- Lexington Hills
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Santa Cruz Mountain Camping
Hosted by Shelly · Lexington Hills, California
3 guests max · 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 1 toilet
Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
Shelly is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
What to expect
Short walk to site
Safari tent
3 guests max
Toilet available
Pets allowed
No campfires
Potable water available
Bins available
Picnic table present
No showers
Cooking equipment absent
No wifi
Laundry absent
Hot Tub absent
No playground
Things to know
Getting there
Check in: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Early or late check-in may be availableCheck out: Before 11:00 AM
Late check-out may be availableOn arrival: Head straight to site
Cancellation policy:
Minimum nights: 1 night
Accepts bookings: 6 months out
Short walk
No wheelchair access
Max 1 vehicle
2WD accessible
During your trip
Follow the
Leave it better
Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.
Select a site
Lodging
1 site
Forest Glamping Tent for Two
99%
(36)Short walk to site
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Reviews
99% Recommend36 ratings · 33 reviews
Shelly's campsite offers a tranquil glamping experience nestled in nature. Guests appreciate the cozy and clean setup, complete with comfortable beds and ample blankets to ward off the chill at night. The site is conveniently located near Santa Cruz attractions and provides a peaceful retreat with sounds of wildlife and stargazing opportunities. Some minor issues like mechanical buzzing were noted, but overall, visitors found the experience to be rejuvenating.
Summary AI-generated from real reviews
Recommends
· October 2026
What a great spot to stop for the night! We felt very well hosted when Shelly told us the temps for the night and left us extra warm blankets. We slept well that night!
Recommends
· October 2026
For the price it’s definitely worth it! It’s at a perfect location to explore around, for example I went to the pumpkin patch nearby, the summit store, and even got to explore Scott’s Valley! San Jose was not a far drive either. I definitely recommend going to the hiking trails nearby because it’s such a beautiful area. This is not like full blown camping but more for the vibes. It was a nice stay to come back to at the end of the day. The night was definitely freezing, however there are plenty of heavy blankets to keep you warm. The toilet is not far at all and very private. The place is located in a neighborhood so it made the night feel more safe (I’m a wuss lol). There are beautiful views of the mountains also; the morning felt surreal. And yes there are turkeys!! So cute!!
Recommends
· September 2026
Camping with Animals!
We loved our stay at Shelley’s hip campsite. The tent was very nice and the provided blankets kept us warm all night. We got provisions at the Summit Store (great sandwiches). We didn’t bring anything to cook and it was totally fine. The best part was hearing and seeing all of the animals. We saw wild turkeys and a deer in the morning. The bathroom was rustic but adequate. I don’t know if there are shower facilities but we didn’t need it. Shelly was great with communication and the directions were so helpful.
Recommends
· September 2026
Magical & comfy!
With pets
My husband and I had the most cozy and magical evening here! I loved being immersed in nature but also getting a good nights sleep - would love to come back next time I need some tranquility.
Recommends
· September 2026
dreamy comfy glamping experience
This sweet space is the perfect getaway, and so fairly priced for the comforts and beauty! Arriving was easy, the space was beautiful, clean, comfortable, and the outhouse was even equipped with a stand-up toilet, TP, water, hand soap, mirror, and light -- better than most portapotty experiences. The tent stays very cool, never directly in the sun, with beautiful sunrises, sunsets, and stargazing. You do get the beauty of dozens of different morning bird calls, and nighttime crickets -- only thing is there was a mechanical buzzing sound that would go on and off nearby every hour or so but nothing too bad. There is a quaint lunchtable for unloading quick meals from summit center grocery. Solar powered timed outdoor lights. Ample comfy clean blankets and spots to rest/unwind. And within driving distance of essentially anywhere you'd want to visit in the santa cruz mountains. A very thoughtful responsive host too, and very dreamy comfortable glamping experience, will definitely try to make it back here again thank you Shelly :)
Recommends
· August 2026
Forest Glamping
Shelly's forest glamping spot was great! If felt remote, but was accessible with our Prius. The tent was clean and had plenty of warm blankets. Location is very close to Soquel mountain bike trails, and there's a market/deli only 5 minutes away. Would stay here again if in the area.
Recommends
· August 2026
Shelly was a wonderful host!! The tent was extremely cozy and we couldn’t recommend it enough! The porch is a wonderful addition to the campsite that allowed us to look over the property as the sun set. There’s a really cute grocery store a 5 minute drive away as well as a lovely wine tasting spot called Silver Mountain Winery 10 minutes away with amazing views and yummy wine. Thank you Shelly for the amazing experience!
Recommends
· August 2026
My wife and I loved the camp spot at Shelly's! It was quiet, calm, and peaceful. It was great to have privacy and not be in a crowd of people at a traditional campground. It was such a beautiful area, the trees in the Santa Cruz mountains are awesome. The tent and bed were amazing, extra blankets provided in case of cold were much appreciated. Overfull comfortable and just a great place!
Recommends
· July 2026
The tent was so cute and very clean! I appreciated the extra blankets As It Gets a bit chilly When the sun goes down.
Recommends
· July 2026
10/10
I had a lovely time here! Shelly was very easy to reach with any questions we had, and the property was lovely. The tent setup was very nice, the bed was very comfortable, and the directions were clear. The distance from Santa Cruz (about 25 mins) is also great!
Recommends
· July 2026
We enjoyed our stay even the warm summer day. Thanks
Recommends
· July 2026
With pets
This set up was amazing! We slept so well lost in the small sounds of the forest!
Recommends
· July 2026
Would
With pets
We loved camping on Shelly's glamping tent. Hey property was private open and spacious. She left info about the different types of wildlife and plants which we appreciated as we brought our cars as they are quite adventurous. It did get cold at night but there were plenty of blankets.
Recommends
· June 2026
Peaceful, relaxing, beautiful nature getaway. I really loved waking up to the birds singing and deer nearby. You can drive up pretty close to your tent. My guest just had ACL surgery so this was important for us. Bathroom is also a very close. It was cold at night in June but the blankets provided are soooooo warm I was totally fine I actually kicked some off in my sleep. Easy to find and well marked. The place was clean and host was great. Stopped here for a night on our trek up to Monterey for the weekend. Will be back!
Mixed feelings
· June 2026
Nice open space, clarify directions
With pets
Great large, secluded and private space for dogs to run around and enjoy peace and quiet. Comfy yurt came with bedding and 2 large chairs on the deck. Also a picnic table suitable for using a propane camp stove for cooking. Just needed more detailed directions from the camp host as Google Maps did not provide a correct address or clear directions. Consider adding host-written directions to the confirmation note.
Recommends
· June 2026
This was a lovely, restorative escape from the city! We loved every part of our stay. The tent was clean, comfortable, and easy to access. The site was so serene, well maintained, and quiet. The site is still close to a store, wineries, hikes etc so there is plenty to do around. Shelly was very considerate to leave extra blankets and trash bins which was very thoughtful. I got the best sleep I’ve had in a while and woke up to turkeys, deer, and all sorts of birds. I will be back! Thank you, Shelly, for your hospitality. 😊
Recommends
· May 2026
Quick city getaway!
With pets
We had a great experience at this campsite. It was a nice and peaceful retreat from the busy city life in SF. The site was well marked and very tidy. Would recommend!
Recommends
· May 2026
We had a lovely night staying here at Shelly's land. It was quiet, clean, and we were witness to a very impressive morning chorus of birds :)
Recommends
· May 2026
Had a great stay surrounded by nature. Butterflies, owls, frogs, and an occasional turkey. Did a really nice hike close by through the redwoods.
Recommends
· April 2026
I had a lovey stay here. the weather was rough, but the tent held up and everything was so comfortable and clean. Shelly was very responsive and accommodating. It was a beautiful mountain get away.
Recommends
· April 2026
Simple, peaceful
A cute, simple retreat space. Located on an open space farm land. There are some shipping containers and spare farm tools/parts around the land and it’s near a road, but the tent still feels tucked away in nature since it is next to nice trees. Easy directions and parking. There are no lanterns or power, so consider bringing a light for the tent. Outhouse is simple but clean, bring spare toilet paper and water if staying for a few days. Bed is super comfy and blankets warm. The sound of nature and cute animal visitors is abundant. Saw turkeys, deer, and many other birds. Enjoyed my stay.
Recommends
· March 2026
Nature’s own symphony
With kids
Amazing symphony of nature and animals. 100% recommend this place if you want to reset your circadian rhythms. Me and my daughters slept like a log among many trees and orchestra of owls and turkey and birds singing in the night. Thanks Shelly for sharing such a nice glamping site with us!!
Recommends
· March 2026
The sunset looked so beautiful and once it got dark, the stars were so nice to look at. The bed was comfortable and we were able to stay warm throughout the night. It was a plus for me that there was already lanterns lighting up the area + a picnic table.
Thank you Shelly for being so kind and having a beautiful place to share!
Recommends
· March 2026
2nd visit...and would visit again
My second visit here in this quiet oasis. Just 3 weeks between and I loved the improvements (like a cool sink in the very lovely and clean outhouse).
It was off and on deluge of rain, and was so nice to fall asleep to that sound on the tent. I would highly recommend rain boots if you know there is rain in the forecast as it can get muddy between the tent and the outhouse. Simply part of the adventure...
Thank you, Shelly, for the handwritten note and your always quick responses...
Recommends
· February 2026
Really adorable spot. Not much to complain about only positives from me :)! Super pretty, Santa Cruz mountains are amazing, well marked parking with easy access to the tent, everything was nice and clean as well.
Recommends
· February 2026
With pets
It’s a perfect place to get away! There’s a grocery store about 5 minutes away that we bought some sandwiches from, and we ate outside our tent on the picnic bench! It was absolutely perfect and relaxing, would recommend!
Recommends
· February 2026
Very Comfy Bed
Very comfy bed and loved falling asleep and waking to the sounds of the babbling brook. Clean outhouse, easy parking & enjoyed the glorious night sky. Already booked my next stay...
Recommends
· November 2025
The tent and bed were very spacious. The view of the stars at night and the mountains in the mornings was beautiful. In November it was very cold at night as expected but it was much easier to stay comfortable and warm here than in a regular tent.
Recommends
· October 2025
cute stay. it was clean and easy to get to for the weekend visiting santa cruz.
Recommends
· October 2025
Simple relaxing camping spot
With pets
Easy in, easy out. Bedroom was made nicely. Property manager was very kind.
Location
Lexington Hills, Santa Cruz, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Shelly K.
Joined in June 2025Things to do nearby
Similar campgrounds nearby
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