Uyen D.recommendsDecember 5, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
It’s all about the views!!! You get the sunrise, sunset, mountains, ocean, the city lights and stargazing at night! It’s secluded, gated and plenty of space to just relax and unwind. The drive up is not smooth but the views make up for it. Will definitely come back!!
Sophia W.November 14, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
The site itself was great - amazing view of the city below, beautiful spot to watch the sunset and sunrise. However, getting up to the site was a real challenge. The road is unpaved and extremely bumpy. Thank god it hadn't rained, otherwise I would not have felt comfortable driving our campervan up that path. I don't think you need a four wheel drive, but you definitely need to take your time going up and down to the campsite. The other thing to note is that unless there are other campers at the other sites, there is no one else out there for a while, so if you are caught in a situation where you need help, it may take you a while to get it.
Otherwise, being up in the mountains and was absolutely beautiful. On the drive up, you'll be driving through a forest, so during golden hours it's particularly nice.
Jon H.recommendsNovember 7, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Great dog-friendly spot!
Really enjoyed our long weekend at the #1 Acres of Privacy campground on top of Mt. Madonna. We pulled a 22-foot trailer with an SUV and, as other reviewers have mentioned, the final 3-mile stretch of the roadway is unpaved and rugged. Take it slow! We came through Mt. Madonna County Park which the host said was slightly less rugged than the roadway out from Highway 17.
The host was great and magically showed up right as we arrived to help me guide the trailer into the campsite. He was super responsive and helpful to questions all weekend long!
The campsite itself is level and private. We have a dog who is reactive to other dogs and so we really enjoyed the seclusion. We never had a concern that our dog would encounter another dog.
What really makes this place is the spectacular view out toward the Monterey Bay! Sometimes clear, sometimes coated by a thick covering of fog, but always beautiful! We highly recommend getting up early for the sunrises!
Head's up that this spot is exposed and we endured a fair amount of direct sun, even during a late October weekend. So, if you visit during the summer or other warm months, be sure to bring some shade or use your awning! Also, there are not really any formal hiking trails up there, so be prepared to do a lot of sitting, relaxing, and enjoying the views! You can walk up and down the road and find other awesome views too!
Jasmine D.recommendsOctober 17, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
I loved camping out here, very private and quiet. The provided table and supplemental propane tank were perfect, friends and I had a great time.
Justin R.recommendsOctober 15, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
My favorite Hipcamp!
Lawrence R.recommendsOctober 12, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Cleansed the Soul
The best view, most secluded, peaceful place we have ever camped. Hosts were great and responsive. Directions were clear. Place matched the description. Easy to get level in our Sprinter. Took the option for the gas fire pit, which was the right move given the fire restrictions. Hope this place stays a secret, but not sure how it can.
Kevin E.recommendsSeptember 26, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
This is an INCREDIBLE site! Great views, plenty of privacy and just overall a true getaway. Such a unique view of Monterey Bay, above the fog, and great view of the city lights at night with even better views of the stars. The one and only issue we had was flies/bees. Luckily the awning room has screens, but it was pretty annoying until the sun went down. Besides that, this is a gem of a campsite and I can't wait to go back.
Jay O.recommendsSeptember 21, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Perfect spot for stargazing
The perfect spot for stargazing! Felt safe the whole time we were there! The hosts were very responsive! Will definitely come back here again with friends and family!
Jennifer K.recommendsSeptember 19, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Amazing view
Directions made it super easy to find. Amazing view and nice, secluded site. No visibility of other sites. There was a picnic table, gas fire pit (bring your own propane), and trash can provided.
Yaniv G.recommendsAugust 11, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Great spot, very private and well taken care of. Was a hot day and the flies were all over us but cleared once things cooled down a bit.
Kevin W.recommendsAugust 4, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Best Campsite w/ really nice views
It was a wonderful experience! You got the best view of the Bay Area! Highly recommended!!
Bring your DJI and GoPro you can create some great contents!
Abbey A.recommendsAugust 2, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Amazing view
This is the best camping spot around Santa Cruz! Amazing views and lots of privacy. We took a sprinter van to this spot and it was the best place to park. Will be returning
Donna N.recommendsJuly 28, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Ridiculously beautiful property! So appreciate being able to spend two nights there. The views…well they make you feel you are on the top of the world! We visited in late July so the weather was warm, bring some shade.
Romina M.recommendsJuly 26, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Sea of clouds
We moved this site. Beautiful view of the surroundings and seeing the sea of clouds descending into the city below. Our spot was secluded and well kept. We plan on coming back here again.
Jay G.recommendsJuly 12, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Work/Camp trip
Was in Santa Cruz for work and decided to camp rather than hotel it and I’m glad I did! This spot is killer with views for days! Wish I had more than one night but I’ll definitely be back to camp here. Only thing I would suggest is bring bug spray and maybe a citronella candle as there was a lot of mosquitoes. Other than that I’ll be booking this spot again.
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
We had a good time, views were really amazing…the drive up was quite an adventure. We did wish there was shade though it was hard to stay cool on our summer stay.
Alex R.recommendsJuly 5, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Quick one night getaway
Amazing location and the views were
simply breathtaking. Only thing was that late into the night a mountain lion gave a roar outside my tent. I think my small dog might have attracted it. Make sure to keep your dogs close to you at all times.
Jackie L.recommendsJuly 3, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Excellent views and no one nearby! Definitely bring your own shade because the site is very exposed. It took us a few tries to find the pit toilet (despite the very accurate map the owners sent us) - it’s the small chained gate attached to the left side of the locked gate for site #4. Decent cell service. We had a lovely time!
Gabe G.recommendsJune 22, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Absolutely stunning location unparalleled views. I’ve really never seen anything like it. After sunset, everything just glows — in the lights from the towns below sparkle.
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Portable toilet was not very close to the site and was completely full making it unusable.
Should the toilet situation get better I would definitely go back.
Tim B.recommendsMay 9, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
Awesome Campsite
Amazing campsite! Easy with a camper trailer due to it being a pull through site. Amazing views in almost 360 degrees. Nice to have a bathroom w/ foot pump flush. No neighbors for at least a few hundred ft. It is rather windy up on the ridge ( although the whole area was windy the last few days). Be prepared to ideally bring your own shade if you want it too. The road in was a little bumpy w/ a trailer, but totally doable in hindsight. Hosts were prompt to reply to questions via the hipcamp app!
Sharon G.recommendsMay 7, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
We loved the seclusion and views from our site! It was beautiful and spacious as well. The picnic table was great for gatherings and games
Jodi D.recommendsMay 1, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
very private and secluded camp - great getaway!
the dirt / gravel road is no joke, as warned, so be sure you're planning to go while plenty of light out.
will (and have) recommended!
Jim C.recommendsApril 24, 2022
#1 Acres of Privacy Heavenly Views
The beauty and privacy.
It’s a great place