BANKS RANCH IN THE REDWOODS
37 acres hosted by Doug & Denise B.
2 RV/tent sites
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
Doug & Denise is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
Private sites
99% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.
Activities
Biking
Boating
Fishing
Hiking
Natural features
Forest
River, stream, or creek
Mountainous
Ranch
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RV/tent sites 2 sites
Instant book
99% (86)
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
for NaN guests$130
/ night
Instant book
97% (77)
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
for NaN guests$125
/ nightReviews
98% Recommend181 ratings · 142 reviews
We loved staying at Redwood landing! It gets very sunny during the day, so our canopy came in handy. Each morning was beautifully foggy and cool, and there was a really nice breeze in the afternoons. The redwoods are beautiful all around the site. It’s close to the beach so we took day trips there. Doug and Denise were excellent hosts. Our dog had a blast (but watch out for poison oak and ticks). Definitely recommend this wonderful private campsite!
Cece P.
5 years on Hipcamp
We loved camping at Banks Ranch. Doug and Denise were such wonderful couple and they sincerely welcomed us to their ranch. We got to meet the animals. Our kids loved feeding them and we got eggs as well. Our walk down the creek was beautiful too. Make sure you take screenshots of the direction cause you may no have service down there. The family with us were first time campers and they loved this place. Highly recommend this place.
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Shemmi P.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2025
Tent · Group trip ·
Creek Site
Met all expectations of tranquility and privacy. Nice flat campsite with the sound of the nearby creek. Doug was great, helped us to our site and made us feel welcome and comfortable. Would definitely recommend and return.
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J M.
1 month on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2025
Tent · With kids ·
Creek Site
The campsite was great! Super clean and private. Denise was very friendly upon arrival.
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Kyle W.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2025
Tent ·
Creek Site
We had such a fun time staying at Doug and Denise's creek campsite. The sound of the creek and the shade from all those beautiful redwoods was by far my favorite. This place is perfect to escape the heat of the summer. To top it all off Doug was such a humble and kind person, he gave us a tour of his ranch and filled us in on all the hard work and time he's put into this land. Thank you again for being kind hosts and for hooking it up with some fresh eggs, we will definitely be back again.
Christian P.
1 year on Hipcamp
The site was epic and really well maintained. It felt secluded, but not dangerously remote for my girlfriend's first time camping. The directions were fairly clear and the spot was easy enough to find. Doug and Denise were super friendly and accomodating. My only critique is the site could use a better bathroom option. We ended up bringing our own fold up tent toilet setup purchased from Amazon. 9/10 We'd love to come back and try out the Creek site.
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Dark Sky Matters D.
3 months on Hipcamp
This camp site was a lovely gem to find that was perfectly secluded yet not a far drive into town. We drove a 30 ft trailer and some parts were a little narrow getting to the site but made it with no problem. The kids loved the short hike to the creek. We definitely were happy we chose the redwood spot vs the creek given the length of our trailer. Doug was a great host and we were all happy to hear all about their animals. Would love to stay again if we are ever back in Santa Cruz.
Yvette M.
3 reviews
Recommends
· April 2025
16 ft car · With pets ·
Creek Site
Denise and Doug are lovely people. We had the most magical time on their land. We really would love to come back in the future. The water on side is very fresh from the well and drinkable. The redwood trees are magical. I also bought fresh eggs from Denise from their happy chickens. The drive to the property is windy but easy .Definitely recommend this place.❤️
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Britta H.
2 years on Hipcamp
Oh my goodness!! I cant say enough great things!! Doug and Denise are awesome!! They are super attentive and such nice down to earth people. The property is freaking awesome!! Its perfect for our family and new puppy! We will be coming back soon, this time we will see the horses and chickens! Cant wait to come back!
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Lauren C.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· February 2025
Tent · Group trip ·
PEACEFUL REDWOOD LANDING
This is a lovely private campground deep in the Bonny Doon Hills, but still close to Santa Cruz. Doug and Denise are nice and attentive, and the space is big and beautiful, including a nice hike down to a creek on the property.
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Edward S.
5 reviews
Really enjoyed this site! My 11 year old son and I spent 2 days winter camping here. Doug is amazingly nice, provided awesome firewood and let my son help him feed his horses and check out his chickens and ducks. Even with pouring rain one night, we had a blast. The scenery is spectacular with redwoods everywhere and a nice trail down to a big creek. Feels very remote and private. Going to go back in summer for sure.
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Jon F.
6 months on Hipcamp
What a special little spot! We had the opportunity to spend a few nights here - the sound of the creek below was magical. Really enjoyed getting to feel like we were away from it all, yet still not that far from town. The walks through the redwoods and mushroom hunting was awesome! I’d say if you visit in winter, make sure you have 4wd so as not to damage the road to camp. It’s a relatively easy road, but if it’s super damp, could be too challenging for 2WD. Doug & Denise are such great hosts! They have a lot of resources for your camp if you need them. Will definitely plan on coming back here!
Toréa R.
8 reviews
Me and my boys absolutely loved our stay! The camp site was secluded and every bit as gorgeous as the photos made it out to be. Doug and Denise were more than friendly and made the stay extremely memorable. Hope to make it back soon with the whole family!
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C Daniel M.
2 reviews
Doug & Denise's ranch is beautifully situated deep in the forest lush with redwood trees and bathing in birdsong. Our site was the one called Redwood Landing which was a bit down the road from their ranch yet it felt perfectly secluded. Even though we were just two people we noted that the site is BIG and could fit a large group of campers, and we've already started planning what friends to invite on our next trip back there.
We went on a walk up the road for about an hour and found a winery where we did some wine tasting. A great way to see the surrounding nature combined with an activity.
The site offered great tasting potable water, a picnic bench, a fire pit and logs for seating. The toilet comes in the form of a bucket:)
Doug and Denise were warm and welcoming and let us meet their horses. I also noticed that they were very quick to respond to both our request to book the site and our messages.
Emil G.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· November 2024
Tent ·
Creek Site
Doug and Denise are fantastic hosts. They are welcoming, friendly, and easy to communicate with. I couldn’t ask for a better experience. The Creek site is secluded and peaceful. About a 15 minute walk away from their home, Doug drove me down with firewood to the campsite. The campsite was clean, spacious, with a trail leading down to a private creek. I’m grateful to Doug and Denise for their hospitality and would love to come back!
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Scott L.
8 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· November 2024
21 ft campervan · With kids ·
PEACEFUL REDWOOD LANDING
Beautiful, private space. Lovely, friendly hosts.
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Michael S.
8 months on Hipcamp
I could not have asked for a more lovely spot to camp. This property is tucked up in the Santa Cruz Mountains about 20 min to downtown Santa Cruz. The spot is private with a huge beautiful redwood tree right in the center. We stayed two nights and would like to stay longer in the future.
There is a fire pit with 6 stumps around it for seating. A pick nick style table and access to some delicious well water.
Doug was very friendly and introduced himself to us but also gave us our space, which we appreciated. Great communication with the hosts. We are already planning our trip back!
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Sarah S.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2024
21 ft travel trailer · With kids ·
PEACEFUL REDWOOD LANDING
Such a peaceful spot! Excellent hosts. Having a water hook up was so nice! Close to the beaches and boardwalk. Will definitely be back!
Lindsey K.
6 reviews
We had a wonderful experience camping at Doug & Denise’s property. The site itself was private, a great size for our group of 4+dog, and nestled next to a stream that acted as our sound machine for the weekend. It felt nearly as remote as a backpacking trip, with the convenience of being 30 feet from the car (which was perfect our multi-generational group). The property itself is impressive and the amount of work that has clearly gone into creating and maintaining the experience is second to none. We’d 10/10 stay again!
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Adam H.
2 reviews
We had an absolutely wonderful time at Doug and Denise's campsite! From the moment we arrived, their hospitality made us feel right at home. They went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed, and their warm, welcoming nature made the experience even more special.
The campsite itself is stunning—perfect for families looking for a peaceful, scenic getaway. The area was spacious, clean, and beautifully maintained. Whether it was sitting around the campfire, exploring the surroundings, or simply relaxing, every moment was perfect.
We brought 3 toddlers with our group, and they LOVED getting to see the animals at the barn. The chickens and horses were their favorites.
Doug and Denise have truly created a little slice of paradise, and we can't recommend this spot enough. We’re already looking forward to our next stay!
Thank you, Doug and Denise, for an unforgettable experience!
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Derek F.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent ·
Creek Site
Beautiful, peaceful, clean campground! We had an amazing time unplugging and relaxing. Definitely recommend the Creek site!
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Emily O.
5 years on Hipcamp
Great hosts / great camp site. Exceeded the listing in a couple ways - the creek itself was its own private oasis and the camp site was very secluded/private.
Will be returning with our kids soon.
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Keith B.
4 years on Hipcamp
We loved the place. Great host and beautiful camping
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Page C.
4 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent · With pets ·
Creek Site
We had a nice couple nights off line and listening to the creek. My two teenage sons had fun exploring the creek with our dog. We also had just a short drive into Santa Cruz to spend the day and enjoy town. We would stay again it was lovely.
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Amber A.
3 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent · With kids ·
Creek Site
Creek site is super pricey and spacious! D&D are really friendly and so are their animals :) loved how WARM it is there too even during the night. Would definitely stay again.
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Cameron B.
1 year on Hipcamp
First time camping by myself and it was amazing to do it at this spot. It was secluded and very peaceful. I enjoyed the view of the trees and the sounds of the wildlife. I took my two dogs and we liked the hike down to the creek. It was there second time camping and they enjoyed the site as well. No signal so for me that helped with why I was getting away from the city. The well water was very refreshing.
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Jennifer R.
1 year on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· August 2024
23 ft travel trailer · With pets ·
PEACEFUL REDWOOD LANDING
The hosts are super sweet and were willing to show us all the animals. They were very helpful in taking us down to see the creek. Unfortunately, there isn't really a swimming hole that we could find (it's knee deep water) and the creek is not a great place to take little kids down. It's very steep and narrow. Once you get down there it's very pretty but it's not an easy route.
Lisa B.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent ·
Creek Site
Absolutely fantastic hosts. The creekside was super secluded and beautiful. Easy spot for 4-6 people. Doug was super kind and helpful and that spot is a shirt drive to a ton of great hikes and beaches. Plus, if you need a small break, Davenport is a short drive away. Excellent pastries at the little roadside coffee shop. Will def visit again!!
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Alex Q.
2 reviews
Recommends
· July 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
PEACEFUL REDWOOD LANDING
Amazing campsite! Private, extremely spacious, very few bugs (a few mosquitos on our first night and a couple bees on the second). Good stargazing, although there is still some light pollution. Pricey but well worth it for a large group, close to Shark Fin Cove on one side and Henry Cowell State Park on the other.
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Sharon C.
4 years on Hipcamp
Perfect place to take our baby on his first camping trip. Hosts were very helpful, personable, and responded quickly. They offer water, a bathroom situation if you need, picnic table, even lent us a table cloth. In fire season do not expect to have a camp fire, these sites are on private property among homes. Be respectful and keep in mind that fire danger is real and scary for the area. The creek site was very large and had a little trail down to the creek. We put our tent way back next to the entrance to the site. During the day the space was in full sun and we wanted to keep our tent cool for the baby, but the site was very leveled. Ask the hosts about a trailer, hauling down to the site could be difficult, but amazing for tenting. Loved our stay!
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Kristine E.
11 months on Hipcamp
Location
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Doug & Denise B.
Joined in April 2021Things to do nearby
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