China Camp State Park
Also known as China Camp
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $5 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(415) 456-0766
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Marin County, about 3 miles northeast of San Rafael, China Camp State Park covers about 1,524 acres.
Visitors come for surfing, horseback riding, historic sites, boating, and swimming. On the water side, there is a swimming beach and a boat ramp. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites and showers).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
| Entrance gate — Gate at Back Ranch Meadows Campground | Daily | 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. | — |
Official wording
8:00am to sunset daily
Gate at Back Ranch Meadows Campground: Open 8:00am to 9:00pm
Seasons/Climate Recommended Clothing: The climate is coastal-temperate. Winter temperatures are in the 50s. Summer temperatures are in the 70s-90s. The park has an average of more than 200 fog-free days per year.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $5 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $5.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: the following areas: trails; trails or beach.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed only in developed areas. Dogs not allowed in the following areas: trails, dirt roads, backcountry areas, historic buildings, and historic gardens. DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON TRAILS OR BEACH. Dogs are allowed on a leash in the campground and in the day-use/picnic areas.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
At Back Ranch Meadows Campground reservations can be made all year-round by calling ReserveCalifornia at 1-800-444-PARK (7275) or going to reservecalifornia.com. All campsites at Back Ranch Meadows campground are HIKE-IN SITES for tent-camping only. Visitors must handcarry all equipment from the parking lot to the campsites. Campsites range from 50-300 yards from the parking lot. Eight persons maximum are allowed in each site. Check in time is 2pm or later and check out is Noon.
Enroute camping is available for RV's with a grey water holding tank for one night only. No dump station or hook-ups are available. Enroute Camping is limited to space availability. Check in for enroute camping is 6pm and check out is 9am.
An undeveloped Group Campsite is now available. Reservations can be made all year-round by calling ReserveCalifornia at 1-800-444-PARK (7275) or online at reservecalifornia.com.
The park offers fifteen miles of hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails. DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON TRAILS OR BEACH. Dogs are allowed on a leash in the campground and in the day-use/picnic areas.
Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Hike-and-Bike Campsites
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingHistoric sites and toursPicnickingFishingRanger and interpretive programsSwimmingSurfingGeocachingHikingHorseback ridingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Restaurant or food service
- Parking
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
Camping
- Tent camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
China Camp State Park was the site of a thriving Chinese shrimp-fishing village of nearly 500 people in the 1880's. The park is north of San Rafael off Highway 101 on North San Pedro Road about 5 miles east of the highway. Phone (415) 456-0766 for more information.
Camping
The Back Ranch Meadows Walk-in Campground has 8 walk-in or bike-in sites that are generally accessible in dry weather. It is about 200 feet from the accessible parking spaces to the sites over gravel that is level and very firmly packed. Large sites include accessible tables, water faucets, fire pit, and tent spaces. Restrooms are generally accessible and showers are at least usable, but some assistance may be needed to reach shower controls.
Read more from the park
Picnic Area
Weber Point and Buckeye Point Day Use Areas have very usable picnic sites. Generally accessible parking and restrooms are available.
Bullhead Flats has a usable site with a generally accessible restroom and parking. Routes between sites and supporting facilities are usable.
Trails
The Shoreline Trail is ‘out-and-back’ accessible trail that is 1.47 miles each way from the Back Ranch Meadows Walk-in Campground to San Pedro Road, just north of the intersection of Shoreline Trail and the Miwok Fire Trail. It is an oak woodlands trail with riparian areas and offers very nice views of San Pablo Bay. The surface is compacted aggregate for most of the trail. There are several armored crossings on the trail that water flows over the trail during rain events that might be challenging for some users. The trail is generally flat at less than 5% slopes with intermittent sections with 5% to 10%. There is generally accessible parking across the road near the Turtle Back Nature Trail trailhead and near the ends of the accessible section of the trail.
The Turtle Back Nature Trail is a 0.70 mile accessible loop trail along the shoreline of San Pablo Bay with tidal marsh, bay and oak woodland hillside views. The surface is compacted aggregate, rock, & wood. There is one armored crossings on the trail that water flows over the trail during rain events that might be challenging for some users. The trail is generally flat at less than 5% with intermittent sections with slopes of 5% to 8%. There is generally accessible parking across the road near the Turtle Back Nature Trail trailhead. A generally accessible restroom is available at the Back Ranch Meadows campground. An interpretive audio tour is available for this trail. Click here to be redirected to the download page.
Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface
Turtle Back Hill Trail 3% Average 3.6% Average 5 FT Average Aggregate, Rock, & Wood
8% Maximum 5% Maximum 4 FT Minimum
Shoreline Trail 3% Average 4.8% Average 5 FT Average Aggregate, Rock, & Wood
10% Maximum 5% Maximum 4 FT Minimum
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 896 N San Pedro Road
San Rafael, CA 94901 - Nearest town
- San Rafael — about 3 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 38.0017, -122.4626
- Phone
- (415) 456-0766
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Four miles east of San Rafael on the shore of San Pablo Bay. From Highway 101, go east on North San Pedro Road for five miles until it enters the park.
Entrance gate: Daily 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: China Camp State Park.jpg — CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication), Mx. Granger
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology