East Bay Regional Parks District: Embrace Life!

Activities » Camping » Backpacking Sites

It is recommend to make your backpacking reservations at least five business days in advance so that parking passes and Ohlone permit (if needed) can be mailed to you. The last day to reserve backpacking sites is Wednesday for the upcoming weekend; however, if you make your reservation Tuesday or Wednesday, you will need to pick up your passes/permit at the Reservations Department in Oakland. See below for more information.  

Backpacking Sites: Frequently Ask Questions

When can I make a backpacking reservation?

FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER: Residents and organizations based in Alameda and Contra Costa counties may begin making picnic site reservations for the following calendar year. Requests will be considered in the following order: EBRPD events, picnic reservations part of a special event permit, written requests, and phone requests.

FIRST MONDAY IN FEBRUARY: Residents outside Alameda and Contra Costa counties may begin making picnic site reservations for the calendar year.

LAST DAY TO RESERVE: Backpacking reservations must be made no later than three working days in advance. For Friday through Sunday reservations, the last day to call the Reservations office is the prior Wednesday. However, please note that parking passes and Ohlone Wilderness Permit (if needed) must be picked up in-person at the Reservations office in Oakland if making your reservation less than five business days in advance. Parking passes cannot be emailed, so please plan accordingly.

Download a Reservation Request Form here:

Are campfires allowed at these sites?

Please see Facility Information Page for site specific information. 

Are alcoholic beverages permitted?

Please see Facility Information Page for site specific information.

How much does it cost to reserve a backpacking site?

The cost is $5 per person ages 16 and over. 

Where is parking?

Parking is available at the park entrance of each site.  Overnight parking permits must be displayed in vehicle.

Why do I need parking passes? Where can I get them?

Your vehicle must have an overnight parking passes displayed in the windshield while you are camping in the backcountry so that you are not cited by the park police. In addition, the parking pass states the dates of your stay and your contact phone number so that we can better assist you in case of emergency.  Backpacking overnight passes for all parks (EXCEPT Black Diamond Mines*) are only issued by the Reservations Department in Oakland.  At this time, parking passes cannot be emailed or picked up at the park.

*Parking passes for Stewartville Backpack Camp in Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve are picked up at the park office when checking in.

How do I pay for my reservation?

PAYMENT in full is due at most 7 days after the reservation is made, and at least 5 business days prior to the camp-out; reservations not paid within this time-frame will be cancelled. The reservations office is not open on weekends or holidays; please plan accordingly.

  1. VISA OR MASTERCARD: You must speak with a reservations agent. Charges are processed immediately and will appear on your statement as "EB Parks - Oakland".
  2. CHECKS are accepted up to 15 days in advance and must be pre-printed.
  3. MONEY ORDERS are accepted up to 5 days in advance.
  4. Cash is only accepted in person at the Reservations office. DO NOT MAIL CASH. 

How do I CANCEL or CHANGE my reservation?

You must CALL the Reservations office to change or cancel your reservation. Cancellations/changes received more than 30 days in advance will receive a 90% refund of the site use fee. Cancellations/changes made within 15 to 30 days in advance will receive a 75% refund of the site use fee. Cancellations/changes made within 7 to 14 days in advance will receive a 50% refund of the site use fee. Cancellations/changes made less than 7 days in advance will receive NO REFUND. The $8 service charge and any extra fees (eg. additional vehicle permit fees) are non-refundable.

What is the cancellation/rescheduling policy for rain/bad weather?

There are no refunds for bad weather.  Regular cancellation and rescheduling policies apply.

Will my backpacking trip be affected by Fire Weather or Fire Danger?

In some cases, trails and parks will be closed due to fire weather. Please visit the Closure Link to get information about park closures. If the park is closed due to fire weather, you will be contacted and given a full refund. Please obey posted signs and be aware of our Fire Weather Information before your trip.

What other permits do I need?

Ohlone Wilderness Trail Permit is required for each person, ages 12 and over, to hike beyond Mission Peak Regional Preserve Boundary into S.F. Water District Land along the Ohlone Wilderness Trail. Permits may be purchased at the Sunol Visitor Center, at Del Valle Regional Park or Coyote Hills Regional Park or the Reservations Department. Ohlone Wilderness Permits can also be purchased online or by phone at through the Reservations Department at 888-327-2757, option 2..

What are the hours of the Reservations Department?

Reservations telephone hours are Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-4:30pm and Fridays, 8:30am-4:00pm.  Please call 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757), press option 2, TDD (510) 633-0460. The Reservations Office is open for walk-in reservations or questions Monday-Friday, 8:30-5pm.

What is the max number of persons per site?

Please see the Facility Information Page for site specific information. 

Are pets allowed?  If so, are there any addition fees?

Dogs are allowed during daytime only. $2 Fee paid at Sunol or Del Valle entry point.

What are the quiet hours, if any?

Quiet hours are 10pm to 7am. CAMPGROUND DISTURBANCES: PLEASE CALL 911 ON THE PARK PAYPHONE OR (510) 881-1121 TO NOTIFY PARK POLICE OF AFTER HOURS PROBLEMS that need police attention. Other campers will be glad you brought the problem to the attention of the Regional Parks Police.

Locations:

Anthony Chabot Regional Park

Group camping will have priority over backpacking use of the site by
virtue of having earlier reservation access to the site. Groups of 10 or
less may use the site for backpacking and will be charged backpack
fees. The site may be reserved for backpacking no more than 30 days in
advance. Two Rocks is located in the middle of Anthony Chabot Regional
Park near other group campsites and is connected by a side trail to the
Skyline National Trail.

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve

Stewartville Backpack Camp is for the general public. The fee is $5 per
night per person. Camping is limited to two nights during the spring,
summer and fall. There is room for 20 campers. Picnic tables and a pit
toilet are available, as well as water for horses (the water is
non-potable and must be filtered or treated for human consumption). The
camp is located 3.2 miles from the Preserve headquarters, near the
Stewartville and Upper Oil Canyon trails. Camping reservations must be
made at least five (5) days in advance. Note: Stewartville Backpack Camp
is closed November 1st until Spring.

Mission Peak Regional Preserve

Eagle Spring Backpack Camp offers backpack camping opportunities.
Reservation is required. To make a reservation, call 1-888-EBPARKS or
1-888-327-2757, press option 2.

Morgan Territory Regional Preserve 

There is a backpack campsite in the Regional Preserve, 4.5 miles from
the staging area. Reservation is required to use the campsite. To make a
reservation, call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2.

Sunol/Ohlone Regional Wilderness

Overnight camping at designated backpacking sites along the Ohlone
Wilderness Trail and Sunol backpack area is allowed by reservation only.
Reservations must be made at least five (5) business days in advance.
Call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2. Backpacking Fee:
$5 per night per person For general information about Sunol Park and/or
the Ohlone Wilderness, phone Sunol Regional Wilderness at (925)
862-2244.

Group and family campsites at Sunol Park are closed until further notice. Visit the Sunol Park page.

Note: Ohlone Wilderness Trail Permit is required for each person to
hike beyond Mission Peak Regional Preserve Boundary into S.F. Water
District Land along the Ohlone Wilderness Trail. Permits may be
purchased online at www.ebparksonline.org
or by phone 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2. Ohlone
Permits are also sold at Del Valle Regional Park, the Sunol Visitor
Center and the Coyote Hills Visitor Center. Call ahead or visit park
pages for hours. 

Round Valley Regional Preserve

When not in use as a Group Camp, the site is available to the general public for backpacking (no more than 30 days in advance).
One group camping site; 25-person maximum. Non-potable water available
at the site. There are leveled tent spaces, picnic tables, and a
disabled accessible restroom. It's a 3.6-mile walk from the Marsh Creek
staging area. Two cars can go to the site to carry materials; no
shuttling, campers must walk from the staging area.

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