa Cruz. Doug and Denise are nice and attentive, and the space is big and beautiful, including a nice hike down to a creek on the property.

Jon F.

4 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2025

Fun 2 Days in the Redwoods

Creek Site

Really enjoyed this site! My 11 year old son and I spent 2 days winter camping here. Doug is amazingly nice, provided awesome firewood and let my son help him feed his horses and check out his chickens and ducks. Even with pouring rain one night, we had a blast. The scenery is spectacular with redwoods everywhere and a nice trail down to a big creek. Feels very remote and private. Going to go back in summer for sure.

Toréa R.

8 reviews

Recommends

· December 2024

Secluded magic

21 ft campervan · With pets ·

Creek Site

What a special little spot! We had the opportunity to spend a few nights here - the sound of the creek below was magical. Really enjoyed getting to feel like we were away from it all, yet still not that far from town. The walks through the redwoods and mushroom hunting was awesome! I’d say if you visit in winter, make sure you have 4wd so as not to damage the road to camp. It’s a relatively easy road, but if it’s super damp, could be too challenging for 2WD. Doug & Denise are such great hosts! They have a lot of resources for your camp if you need them. Will definitely plan on coming back here!

C Daniel M.

2 reviews

Recommends

· November 2024

Camping in the trees!

Creek Site

Me and my boys absolutely loved our stay! The camp site was secluded and every bit as gorgeous as the photos made it out to be. Doug and Denise were more than friendly and made the stay extremely memorable. Hope to make it back soon with the whole family!

Emil G.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· November 2024

A lovely place to spend a weekend.

16 ft car ·

PEACEFUL REDWOOD LANDING

Doug & Denise's ranch is beautifully situated deep in the forest lush with redwood trees and bathing in birdsong. Our site was the one called Redwood Landing which was a bit down the road from their ranch yet it felt perfectly secluded. Even though we were just two people we noted that the site is BIG and could fit a large group of campers, and we've already started planning what friends to invite on our next trip back there. We went on a walk up the road for about an hour and found a winery where we did some wine tasting. A great way to see the surrounding nature combined with an activity. The site offered great tasting potable water, a picnic bench, a fire pit and logs for seating. The toilet comes in the form of a bucket:) Doug and Denise were warm and welcoming and let us meet their horses. I also noticed that they were very quick to respond to both our request to book the site and our messages.

Location

Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Popeloutchom (Amah Mutsun), Ohlone, Awaswas, and Muwekma First Nations according to

Native Land Digital.

To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking