Hidden Spring Ranch

although I read the information for Patricia‘s place and the welcome packet noting that there were other properties and people on the property, I didn’t quite understand how many folks to expect on site until Patricia came out to meet me. Yes, there are other folks who live on site, as well as visitors who are booked for their other sites, and they all sure the outdoor kitchen, outhouse, and communal facilities. I felt more at ease when Patricia explained that to me, as I was traveling solo for this stay. I was a previous review had said, neighbors are pretty close to site one, and I ended up moving to site two instead—which I did like more because of space, the fire pit, and the little hut with string lights and a charging outlet inside. I did request a firewood, bundle and use it in the fire pit in site two. I had a little room in the fridge to store leftovers, and I didn’t stay long enough to walk around the property and use the tub but I did enjoy my camping experience here a lot. You can hear cars from the site, but I slept like a baby. I did wake up with the animals, a little after dawn and around sunrise. I’m an early riser so that didn’t bother me, but for those that like to sleep in then maybe some earplugs might help. Also, the location is close to town driving-wise and I appreciate all of the recommendations in the welcome packet. I’d be down to stay here again!

Ashleyann B.

2 reviews

Recommends

· June 2025

Great property and hosts!

Tent ·

Great private and communal spaces! Super friendly and responsive hosts :)

Danny B.

2 reviews

Not recommend

· May 2025

Tent ·

Grass was nice to pitch the tent on. Listing did mention there were other peeps on the property, but that turned out to be a negative bc there was often someone in the shared kitchen. All supplies had to be schlepped across the parking lot and up twelve stairs - not mentioned in the listing as I recall. The fee was too much for what we got. Weed whacker started at around 8 am. These negatives should have been mentioned in the listing.

Marta M.

1 month on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

Home Is Where the Tub Is

Tent ·

This campsite is an absolute must-check-out! Such lovely people share the magic of this space. You truly get to breathe in Happy Valley, all while being super close to town. I used this as my base camp to venture out further through the week, and I have to say, I was always so happy to return to my tub, have a soak, and just take in the air. Thank you, Patricia and fam — I hope to see you again!

Parker M.

2 reviews

Recommends

· May 2025

Tent ·

Beautiful site and friendly hosts! Loved the proximity to Santa Cruz shops but felt so quiet and removed from city life.

Matthew S.

6 reviews

Recommends

· May 2025

Gem in the forest

Tent ·

A beautiful property with a lovely host. Plenty of privacy. Loved the outdoor shower and tub. The water was hot fast. So many interesting animal sounds in the morning.! I didnt get to use the community kitchen unfortunately but it was totally set up and cute. Lots of things to do. 10/10 would recommend!!

Brittany C.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

Tent ·

the host is so lovely! it's a little loud when windy just because of the dividers but that also means you get some nice privacy. it was nice and shaded and had some lovely chairs. we didn't use the tub but it looked really cool!

Miranda S.

2 reviews

Recommends

· May 2025

Tent ·

What a nice private tent site with a fun soaking tub ! Hosts are really great. I highly recommend (unless you are competing with me for a site)

Jim F.

2 reviews

Recommends

· May 2025

Tent · Group trip ·

This was our second time staying at Hidden Ranch and it was simply fabulous. A great community of folks with a super relaxed, calm and rustic atmosphere. Fresh eggs, a sauna, room to hacky sack, what could be better!

Jeff C.

7 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

Fantastic hipcamp

Tent ·

We absolutely loved the property! Showering in nature. The outdoor kitchen had everything we needed. The fresh eggs were delicious. It was very close to town and all the sightseeing!

Gini M.

2 years on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· April 2025

Tent ·

Very nice people but the camp wasn't quite ready for use and needs some extra TLC but I'm optimistic based on our conversation they will improve the camping experience soon. They were respectful about the refund as well.

John P.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Tent ·

This site was comfortable and super-convenient to Santa Cruz. The owners were very friendly and I enjoyed socializing around the fire with the other residents.

Scott R.

3 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

Cozy and comfy caravan stay

I had a lovely stay here! I was at site #3, the caravan. It was comfy and cozy inside and there's plenty of space for tents on the site. The outdoor shared kitchen is well stocked and super convenient. There's cute common space with couches and some games and books. I felt welcomed and would stay here again. Definitely recommend. =)

Kelcie M.

2 reviews

Mixed feelings

· April 2025

Tent · With kids ·

⸻ We had a nice stay here! The host was friendly and welcoming, and we really enjoyed the games and the kitchen area. The location is close to the road, so it can be a bit noisy into the evening—earplugs are a good idea if you’re a light sleeper. We stayed at Site 1, but if we came again, we’d choose Site 2. It’s a bit nicer and comes with a fire pit, which adds to the experience. Overall, a good spot with a few things to keep in mind depending on your preferences.

Joshua S.

2 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

A beautiful and welcoming camping site. We admired the efforts to preserve the beauty and natural state of this small farm by having low impact facilities for guests. If you are interested in sleeping under the stars with minimal impact this is the place.

Laura R.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Great space, great people, great vibes, great location. Equipped kitchen. We loved it. We did however only bring some wool blankets & sheets and I’d say for location 3 (Franky the caravan) - it needs a space heater or winter approved sleeping bags. It was crazy cold at night. We will be back!

Kristina R.

11 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Tent ·

First Hipcamp experience perfection! Coming from bustling San Francisco this campsite was the perfect place to enjoy a slower pace for the weekend. The amenities were great! Kitchen very convenient. We got fresh eggs which was nice and also used the wood barrel sauna. Patricia was a lovely host. Thank you so much!!

Cherisha L.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Great hosts and cool farm

Tent ·

Lovely spot and beautiful surroundings. We would stay here again!!

Jennifer I.

3 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

What a fantastic space!

Tent ·

We stayed at Campsite 1 — while it was close to our neighbors, it still felt very private and peaceful. There are a few folks who live on the property, all of whom were incredibly kind and contributed to a welcoming sense of community. The outdoor communal kitchen was well-equipped with all the right gadgets, though we mostly used our own gear to cook so we could enjoy the privacy. Our host was so sweet — they would occasionally stop by the communal space to check in and see how things were going, which we really appreciated. One of the highlights was visiting the chickens and feeding them greens — such a treat! Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for a mix of community and solitude

Caroline S.

2 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

Loved getting to stay at Patricia and Ezra's place. The campsite itself was private and had its own tub + dedicated space to put a tent. There was also a lovely communal area for cooking and relaxing which was a bonus. The hosts were super friendly as well! Would stay here again

Cameron B.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2025

Tent ·

Patricia’s site was very nice! We loved all the amenities and information that was provided before we arrived. Would definitely return to spend more time here! Thank you🫶

Sara E.

3 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· February 2025

Tent ·

We loved our stay at Patricia's! The sauna and soaking tub were lovely and the shared kitchen space made it super easy to make dinner and breakfast. Patricia was so warm and welcoming and the eggs were delicious! We would come back in a heartbeat.

Marie N.

2 reviews

Recommends

· February 2025

Nice location away from the downtown city. It is comfortable and a private site away from the sites on property. The hosts were very friendly and quick to respond with any questions or in need of assistance.

Marty T.

5 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· February 2025

Overall Great, Special Place

Tent ·

We had a great weekend at Hidden Spring Ranch! It was close to town but still felt very off the beaten path. I liked that there was an outdoor kitchen with the option to do some minor cooking /heating water, and potable water was available. The porta-potty was clean and well-kept. You can tell the owners love the property and are working hard to make it nice for visitors. Some minor downsides- the campsites are VERY close together. We had visual privacy from our neighbors but despite the fence, were close enough to hear whispering and breathing from a few feet away (a little awkward if you are there for a romantic visit). The other issue was that the visitors who used the site prior to us left the propane (which heats the tub/shower for each site) empty, and took the bath stopper. We spent a longgg time trying to figure out how to use the tub, including crawling through the bushes to find the empty propane. When we reached out to Patricia she sent someone over within the hour to help. They replaced the propane, but the heater still didn't work properly, the heater was not powerful enough to fill the tub with warm water, despite us REALLY trying and being patient. So on day 3 we finally took one shower that was half scorching, half freezing intermittently. Turns out the propane they used to refill ours was borrowed from the kitchen so we had no way to cook that morning. Hosts still have some kinks and details to work out, but overall we had a great time and loved it <3

Alice Y.

8 reviews

Recommends

· February 2025

they've put a lot of thought into all the sites and the shared kitchen...plus there is a cute little sauna! the woods where the property is are amazing and only a short drive from downtown santa cruz and the ocean!!

Emily K.

3 reviews

Recommends

· January 2025

Tent ·

It was a delight! Hosts were responsive and friendly and the site was just as described, zero complaints.

Arturo E.

3 reviews

Mixed feelings

· January 2025

Tent ·

The accessibility of the host was appreciated. Just be aware that the facilities are lacking. It is, obviously, a campsite.... location and parking are accessible with a van.

Lisa P.

3 reviews

Recommends

· January 2025

Tent ·

Cute little campsite with an enjoyable star night view. I did book the site during the rain so the camper was soaked inside unfortunately, but it was no problem since I brought a tent. There was a kitchenette full of cookware and utensils which saved my life because I had forgotten my cooking spoons. Would definitely come here again.

Diane X.

6 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· December 2024

Campsite 2 in December👍

Tent ·