Details
1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA, 94956
National Park ServiceLast Updated: November 26, 2025
Table Of Contents
Campground Overview
Introduction
Wildcat Campground is located in an open meadow on a bluff overlooking the ocean with a short walk to the beach. One may access Wildcat Campground by foot, bicycle, or horse; not by boat, auto, or RV. It is a 6.3-mile hike from Bear Valley Trailhead or a 5.5-mile hike from the Palomarin Trailhead. The only bicycling route is via a strenuous 6.7-mile ride along the Stewart Trail from the Five Brooks Trailhead. There are five regular (1- to 6-person) sites and three group (7- to 25-person) sites.
Campsite Details
Operating Hours
The Wildcat Campground is open year-round, 24 hours a day. Camping is by permit only. Camping permits must be obtained before starting your trip. Visitors may make online reservations for a permit at this backcountry (i.e., hike-in) campground at Recreation.gov. Print your Recreation.gov confirmation email and be prepared to show it to park rangers on the trail and at your campsite. Place printouts of your confirmation email face up on the dashboard of each vehicle remaining overnight at park trailheads.
Weather
The moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean creates a climate with no great extremes of heat or cold. Any season can bring interesting weather during your visit to Point Reyes National Seashore. Come prepared! You can check the National Weather Service forecast for the Wildcat Campground at http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-122.79&lat=37.97 .
Amenities
Trash & Recycling Collection
Toilets
Potable Water
Food Storage Lockers
Directions
There are multiple routes to get to the Wildcat Campground. The shortest hike is 5.5-miles via the Coast Trail from the Palomarin Trailhead (the south end of the park). It is a 6.3-mile hike from the Bear Valley Trailhead via the Bear Valley, Glen, and Stewart Trails. The only bicycling route is via a strenuous 6.7-mile ride along the Stewart Trail from the Five Brooks Trailhead over the 1,300-foot-tall Inverness Ridge. Regardless, campers must hike, or ride a bike or horse to get to the campground.
Rates & Fees
Permit for a Regular site
Regular sites accommodate 1 to 6 people. We do not allow groups of more than six people to split up into multiple regular sites within the same campground. Groups of more than six are restricted to group sites in Coast, Sky, or Wildcat Campground only, and, similarly, may not purchase more than one site per campground. Everyone associated with your party at a given campground must stay in the same, single campsite.
Group Permit for a Group Site
Group permits are for parties of 7 to 25 people. Parties of six or fewer people are not permitted to reserve group permits/sites.
Rules & Regulations
Fire/Stove Policy
Gas camp stoves are permitted. Charcoal fires: The charcoal grills at Wildcat Campground were permanently removed on May 12, 2022. Charcoal fires are now prohibited. Beach fires: Permits are required for beach fires in the park and can be acquired at the Bear Valley Visitor Center or from our Beach Fires page at https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/beachfires.htm. Small fires made out of natural driftwood are only permitted on sandy beaches (below the high tide line, if possible). Downed wood above the beach's vegetation line may not be gathered and burned. Put fires out with water, not sand. Visit https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/beachfires.htm for more details. Fire bans: Visitors planning to cook food over a beach fire should come prepared with an alternative means of cooking (e.g., self-contained gas stove) in the event of a Spare the Air Alert or high, very high or extreme fire danger.Regulations Overview
Visit our park's Backcountry Camping web page for more about the rules and regulations. Basic rules and regulations include: * Permits are required. * Camp in designated sites. * Dogs and/or other pets are prohibited. * Drones are prohibited. * Glass containers are prohibited within 50 feet of the beach. * Follow Leave No Trace principles. * Store your food and other scented items properly in the food storage lockers provided at the campsite. * Properly dispose of human waste. * Do not wash dishes, bathe, or wash clothing at water faucets. * Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited at the campsites. * Fireworks are prohibited. * Most types of weapons are prohibited. * Hunting is prohibited. * Quiet hours are from sundown to sunrise. * Campers must vacate their campsite by noon on their day of departure. Campsites should be left clean. Do not leave anything behind. * The maximum number of horses or pack animals in any campground is eight. Pack animals & horses must be tied to hitch rails. Llamas are prohibited.Accessibility
Wheelchair Access
No wheelchair access.
Cell Phone Information
Reliable AT&T and Verizon cell service is largely limited to the communities of and along the roads connecting Inverness, Inverness Park, Point Reyes Station, and Olema. Cell service elsewhere in the park and by other carriers tends to be extremely limited with weak signals, or nonexistent.
RV Allowed
No
RV Information
RVs and Trailers are prohibited.
RV Maximum Length
0
Additional Information
Each regular (aka individual) 1- to 6-person campsite has a picnic table and a food storage locker. The group sites have two picnic tables and two food storage lockers. Store your food and other scented items properly in the food storage lockers provided at the campsite. Do not leave any food or scented items unattended outside of the locker or stored in your tent. Raccoons, foxes, and skunks are plentiful and aggressive. Do not feed wildlife. Scented items may include, but are not limited to: soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, toiletries, feminine products, lip balm, deodorant, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, gum, candy, first-aid kits, pots, pans, plates, bowls, cups, forks, spoons, knives, clothes in which one has cooked or eaten, and wash basins (i.e., the kitchen sink). As a general rule, if you put it in your mouth or on your skin or if food comes in contact with it, it should be stored in an animal-resistant food storage container.
Trailer Maximum Length
0
ADA Information
There are no ADA camp sites.
Trailer Allowed
No
Access Roads
No Roads
Classifications
Designated Primitive Campsites
Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas
Get Ideas from the Pros
As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.
Build and Research Your Options
Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.
Book Everything in One Place
From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!