Woodside Campground

This has become a go-to spot for occasional secluded coastal camping getaways that's just far enough from the Bay Area to really feel remote. Be prepared to have very limited cell service. There's enough reception near the Woodside Campground entrance and the Salt Point Visitor Center parking area overlooking the water to make a phone call, check emails or send a text message, but no signal at the campgrounds themselves. I've been a fan of visiting this park for about three years now. I've rarely had an issue with the campsites having bits of the last campers' garbage being left, but sometimes I have found myself picking a stray wrapper or napkin out from under a picnic table. Depending on who's been camping just before you and if staff have had a chance to check on the site condition (which they seem to often do), your mileage may vary. Sites are spaced well apart and shared water spickets are spaced out about every two or three sites (I noticed a comment about the water not being potable on here. I was also at the park during this time and they were doing maintenance on a water line that week and for safety reasons told campers to hold off on drinking the water until maintenance was completed). As for noise levels, I didn't get the impression that the campsites have staff checking-in at night, so noise levels are ultimately up to your fellow campers. Unfortunately getting quiet neighbors at the campsites can be hit or miss sometimes. For a state park, the restrooms are usually satisfactorily clean. They clean the facilities daily, but sadly this seems to be a big necessity due to toilets having limited flush-capacity. So, I've occasionally found myself having to check around for an unclogged facility on a busy morning when the restrooms are in higher demand. Quick tip when using these toilets; do your business, flush, then use small pieces of TP so as not to clog the very low-flow facilities. They'd do well to have a sign about being gentle on the facilities in the restrooms. In regard to accessibility of the location itself; this requires a bit of driving along a fairly narrow (but beautiful) cliffside road along the ocean, or along some steeply graded back roads in the hills abutting the eastern part of the park. For the past couple years, there's been ongoing construction along the coastal Route 1 span, so expect up to a 30 minute delay somewhere between Fort Ross and Jenner on construction days.

We were relocated from Gerstle Cove campground a week before our trip due to a water leak and tree maintenance. We assumed due to the water leak the water was not drinkable, although no one told us why or gave us a heads up. No hookups, no dump station. The unisex bathrooms were dirty. Our site had garbage (used canned goods) in the brush.

This whole coastline is heavenly. The campground was nice but I happened to be here during an insane rainstorm and I was awake all night. In the morning during a lull I went down to the absolutely beautiful beach. There were waterfalls going into the sea. Due to the storm I had to take off before the roads closed but I’d love to return and explore more. The campsites are in the trees. They are not too far apart but the trees give some privacy.