Camping in Butano State Park

Discover Butano State Park's redwoods, hiking trails, and serene campgrounds.

Top camping in Butano State Park

Public campgrounds here are often sold out.

Trail Mavens hiking in Butano State Park.

1. Ben Ries Campground

1 site · In Butano State Park

Ben Ries Campground at Butano State Park offers a serene and peaceful camping experience

2. Butano Trail Camp

1 site · In Butano State Park

Butano Trail Camp at Butano State Park offers a primitive camping experience for hikers and backpackers

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Butano State Park adventure.

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Community favorites near Butano State Park

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Stories from the community

Weekend Trip to Grey Oaks

I really liked the experience camping at Zak’s campsite. It was clean, well maintained and had all the amenities as described. The popcorn pot and popcorn were a fun touch. The location is conveniently located to a gas station but also very cozily tucked away such that you feel like you’re in wilderness similar to being in a state or national park. I would recommend.

3 nights at Grey Oaks

Zak and team were very welcoming and supportive! We enjoyed our stay.

Weekend Trip to Redwood Paradise Camping

Redwood Paradise is a magical place! The host, her son and dog were amazing and incredibly kind and welcoming. The mix of serene redwoods, classical piano music played by Marshall (host’s son), and Peruvian coffee in the morning make the ambience for this retreat truly unique. We were at site 2 which had beautiful evening lighting coming in just after 6 PM. Make sure your tent faces the west :) We highly recommend Redwood Paradise!

Weekend Trip to Redwood Paradise Camping

Lovely stay and hospitality from Ruth and Marshall!

Heidi

5 days ago

1 night at Hilltop Vineyard Dome Glamping

This was my first time dome camping and it was really fun! The sky was clear that night and you could see stars from the dome. The host was great, thank you!

Weekend Trip to Redwood Paradise Camping

The location and hospitality were amazing. Hot tub at night, coffee put out for guests in the morning, and a very nice host. And beautiful setting in the redwoods.

1 night at Redwood Paradise Camping

I had a great time camping here, the pool was nice and so was the atmosphere. I would definitely come back! Marshall was super great and helpful during my stay. Thank you!

2 nights at Amaya Creek Redwood Campground

We had an amazing time camping in the redwoods! We were visited by a doe, and her two spotted bonds, many turkey mamas, and their babies… Even saw a banana slug! Bathrooms were clean and there weren’t a lot of people so we enjoyed the quiet! Highly recommend and would definitely return!

1 night at Elkhorn Ranch

Was my first time Hip Camping and this place was awesome for a first timer! Roberta was so welcoming and educated us all about goats. Plenty of private spots to hangout, stargaze or to spend quality family time. Was actually cool to hear the goats in the background as we went to sleep, highly recommended.

1 night at Shiima koh

Good quiet spot for a quick night stay. The goats and friendly farm dog were up to welcome us in the morning, happy to have a few pats before we headed off. The site was nice and level, wood and a fire ring were available at the site.

monday

2 weeks ago

Weekend Trip to May's Luxury Farmstays

Place was well stocked for cooking and eating there! The pond of koi fish, ducks, and chickens were so wonderful to spend time. I wish we could have spent more time hanging out there, especially on the deck. It was near other places to stay on the land but felt private and so special. I would recommend if you want a cozy place to stay while exploring the bay area.

Amy

2 weeks ago

Weekend Trip to May's Luxury Farmstays

A Perfect Getaway: Beautiful Views, Cozy Cabin, and Wildlife Galore! We had an incredible stay at this charming log cabin at May’s log cabin studio farm! The setting is absolutely stunning, with breathtaking views that you can enjoy from sunrise to sunset. The property is alive with friendly chickens, ducks, geese, roosters, and even ravens — it felt like our own little wildlife sanctuary. One of our favorite features was the awesome fish pond filled with large koi and goldfish. The innkeeper thoughtfully provides packets of food so you can feed them, which was such a peaceful and fun experience. Definitely take the suggestion to bring along two heads of lettuce — feeding the chickens, ducks, roosters, and geese was an absolute delight and made the stay even more memorable! The cabin itself was cozy and thoughtfully stocked. The kitchen was amazing — it had everything we needed to cook plentiful Vegan meals without missing anything. The fridge was generously stocked, which was such a nice touch. The bathroom was a dream, featuring a wonderfully large shower. The awesome outdoor clawfoot tub made for a perfect end to long days of hiking - we used it every day during our stay! Speaking of hiking, there were fantastic trails nearby that offered both peaceful nature walks and more challenging hikes, depending on what you’re in the mood for. Overall, this stay exceeded our expectations — peaceful, scenic, and so well equipped. We can’t wait to come back! 🏕️🐓🛀🐠

Weekend Trip to The Ranch at Cross Road

Great instructions. Easy to get to. Would definitely come back again!

Weekend Trip to Patchen Christmas Tree Farm

Awesome spot, I pulled up parked and pitched a tent right next to my car, quiet and friendly space. I surf in Santa Cruz so it was 20 minutes from town. I’d recommend this to anyone who is simple and just needs a place to pop up a ten or sleep in their rig 🤙🏾

Weekend Trip to FEEL GOOD CAMP

I camped solo with my dog at Feel Good Camp and loved it! The communal kitchen was great, I was happy to not pack my camp kitchen gear. The vibe of the campground is very peaceful and comfortable. I can’t wait to go back!

Weekend Trip to #2 HMB Highway Overnight Rest Stop

My friends and I loved camping at Cynthia’s campsite. We had site #2 which was more private with a big tree blocking the view to the other sites. She was super kind and kept the sites very clean. The view was also amazing of the ocean and the flowers surrounding the sites were as well. Would 100% stay again!

Weekend Trip to Elkhorn Ranch

We loved the vibe and all the animals and had so much fun meeting other campers with kids. We had a great time - thank you!

Weekend Trip to Grey Oaks

This is a nice campsite that feels secluded (even thought it's less than 30 seconds off the Aromas rd.) The site has almost everything you need for bbq and cooking and it is still nice and quiet. Zak and family is very courteous, was there on time to pick us up and showed everything. Would come again. Watch out the for the poison oaks if you have little kids who like to run around into the woods.

3 nights at Patchen Christmas Tree Farm

This place is awesome. A beautiful little spot, very peaceful, and the other campers I ran into in the area were all very friendly. Kelley is so friendly and very accommodating and easy to work with. I would definitely recommend this place for a nice few day get away.

Weekend Trip to Silicon Valley View

Valley View is a great spot for a weekend getaway! Campsite #1 was our favorite—it was spacious and secluded from the other sites, and had a fantastic view. We have a high-clearance 4x4, which helped put our mind at ease when driving up to the campsite, although we did see other vehicles going up the road slowly. We will definitely be returning!

Top-rated campgrounds near Butano State Park

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The Ranch at Cross Road

12 sites · RVs, Tents84 acres · Livermore, CA

Welcome to the ranch at cross road! We are a family owned organic farm in the heart of Livermore wine country. We have 10 camp sites spread across the property for you to choose from. The property is 15 minutes from Lake Del Valle and some of the best wineries and breweries California has to offer. Settle in and enjoy amazing sunsets every night with us! We accommodate tents,Travel trailers, Fifth wheels, Toy haulers, Pop-up campers, Class A RVs, Class B RVs, Class C RVs, Campervans, and Cars. Our guests love us too! "I had a wonderful stay at Matt’s ranch! It was easy to find even as it was starting to get dark, and the campsites were well lit and easy to find. The ranch is beautiful. It was such a treat to stay here. I would definitely stay again."

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FEEL GOOD CAMP

17 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Watsonville, CA

This is camping made easy. No need to bring your cooking supplies, stoves, barbeque and dinnerwares ! We have them all. If you like to be social and have bonfire and have a nice chat with fellow campers , this is the place for you. We are committed to provide good beds and beddings because we know how important good sleep is (even when you camp!) so we just spent time, money and energy to replace all of our camping mattresses with memory foam mattresses!!! We had people swear that this is the best bed they ever slept in. The campground is located in a serene oak grove area of the property. Its a peaceful getaway with an abundance of bird varieties and occasional wild turkeys passing through. Take a stroll around our 5-acre property and catch a breathtaking sunset from the hillside. We're only 11 minutes away from Mount Madonna State Park and just 10 minutes from a local healthy grocery store and yoga studio. The beautiful Pajaro Dunes coastal area is just a 15-minute drive away, and the Santa Cruz Fairground is only two minutes away. Our location is surrounded by family friendly farms such as Gizdich ranch and nurseries, hence why it's considered the salad bowl of the United States. The Santa Cruz beaches are only 15-25 minutes away, while Monterey Bay Aquarium is just 30 minutes away and Gilroy Gardens is about 25 minutes away. The wine trail is also nearby. There are plenty of activities to enjoy nearby, including horseback riding at Mount Madonna Stable, Mount Madonna Retreat Center, hiking at Mount Madonna State Park, wine tastings at various wineries with stunning views, kayaking at Elkhorn Slough or any beaches, yoga at Watsonville Yoga or onsite, swimming, scuba diving in Monterey, visiting the Hanoman temple at Mount Madonna retreat center, and attending any events at the Santa Cruz Fairground. The property has 3 stalls for hot showers, 1 hand washing sink, 3 flushable toilettes, 1 communal outdoor kitchen with supplies of cookwares, dishes, mugs, glasses, utensils, pots and pans, coffee mugs, and 1 sink with hot water, 3 fire pits (2 of them is fire burning and 1 of them is propane), camping stoves, 1 gas barbeque and there is an electricity in the communal kitchen area. Propane for fireplace is included and Firewoods are available for sale. Board games, Books, Magazines, Lawn games are available as well as drawing papers and coloring pencils/markers/oil paint for our little artists. Your parking spot is within a very short walking distance and there is a wagon for you to use to haul your belongings to your camp site.

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The Secret Gardens by the Bay

32 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents11 acres · Watsonville, CA

The Secret Gardens is surrounded by lots of natural beauties that will open your heart. The spirit of the ocean, the wave, the mountains, the trees, the people and the fragrant of the roses, the beauties of our amazing Dahlias will take you to another world. No pictures can describe how beautiful this place and we hear that every time our guests step out of their cars. It is located about 2 minutes drive from the beach and the Monterey bay, about 12 miles away South of Santa Cruz. The beaches here are more peaceful and spread out as long as your eyes can see. We are 33 miles away from Monterey aquarium but you almost don't have to go anywhere when you are here. There are many things to do such as hiking at Land of Medicine Buddha or Forrest of Nisene Mark, Stroll around at Capitola Village, Have coffee and do awesome thrift shopping in downtown Aptos or in Soquel, Get some free foods from Free Food church on Wednesday evening (Yes, locally grown organic produce!), have a picnic on the cliff to watch the sunset, this town kind of remind you what's like to be in town without big boxes and franchise stores everywhere, life as its finest. This campground is also a great setting for your celebrations with two stages, a celebration area, a stone fired pizza oven and a sound systems (These are extras). We also have two sites for Private Group Camping for RV and Tent camping if you want to have a separate area away from anyone else. They can accommodate at least 15 people. Please check out those sites if you plan to come in a group. If you bring your dogs or children we have a trail for you to stroll around the property in a natural setting. We purposely do not a lot of pictures to keep this place mystical and a secret gem. We'd like to WOW you when you get here. We are so occupied so please do not ask us to send more pictures What to expect: - Access to fully stocked kitchen (except for the Private RV Group camping site): Propane powered grill and stove (commercial grade), refrigerators, freezer, pots, pans, utensils, kitchenware, dinnerware, basic spices and olive oil. - Hot showers and flushable toilettes - If you reserve a cabin, it comes with beddings (sheets, blankets, pillows) - A heater in your cabin What not to expect: - Towels - Free s'mores

Booked 1 time

360 Moutain/City Views and Glamping

2 sites · Lodging2 acres · San Jose, CA

Immerse yourself in a breath-taking panoramic view of the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay. Direct view of Silicon Valley's iconic landmarks like Levi's Stadium, Downtown San Jose, Google's Amphitheatre, Samsung's Headquarters...All with evergreen Santa Cruz Mountains in the background. At night, look up for a starry night sky or look forward for lively city lights and the never sleeping San Jose Downtown. On a Game day, enjoy the view of Levi's Stadium glowing vividly in front of the darker bay... Stay exclusively over this one acre, fenced private land extending over tens of acres of natural habitats with frequent sighting of chirping Birds, grazing Cows and occasional encounter with a flock of Turkeys or even a group of young Deers… Completely relax your mind and soul and break away from the hustle and bustle of the Silicon Valley. Bring your own food for a relaxing picnic while soaking up the nature and views. If desired, have a short nap or even watch a movie in a large tent prepared for your retreat. Yoga, Meditation, a couple holes of simple Golf or hiking near the Alum Rock Park, no matter what you choose to do here, we hope you can find tranquility and complete relaxation, not far away from the Silicon Valley.

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Amaya Creek Redwood Campground

19 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Los Gatos, CA

Welcome to the Amaya Creek Redwood Campground! We are deep in the Santa Cruz mountains and it’s rustic so be prepared! The road is all paved but it can be narrow, bumpy and steep in some areas. Be sure to follow our directions to bypass the road closure! There is no cell phone service in some areas. PLEASE NOTE, we do not have a trash service for the campground, we require all campers to PACK OUT THEIR TRASH with them! We have 40 acres of redwood forest and two creeks running through including the Amaya Creek which serves the boundary of our property at the end of Amayak Creek Trail. There’s also a small waterfall off the Amaya Creek Trail, but it may dry out during the summer. Enjoy hiking, creeks and small waterfall exploration, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, star gazing, relaxation, meditation and more. Our campground has running water from a natural spring, Men and Women's Restrooms each with 2 toilets and 1 FREE hot water shower, utility shed with sink and hot water, and an outdoor amphitheater. The kitchen and washer/dryer is Staff Only not for campers. . Most campsites allow 4-6 guests maximum with 1 car included in the nightly rate. Each additional vehicle is $15 per day and will be added at checkout once you add the correct number of vehicles you will be bringing. Pets are $10 per day, 1 pet per group ONLY. Please add this as an extra at the time of booking, you will see the option to add extras once you begin the checkout process. Dogs must be on leash at all times! Quiet hours are 10pm-8am. No drugs of any kind including marijuana allowed. No loud music allowed. This is a private property so no visitors are allowed, only paid guests. Our onsite staff will go around and enforce the rules. No hookup for RV and trailer, check each site description to see if RV/trailer is ok for that site.

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Slide Ranch Campsites

19 sites · Tents134 acres · Muir Beach, CA

Slide Ranch is a nonprofit organization established in 1970, becoming one of the first Park Partners in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The tent-only campsite area is 1/4 mile hike (about 10 minutes, mostly-flat) from the parking lot and is not accessible by vehicle. Campers must park in the visitor parking lot and hike into the campsite area. We provide a limited number of wheelbarrows to help transport your personal items to the area. Campers are not permitted to sleep in their cars, vans, or campers in the parking lot. Minors aged 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult; no drop offs or pick ups permitted. No pets allowed; service animals are permitted. We do not have showering facilities or flush toilets. A composting toilet is at the campsite and Porta-potties are available around the property. Soap is provided for hand washing. Water in all Slide Ranch taps is potable for refilling water bottles/jugs. There is no running water at the campsite but there will be a limited number containers of water for use in hand washing, dish washing, and limited for drinking. Slide Ranch does not have any concessions on site. Please plan to bring any snacks or picnic items you’d like to enjoy while enjoying the ranch. Per GGNRA regulations, campfires and open flames of any kind are not allowed outdoors at the campsite. Portable camp stoves and BBQs are strictly prohibited. Cooking is only allowed on the provided propane stove located inside the Dome. Please bring whatever items you need to prepare and enjoy your meals. Slide Ranch is located on the Marin coast, on land that has a rich history in connecting people to food. The Coast Miwok once fished and foraged for food at this site, and in the late 19th century Portuguese dairy farmers purchased the land and produced milk and butter for residents of San Francisco. In 1969, 134 acres of this fertile coastline were rescued from commercial development and purchased by the Nature Conservancy. Slide Ranch offers camping to fund summer camp scholarships and other programs throughout the year.

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Silicon Valley View

10 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Day Valley, CA

We created this space for everyone to enjoy.

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#2 HMB Highway Overnight Rest Stop

3 sites · RVs, Tents1 acre · Half Moon Bay, CA

WELCOME PLEASE READ! Overnight parking and Rest Stop on South Highway One. ***Not zoned for big groups, meet ups, celebrations or parties*** 1-4 persons One vehicle per booking. Single car, trucks, campers vans or motorcycles are welcome. NO Towable Trailers or RVs. Gravel road. Follow directions given at booking, no signage is allowed on highway. Parking SITE IS MARKED ON TABLE TOP. ONE picnic table, a parking spot and a tent area. Site #1, 2 and 3. Site #1 and 3 are next to open grass area. Site #2 is more private and a favorite of camper vans or Inside sleeping. Private gravel road into parking area and grounds for overnight tent. Port-a potty, water hose and garbage in same area. No Charcoal stoves, Okay to use ‘PROPANE Bar-B-Que’ on gravel only. NO OPEN FIRE PITS allowed. Walk to beach bluffs 10 minutes west. Walk to town 10 minutes north. An abundance of seasonal wildflowers and wild berries year round. Observe rare. Species of birds. Next to FARM horses and chickens. Ocean may be loud. Highway may be heard. No pets please. Noise curfew is sundown.

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Redwood Paradise

5 sites · Tents40 acres · Santa Cruz, CA

40 Acres of majestic redwoods bordering Wilder Ranch State Park gives you access to thousands of acres of excellent hiking and mountain biking right from your campsite. Miles of single-track and fire roads in this world-class mountain bike destination lead you through the redwoods to sunny meadows with sweeping vistas of the Pacific Ocean and the Monterey Bay. Conveniently located above the westside of Santa Cruz, our site will give you easy access to scenic Westcliff Drive, Natural Bridges State Beach, downtown Santa Cruz, quaint Felton, Henry Cowell Redwoods state park as well as incredibly scenic & private North Coast beaches. Please note tent camping is a rain-or-shine activity. :)

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Felton Open Space Camp Sites

10 sites · RVs, Tents14 acres · Felton, CA

Next to Historic Winery in the heart of Santa Cruz Mountains in the quaint town of Felton. Located between two state parks, Henry Cowell and Fall Creek. Just 6 miles, up in the mountains, from the Pacific Ocean and the Monterey Bay. Half a mile from the famous Roaring Camp Railway. Wine & Cider tasting next door at Hallcrest Vineyards; Dine in Felton, hiking, biking and local shops to explore. Please note when booking that each of the sites are limited to two adults only. Children are welcome.

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Redwood Paradise Camping

15 sites · Lodging, Tents5 acres · CA

PLEASE READ Hello all! If you're looking for some glamping with creature comforts, while just being 10 minutes away from restaurants. This is the place for you. We are a 5 acre property and home surrounded by tall redwood and oak trees. Very green and lots of shade. These are the amenities/facilities you will have free access to: Pool, Pool chairs and umbrellas, Deck area with sunset view, Trampolines, and hammocks. There is not cooking allowed by or at any of the common areas, due to flies and critters. Cooking and eating is only allowed by your sites and not in any common areas: Hammocks, Trampolines, Pool Area, tables, sink, and deck please follow this rule because we want to prevent our shared areas to be fly and bug infested. We are still working on ridding the flies and cleaning. (please try to bring prepackaged food or something easy. If anything you can drive 10 minutes to nearby food and grocery). In the past we let people cook and eat around the pool but now our whole property is fly infested and I find scattered leftovers on the ground. Thanks for understanding. THERE IS A 1-2 MINUTE HIKE TO THE CAMPSITES 1-5! Poolside campsites are closer to the parking and are bigger. CHECK OUT OUR NEW LODGING: This property is my home that I live in with my 2 kids. It is a rustic and homey vibe, definitely not a hotel. We want you to come knowing what to expect. Our property offers a pool, and trampolines for the kids. We have a deck patio area that overlooks an amazing view of the redwood forest. Most of our guests are those that come from foreign countries and they all LOVE the property. I love leaving a great impression of our area. CAMPGROUND GUIDELINES Pack out your trash. Rinse feet before using the pool. No pool toys or floaties. Always supervise kids. Don’t sit on chair edges or pool cover box. Use stumps or your own table for cooking (not ours). Keep the area clean—no food scraps on the ground. No dogs in the pool area; leashes and cleanup required. No eating in rooms or cabin. Check out on the deck. No smoking (vapes only, away from common areas). Propane grills only—no open flames or campfires. Thanks for helping us keep this place awesome!

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May's Luxury Farmstays

5 sites · Lodging20 acres · Los Gatos, CA

Relax and recharge at our retreat in Los Gatos. Whether you’re here to reconnect with nature, hike the trails, camp under the stars, or explore the Bay Area, Harlan’s Retreat, has everything for a worry-free stay! With nature trails on-site and the Saratoga Gap down the road, you won’t have to go far, For fun drive into the city. Come home and admire the amazing views from your secluded glamp-site with sweeping views of San Francisco Bay and Silicon Valley 2,800 feet below. This very private site offers breathtaking views of San Francisco Bay and the south bay. The views at night are transcendent. The Apple building and Moffet field are clearly visible. you look down from above the clouds to the valley floor 2,800 feet below.

Camping in Butano State Park guide

Overview

About

Hidden in the Santa Cruz mountains, Butano State Park is not explored enough. An earthy, damp forest of redwood giants, there is something magical about this park. Maybe it’s the resilience of the redwoods that continue to stand tall after being scorched inside out-- now hollow and charred, these survivors serve as reminders of long-ago forest fires. Some are even first-growth redwoods, hundreds of years old. Or maybe it’s because there are so many absurdly yellow banana slugs and newts living here. Either way, Butano is an amazing state park and nature lovers are guaranteed to fall in love at first sight.

Notable campgrounds

Drive-in Campsites: Nestled among the redwoods, these 21 sites offer a classic camping experience with the convenience of vehicle access.
Walk-in Campsites: For a more secluded stay, choose one of the 18 walk-in sites, offering a serene setting and closer connection to nature.
Backcountry Trail Camp: Adventure seekers can hike to this remote camp with 8 sites, perfect for a tranquil escape in the wilderness.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Book early: Reservations can be made 6 months in advance starting at 8am PST, so plan ahead to secure your spot.
Be flexible: Consider midweek stays or off-peak seasons for better availability and a quieter experience.
Use multiple channels: Reserve online or call the toll-free number at 1-800-444-7275 to increase your chances.
Explore nearby camping options: If Butano is full, look for other nearby state parks or campgrounds to enjoy the region's natural beauty.

When to go

The best time to visit Butano State Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the natural beauty is at its peak. Summer offers warm days perfect for hiking, while winter can be wet but offers a unique, lush landscape. Avoid park closures by checking for seasonal trail and campground updates before your trip.

Know before you go

Check for trail closures due to forest health projects and plan your hikes accordingly.
Remember that dogs are allowed in campgrounds and paved areas but not on trails, except for service animals.
Park hours are from sunrise to sunset, so plan your visit within these times.
Be prepared for no shower facilities, but rest assured that drinking water is available.
For a smooth visit, familiarize yourself with the park's rules, including the prohibition of drones.

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