Samuel P. Taylor State Park

Phone Number

(415) 488-9897

Max. Trailer Lengths

Trailer: Up to 27 Feet
Camper/Motorhome: Up to 31 Feet

Park Hours

8am - SUNSET

Creek access is closed from December 1st thru June 15th each year.

Dogs Allowed?

Yes
Dogs allowed only in the picnic day-use area, campground, and on the Cross Marin Trail. Dogs not allowed in the hike-and-bike site, in the creek, in the cabins, and on any other trails or undeveloped areas.

Driving Directions to Samuel P. Taylor SP

The park is 15 miles west of San Rafael on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.

Visitors will be able to reserve campsites and lodging six months in advance from the current date. Bookings may extend from the arrival date to the desired departure date – based on availability and the park’s maximum stay rules.

Upcoming Park Events

No events scheduled at this moment.

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES
Family Campsites
Group Campsites
Hike or Bike Campsites
Alternative Camping
RV Access
TRAIL USE
Bike Trails
Hiking Trails
Horseback Riding
DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Exhibits and Programs
Interpretive Exhibits
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
Family Programs
Geocaching
OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Restrooms / Showers
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available

Tri-County Partnership to Create a Cleaner Coast

MARIN, SONOMA AND MENDOCINO COUNTY PARTNER TO CREATE A CLEANER COAST Teaching Leave No Trace Practices to Growing Visitor Audiences in Coastal Communities. Learn more by reading the Tri-County Partnership Press Release (6/15/2022).

Park Information

Most of the park’s campsites lie beneath majestic redwoods, with a few (at Devil's Gulch and Madrone) under oaks and bay laurel at the bottom of Barnabe Peak. Newly built cabins are also available. Reservations are highly recommended for regular campsites every day during peak season and on weekends year-round. Reservations are required for group sites and cabins. Please note that the Creekside Loop (sites 1 through 25) is closed for camping December 1 thru March 1st due to seasonal flooding. The Orchard Hill Loop remains on reservations year-round.

Samuel P. Taylor State Park’s 2,882 acres offer shady strolls through the stately redwoods along Lagunitas Creek as well as exhilarating hikes to the top of Barnabe Peak, one of the best viewpoints in Marin County.

You can camp among redwoods, bike along the creek, explore easy-to-moderate hiking trails, watch salmon spawn, relax in the shady picnic area, and learn the story of its namesake pioneer. When you’ve finished all that, more adventures await just next door at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Samuel P. Taylor State Park is popular! The park is experiencing extremely high visitation and our Azalea Day Use lot often fills up by mid-morning on weekends. We recommend carpooling while visiting, or visiting the park on weekdays, or on weekends, early or late in the day to minimize wait times. Have an alternate plan and destination in mind if parking is full at your time of arrival. When our Azalea Day Use lot is full, vehicles are slowly metered as other vehicles depart.

Wheelchair-accessible South Creek Trail winds 1.5 miles through a fern-filled forest on the banks of Lagunitas Creek. In the rainy season, you might see spawning salmon and flowers such as fetid adder’s tongue, giant trillium, and redwood sorrel along the way.  Creek access is closed from December 1st through June 15th each year to protect the spawning salmon and their offspring. 

The partly paved Cross Marin Trail bike path runs along Lagunitas Creek about three miles through the park. Nearly level, it follows the old North Pacific Coast Railroad right-of-way into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It’s the park’s only dog-friendly trail.

The park lies 15 miles west of San Rafael on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Fees apply for day use, camping, and cabin rentals. To camp or picnic, use the Camp Taylor entrance. To hike up Devil's Gulch, park one mile west of Camp Taylor (in a large pullout on the left) and walk across Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.

Weather
Samuel P. Taylor State Park enjoys a mild climate, varying from dense fog and rain to full sun.  Summer and spring are usually 10 degrees cooler than in San Rafael. Fall and winter can be cold, with overnight lows around freezing and frequent rainfall. (Weather readings for the park are taken from Barnabe Peak and do not always reflect the cooler, damper climate of the campground and picnic area in the redwood forest.) Layered clothing is best.

Please Remember

  • Mushroom collecting is prohibited.  All resources within the park are protected by law.

  • Creek access/use is prohibited from December 1st through June 15th to protect spawning fish and their offspring.

  • Firearms and hunting are prohibited.

  • Dogs (except for service animals) are permitted only in campgrounds, picnic areas, on paved trails/roads, with the following exceptions.  Dogs are not permitted in the Hike & Bike campsite(s), or in the cabin area.  Pets must be on a six-foot or shorter leash and confined to a tent or vehicle at night.

  • Bicycles are allowed only on the Cross Marin Trail, fire roads and the seasonal trail, Bill's Trail. They are not allowed on single-track walking trails.

  • Hammocks may not be hung from trees; all trees and plants are protected.

  • Poison oak can trigger a severe rash. Stay in developed areas to avoid the plant.

  • The park and its natural and cultural resources are protected by state law. Nothing may be disturbed. Stay on trails and respect signs designating trail usage.

  • Fishing is not permitted in Lagunitas Creek because it is home to threatened populations of coho salmon and steelhead trout. (Fishing is permitted in nearby lakes in Marin Municipal Water District; a state fishing license is required.)

  • Conserve water and report any leaks to park employees. For more information on the State's water conservation efforts, visit www.saveourh2o.org.

  • Drones are prohibited in Bay Area District Parks (including S.P. Taylor S.P.) per Park Superintendent Order.

  • The cabins are not provided with mattresses.

  • Build fires only in the campfire ring or picnic stoves provided.

  • Do not gather dead wood. It enriches the soil for surrounding vegetation. You may purchase firewood at the ranger station or from the camp host.

Group Camping at Samuel P. Taylor State Park

Making multiple Individual Family Site reservations vs. a Group Camping Site reservation:

Although the reservation system currently allows you to make a reservation for two sites at the same time and for the same dates, the intention of this is to simply allow a family to camp together when their numbers would exceed the single family site’s occupancy limit of 6.

Once the number of campers goes over the occupancy permitted for your 2 sites, you should obtain an appropriate sized group site. This includes, but is not limited to, weddings, family reunions, social and athletic clubs, educational providers and corporate groups.

When a group site is not available on the date you want it or if your group size exceeds our largest site’s occupancy, it is not permissible to simply arrange to have several friends and family members reserve as many individual family campsites as possible in order to create new “group” site location.

Multiple site reservations as described above will be considered invalid and reservations cancelled. If you want to discuss possible options for your group outing, you should contact the park at 415-488-9897 prior to committing to any reservations.

Trail Conditions

  • Pioneer Tree Trail - This trail is currently inaccessible to horses. Several trees are down on the trail but can be climbed over by hikers.

  • North Creek Trail - This trail is not passable due to the washout of a portion of trail and a bridge. The trail can still be used to connect from Madrone Group Camp to Camp Taylor.

  • Bill's Trail - This trail does close during the rainy season. The trail is typically closed November through April, but the dates may change depending on the weather and rain. Please call the Samuel P. Taylor Kiosk at 415-488-0953 to get the most up to date information regarding the trails.

All other trails are currently open.  For the most current trail information or to report trail concerns please call the park at 415-488-9897.

General Information

Location-Directions
The park is 15 miles / 30 minutes west of San Rafael on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. If you are planning to camp or picnic, look for the 'Camp Taylor' entrance. Those planning to hike out of Devil's Gulch should continue 1 mile west of 'Camp Taylor' and park in the large pull-out before walking across the street. 

Street Address:
Camp Taylor
8889 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Lagunitas, CA 94938

Fees for day use and camping apply year round
Day use parking - $8
Standard campsites - $35
 
Contact park for additional fee information

Dogs in the park
Dogs must be on leash at all times and are allowed only in the following areas:
Day-use Picnic Areas
Campsites (excluding the Hike & Bike campsite and the cabin area)
On the Cross Marin Trail Bike Path

Dogs are not allowed in the following areas:
Trails (except the Cross Marin Trail Bike Path)
Hike & Bike Campsite(s)
Madrone Cabins
Creeks
Any other undeveloped areas or open spaces

Ongoing Water Service Reductions & Conservation

Save Our WaterAt Samuel P. Taylor State Park, the park has taken the following actions:
The park dump station is out of service.  RVs/trailers will not be able to fill their water tanks at the park. This service reduction will continue indefinitely due to budget restraints. Dump facilities and water are available for a fee at the nearby Olema RV Resort & Campground.