Just a few miles north of San Francisco, on the southeast coast of the San Pablo Bay, China Camp State Park rewards visitors with a wealth of recreational and educational activities.
Please write to California representatives to ask them to support the parks. If you don't live in California, your letters still are important, particularly if parks influence your interest in visiting the state. Remember that this is an economic issue, so it will help if you write about the money you spend at local businesses while you are visiting the parks. You can also support one of the foundations that is helping to fund the threatened parks. You can find a list of foundations here.
To find out more about what you can do to help save California's State Parks by going to the California State Parks Foundation webside (http://www.calparks.org/).
Please also check the Save Our State Parks website (http://savestateparks.org/) and follow them on Facebook.
Thank you!!!
Chinese Fishing Village
This brick oven was used to dry shrimp. In the late 19th century, China Camp was home to a grass shrimp fishing community of nearly 500 people. They caught, dried, and explorted close to 3 million pounds of shrimp annually. Fishing villages of this sort were common in the post gold-rush era of the Bay Area. China Camp State Park hosts a museum about this important part of California's cultural history.
Accessible Adventures
Parts of China Camp Sate Park may challenge even the hardiest outdoor enthusiasts, but much of the park can be appreciated with ease. Roadside picnic grounds have outstanding views of the San Pablo Bay, all park restrooms are accessible, and the walk-in campground includes six accessible sites. Parts of two of the trails are accessible and include tactile interpretive panels.
Bikers' Bluffs
Mountain bikers (and equestrians) love the miles of trails at China Basin State Park. The park's trails (many of which are open to bikes and horses) weave through the bluffs and climb San Pablo Mountain.