Availability
No official facility record or USGS lake, reservoir, river, or stream was verified within 0.5 mile of the mapped camp-area marker. Carry all water needed for the stay.
Backpacking camp
Waterman Gap Trail Camp
Santa Cruz Mountains Backcountry Trail Camps, California
About this place
Waterman Gap Trail Camp is an official designated overnight location reached by the pinned agency trail route shown in Kampilo.
A reservation or permit is still required, and the map does not guarantee site availability or current access.
Water planning
Water at this camp
No reliable water source verifiedDrinking safety
Do not plan to collect water at this camp area.
Seasonality
Not applicable—no source is reliable enough to use in the itinerary.
Fire planning
Campfire & stove rules
No campfires at trail campsCampfires
Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited at Santa Cruz Mountains trail camps; a provided grill or old ring does not authorize a fire.
Backpacking stoves
Portable gas stove only when park restrictions allow. Use a self-contained gas stove in the assigned camp only when California State Parks has not suspended flame devices for red-flag or extreme-fire conditions.
Permit
The trail-camp reservation is required; State Parks does not identify a separate California Campfire Permit for the allowed gas stove.
Current restrictions
Confirm the exact camp, park closure, red-flag warning, and current stove rule before hiking in.
Seasonal access
Closures & seasonal access
The four currently open Santa Cruz Mountains trail camps have no published recurring closure window, but wildfire danger, storm damage, park operations, and post-CZU repairs can close a route or campPlace closure
No recurring date-based closure of Waterman Gap Trail Camp is published. The source-connected approach conditions below and temporary emergency orders still control access.
Seasonal access
Source-connected approaches: Castle Rock Main Trailhead, Saratoga Gap Trailhead, Waterman Gap Trailhead. The four currently open Santa Cruz Mountains trail camps have no published recurring closure window, but wildfire danger, storm damage, park operations, and post-CZU repairs can close a route or camp. Big Basin trail camps remain closed and are not published by Kampilo.
Before driving
Confirm the exact trail-camp reservation, designated overnight parking, route status, sunset timing, and current fire restrictions before departure.
Mapped approaches
Choose a trailhead for Waterman Gap Trail Camp
Each option has a sourced trail route to this camp area. Choose one to open its itinerary builder with this destination in context.
- Waterman Gap Trailhead0.5 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Saratoga Gap Trailhead5.5 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
- Castle Rock Main Trailhead7.7 mi awayView trailheadBuild from here
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 37.215267° N
- Longitude
- 122.153105° W