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California Closing Down State Campgrounds

Five state campgrounds shutting down, but day-use areas remain open
By - posted 12/6/2020 No Comment

Thanks to SF Gate for letting us know that California State Parks announced on Friday they will temporarily close down campgrounds in regions affected by the state’s new stay-at-home order.

This shutdown affects only overnight camping. For the time being, “day use” outdoor areas of most state parks (beaches and trails) will remain open during the day.

See the latest updates:  COVID-19 Temporary Campground Closures

State Parks will temporarily close campgrounds and keep day use areas open in regions impacted by the Regional Stay at Home Order triggered by ICU capacity.

Statement from California Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Update (Dec. 4, 2020): California has issued a Regional Stay at Home Order to stop the surge of COVID-19 cases and prevent a strain on the health care system. While the order includes the closure of campground sites in impacted regions, the state also recognizes that mental health is physical health. As such, day use outdoor areas of park units currently open to the public will remain open. Members of the same household are encouraged to stay local and recreate responsibly in the outdoors. Please visit www.parks.ca.gov/FlattenTheCurve to view our COVID-19 guidelines and information on how we are implementing the closure of campground sites.

The new order will be implemented regionally once there is less than 15 percent ICU capacity remaining in the following designated regions: Northern California, Bay Area, Greater Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. State Parks will temporarily close campgrounds and keep day use areas currently open to the public accessible in regions impacted by the new order.

Due to the critical need to stop the COVID-19 surge and prevent overwhelming regional ICU capacity, the public is advised that the closure of campground sites may be made with little advance notice. Whether your specific reservation will be canceled depends on whether the selected campground is located within one of the impacted regions. If the campsite is within an impacted region, your reservation will be canceled. Affected reservation holders will be contacted by the state’s reservation system — ReserveCalifornia — via email and provided with a refund. 

While the Regional Stay at Home Order is asking Californians to stay home as much as possible and for certain sectors to close, the state recognizes that outdoor activity is critical for mental health and physical health. As such, we welcome you to recreate in the outdoors provided that you stay local, plan ahead to find out what is open, wear a face covering, practice physical distancing and avoid gatherings with people outside the immediate household.

Campsites Closed in December 2020

Updated 12/6/20 – See updates on which campsites are closed due to the December stay-at-home order

Contra Costa County – Effective Dec. 6, 2020

  • Mount Diablo State Park (SP)

Marin County – Effective Dec. 8, 2020

  • China Camp SP (operated by Friends of China Camp)
  • Mount Tamalpais SP
  • Samuel P. Taylor SP

Santa Clara County – Effective Dec. 6, 2020

  • Henry W. Coe SP

Which Parks are Fully Closed?

See the update on which state parks are temporary fully closed.

Alameda County

  • Lake Del Valle SRA  (operated by East Bay Regional Park District)

San Mateo County

  • San Bruno Mountain SP