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China Camp State Park at Marin County’s Point San Pedro is hidden a few miles behind the Frank Lloyd Wright Marin Civic Center and faces east across the southwestern tip of San Pablo Bay. Having passed the Marin Civic Center hundreds of times, I never even noticed the state’s brown directional sign to China Camp until last Sunday. 

On one of China Camp’s 200 annual fog-free days, spectacular views span from Napa and Sonoma counties to Angel Island, Mount Tamalpais, Mount Diablo, and even as far south as San Francisco. 

Frank Quan, a descendant of one of the founding Chinese business families of the camp, still lives and shrimps in the village that was once home to 500 people. Instead of shrimping for the human market, most of his family’s catch now sells for bait, however, due to pollution of the bay’s waters. Georgette Quan “comes home on weekends” to oversee the snack store and café, where she presides as the ultimate source for local gossip, history, and gooey thick shrimp and cucumber sandwiches ($4.00). Clam chowder tops out at $2.50 with bread, shrimp salad is $4.00. 

Historic buildings include the snack bar, a delightful museum of China Camp and shrimping history, and old buildings that used to service and house the local shrimping industry. 

The bike and hiking trails are abundant and fabulous, even or especially in the spring mud. They wander through acres and acres of oak habitats, meadows, small redwood groves, and bayside salt marshes that attract fowl of many varieties. Several piers offer fishing for striped bass, flounder, perch, and sturgeon. 

Many of the park’s 30 “developed” campsites at Back Ranch Meadows are wheelchair accessible and include picnic table, food locker, and fire ring. Self-contained RVs may park for camping over night in parking lots in good weather seasons. Several picnic sites include great views, barbecues, picnic tables, running water, restrooms, and wheelchair accessibility, with boating, fishing, and windsurfing possibilities. 

China Camp State Park is a great place close to home for all of us to enjoy nature and learn more of our Bay Area history that we should respect. 

DIRECTIONS TO THE CAMP: 

The short way to 1,500-acre China Camp State Park is to travel north on Highway 101 from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, take the downtown exit in San Rafael, and then Point San Pedro Road east past Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s three miles via Peacock Gap to China Camp Village. For the long and lovely route, exit north 101 at the Marin Civic Center and continue eastward on North San Pedro Road. This way takes you by Turtle Back Hill, Back Ranch Meadows, Bullet Hill, Miwok Meadows, Buckeye and Weber Points, Bullhead Flat, the Ranger Station, Five Pines Point, Rat Rock Cove, and a plethora of hiking and bike trails. 

FOR CAMPSITE RESERVATIONS: 

Call (800) 444-7275 up to seven months ahead.