Black Mountain Backpack Camp

Monte Bello Open Space Preserve is home to the Black Mountain Backpack Camp , the only site on District lands where visitors can spend the night under the stars.

Only one-half hour from the midpeninsula cities below, the camp often serves as the first stopping place for backpackers wishing to hike from the valley to the coast.

Reservations are required and visitors must obtain a permit in advance from the District office. Please call the District office during office hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at 650-691-1200 for more information. Note: these permits are not handled through the normal activities reservation line.

Four single campsites and one group site are available for one or two overnight stays throughout the year. The camp is a 1.5-mile hike from the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve parking lot on Page Mill Road and includes a 500-foot uphill climb.

The cost for reserving a campsite is $2.00 per person, per night. Chemical toilets and water for washing are provided. The water is non-potable; campers must bring a water purifier or carry in their own drinking water. Campfires are prohibited. In addition, there are no trash cans at the campground, and campers are required to pack out their own trash. The surrounding Preserve is closed a half hour after sunset, and campers are required to remain in the campground after that time.