Campground Closure
Portola Redwoods State Park's main campground will close on September 15th this year due to a major infrastructure project. The campground is expected to reopen in March 2026.
The park, its day use facilities, walk-in sites, hike and bike sites, and group camps will remain open during the project.
The project is to construct of a 600,000 gallon water tank that will allow us to maintain park infrastructure and meet visitor needs while protecting our creeks and watershed, and represents a partnership between the San Mateo Resource Conservation District, Trout Unlimited, and California State Parks.
Visiting Portola Redwoods
The road leading to the park's 2,800 acres drops from a ridgetop into a deeply shaded redwood forest, offering a hushed getaway from the suburban bustle of nearby Silicon Valley and the South Bay Area. The visitor center, with its couches and fireplace, feels like a wilderness lodge. Eighteen miles of trails follow meandering creeks, where moisture-loving coast redwoods stand tall among ferns and huckleberries. Waterfalls on Fall and Pescadero creeks tumble down mossy banks over rocks and woody debris.
The park has a 55-site family campground, 4 group campsites, and a trail camp for backpackers. It also protects some of the most remote and scenic redwoods in the region, the Peter’s Creek Grove.
Basic Park Information
FEES - There is a $10 vehicle day-use fee. [Regular Sized Auto: $10 (Senior $9, age 62 or older); Bus Parking (10-24 passengers): $50; Bus Parking (25+ passengers): $100]. For camping reservations and fees, please visit www.reservecalifornia.com
NO CELL RECEPTION within the park and the surrounding area. Due to this, ridesharing services are not recommended.
DOGS are permitted only in campsites and picnic areas and on paved roads and the Upper and Lower Escape Roads. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet and attended at all times. At night they must be confined with their guardian inside a tent or vehicle. Except for service animals, dogs are not allowed in the visitor center or on hiking trails or dirt roads.
FIREWOOD is available for purchase at the park office or from the camp host. Please do not gather wood; the health of the forest depends on the nutrients provided by fallen wood.
HORSES are not allowed on any hiking trails. Old Haul service road is open to equestrians and cyclists - it winds through redwoods, out of the park to Memorial County Park.
BICYCLING is not allowed on any hiking trails. Old Haul Service Road heads through Portola’s redwoods through Pescadero Creek County Park to San Mateo County Memorial Park. One of the most scenic beginner rides in the Bay Area, it’s a 10-mile round trip, accessed via the service road near the Iverson Cabin site. Paved roads excepted, this is the only route at Portola Redwoods State Park that allows bicycles. Helmets are required for riders under 18 years of age and recommended for adults.
DRONES are not allowed in the park. To protect wildlife and cultural resources, and for the safety and welfare of visitors and staff, the park is closed to the use of Model Aircraft, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and Gliders in flight.
BRING PLENTY OF GAS & SUPPLIES - The nearest gas station is in Sky Londa (14 miles away at the intersection of highways 84 and 35) and the nearest groceries are in Sky Londa and La Honda (9 miles away on Highway 84).
WEDDINGS, PARTIES, AND SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS please call (831) 335-6324 or email mtnspecevent@parks.ca.gov.
CRUMB CLEAN - Jays, ravens, and crows are attracted to food left behind by campers and picnickers. These birds eat the eggs and chicks of the marbled murrelet, an endangered seabird that nests in old-growth forests along the coast. Leave no food out--not even a crumb.
View our guided hikes and other public programs schedule and make a reservation by visiting our Parks Events page!
Crumb Clean Campaign
This park is Crumb Clean! Watch this short video to learn about the marbled murrelet, an endangered bird that nests in the park, and how you can protect it. Vea el video en español aquí.
Visitors are required to watch this short video about the impact human food has on park wildlife.
