China CampBrochure |
Brochure of China Camp State Park (SP) in California. Published by California Department of Parks and Recreation.
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Our Mission
China Camp
State Park
The mission of California State Parks is
to provide for the health, inspiration and
education of the people of California by helping
to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological
diversity, protecting its most valued natural and
cultural resources, and creating opportunities
for high-quality outdoor recreation.
San Pablo Bay’s
intertidal salt marshlands
provide ideal habitat
for grass shrimp and
shorebirds near the
remnants of a former
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park at
(415) 456-0766. If you need this publication in an
alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369
(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.
711, TTY relay service
www.parks.ca.gov
China Camp State Park
101 Peacock Gap Trail
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 456-0766
www.parks.ca.gov/chinacamp
© 2010 California State Parks (Rev. 2015)
Chinese fishing village.
M
agnificent panoramic views and miles
of multi-use trails greet visitors to China
Camp State Park. History buffs, water
enthusiasts, hikers, cyclists, and equestrians
will all find unforgettable experiences here.
Park History
Native People
The indigenous Coast Miwok people
first settled in what is now Marin County
thousands of years ago. Each village had
dome-shaped pole homes thatched with
grass and tule, with eight to ten people
living in each home. Larger settlements also
had a sweathouse and a dance house.
The Miwok hunted and fished only for
what they consumed. Coast Miwok baskets
and clamshell disk beads were traded
with other tribes for needed items, such as
volcanic obsidian from the Southern Pomo
to make sharp tools.
The Coast Miwok land at Point San Pedro
was eventually taken from them through
a Spanish land grant called Rancho San
Pedro, Santa Margarita y las Gallinas. The
grant was given to Timothy Murphy. After
Murphy’s death in 1850, that land was
divided and sold to the McNear family, the
owners until the mid-1900s. A portion of the
property that is now the park’s Back Ranch
Meadows area was used as the McNear
family’s dairy and grazing land.
Chinese Fishing Village
After the gold rush and the completion
of the transcontinental railroad, demand
for Chinese laborers abated. The Chinese
had to find other work. The McNears
leased some land to a man who sublet it to
Chinese shrimp fishermen. Most of these
fishermen had come from Canton in the
maritime province of Kwantung, China.
By the early 1880s, China Camp was one
European Settlement
of many coastal fishing villages in the bay
Explorer Sir Francis Drake called the Miwok
area, with nearly 500 residents. San Pablo
“peaceful and loving” when he met them
Bay’s mud flats provided an ideal grassin 1579. The Miwok population declined
shrimping location. Nearly three million
after Mission San Francisco de Asís was
pounds of shrimp were caught each year,
established in nearby San
dried, and exported to China.
Francisco in 1776; its sister
Despite its successes, China
mission, San Rafael Arcangel,
Camp’s population began to decline
was built in 1817. The mission
after the Chinese Exclusion Act of
system drastically changed the
1882, which forbade new Chinese
traditional lifestyle of the native
laborers to come to the U.S. Perhaps
people. By 1900, few were left
the population loss was influenced
of an estimated 2,000 Miwok
by the eventual outlawing of shrimp
just a century earlier. Today
export and the type of nets used
some Miwok descendants still
by the Chinese. A few Chinese
live in the area.
The Grace Quan
were able
to continue
harvesting
shrimp, aided
by a new net
designed
in 1924 by
Berkeley
restaurateur
Frank
Spenger.
Villager Quan
Hock Quock
Frank Quan mending a
had come
fish net, 1941
from San
Francisco to run a seaside general store
here; his sons Henry and George Quan
were the last fishermen left at China Camp.
Quan Hock Quock’s grandson, Frank Quan,
still lives here.
The redwood and fir reproduction
Chinese junk Grace Quan, named after
Frank’s mother, was built in 2003 by the
San Francisco Maritime National Historic
Park and dedicated volunteers, with
support from China Camp State Park staff.
natural History
More than 100 acres of tidal marsh at China
Camp represent transitional wetlands at
the edge of San Francisco Bay. Brackish
seawater marsh makes up the park’s
marine habitat, home to the endangered
salt marsh harvest mouse and California
clapper rail.
Surrounding the marsh are several
other habitats. Native grassland, mixed
evergreen forest, oak woodland, and
chaparral lead to a ridge dotted with coast
live oak, California black oak, manzanita,
and madrone trees.
Spring brings profuse wildflowers. Broad
meadows fill with lupine, blue-eyed grass,
and Indian paintbrush. California milkwort,
buckeye, and orange sticky monkeyflower
bloom on hillsides in summertime.
Birders may see chickadees, spotted
towhees, and black phoebes in the park or
shorebirds gliding along thermal drafts.
climate
China Camp’s winter temperatures stay in
the 50s while summer temperatures can
range from the 70s to over 100 degrees. The
park’s ridges keep coastal fog at bay, giving
the park over 200 sunny days each year.
recreation
China Camp Village, the historic center of
the park, has a museum with exhibits of
early Chinese settlement. The village is
on a family-friendly swimming beach with
picnic tables and easy launch of kayaks and
paddle boards.
Day Use — The park has 15 miles of popular
hiking, equestrian and cycling trails with
stunning views of
San Pablo Bay.
Picnic sites
with tables and
barbecues are
located at scenic
China Camp Point,
Bullhead Flat,
Miwok Meadows,
Weber Point, and
Buckeye Point.
Kayaking near Rat Rock
Camping — Back
Ranch Meadows has 33 developed walk-in
campsites and two hike-and-bike sites for
year-round tent camping only. Visitors must
transport all equipment from the parking
lot to the campsites — up to 300 yards.
Wheeled bins are available. There is also
one group campsite.
Self-contained RVs may camp enroute in
the parking lot for one night only, between
6 p.m. and 9 a.m., space permitting.
Reservations — Reserve campsites or picnic
areas at (800) 444-7275 or online at
www.parks.ca.gov/chinacamp.
Fishing — Striped bass, flounder, perch, and
sturgeon may be caught at several access
spots along the bay. Anglers aged 16 and
over must have valid California fishing
licenses: www.wildlife.ca.gov.
Programs and Events — Campfire programs
are held for campers from May to October.
Junior Ranger programs are held by request.
Heritage Day celebrates Chinese culture with
activities, tours, and exhibits. The schedule
is available at www.parks.ca.gov/chinacamp.
School and other groups should call
(415) 456-0766 in advance to arrange visits.
ACCESSIBLE FEATURES
Camping — Six sites are accessible on
hard-packed dirt (in dry weather). All park
restrooms are accessible.
Trails — Part of the multi-use Shoreline
Trail and the Turtle Back Nature Trail are
accessible, with tactile interpretive panels.
Picnicking — Picnic areas may have some
barriers; some tables are set on grass.
Please remember
• All natural and cultural features of the
park are protected by law and may not
be disturbed or removed.
• Rules and trail postings are strictly
enforced in order to protect this unique
natural and historic resource.
• Dogs are allowed only in developed
areas; only service animals are allowed
on trails. All dogs must be on a
six-foot leash.
• Fires are allowed only in park barbecues
in designated areas.
• Use official park trails or roads only.
Do not make or use unmarked trails.
• All trails close at sunset.
nearby state Parks
• Angel Island State Park (415) 435-1915
www.parks.ca.gov/angelisland
• Mount Tamalpais State Park
(415) 388-2070
www.parks.ca.gov/mttamalpais
This park receives support in part from a nonprofit
organization. For further information, contact:
Friends of China Camp
(415) 488-5161 • friendsofchinacamp.org
Bac
lle t
200
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B
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Po
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Tra relin
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Shoreline T
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Ra
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0.8 Kilometers
Trail
Trl
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ht
c
Ba
400
to San Rafael, 101
(3.5 Miles)
e
o
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SAN
FRANCISCO
24
Oakland
Candlestick Point SRA
Driv
e
ad
Campground
Campsite Numbers
Major Road
14-50
Paved Road
Food Services
ra Way
nt e
Ca
Group
Picnic Area
M
CNEARS
BEACH
COUNTY
Locked
Gate
PARK
MCNEARS
200
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Kn
9
10
11
12
400
600
il
ra
e
Multi-Use Trail
Accessible Multi-Use
Trail
Intermittent Stream
GLENWOOD
s
Berkeley
Eastshore SP
China
Camp
Beach
Ranger
Station
Accessible Trail
0
15
14 13
20
e
Hi
ll
Rd
S hor e l i n
Bay
580
China P
Camp
Village
Unpaved Road
re
500 Ft
s
Fi
250
27
28
26
29
25
30
22 23 24 1
2
21
20 7
6
19 8 3
18
4
17
16
5
Benicia
Richmond 4
China Camp Point P
li n
0
r
0
Vallejo
Benicia SRA
Rat Rock
Island
Dock
Legend
D
Wo o d
15 Kilometers
10
Rat
Rock
Cove
Biscayn
0
100 150 M
20
400
800
0
50
(CITY OF
SAN RAFAEL)
PEACOCK
GAP
60
ine
werl
Po Trail P
e
r
Fi
0
Camp
P Host
0
Dr
20
CHINA CAMP
S TAT E
HARRY A.
BARBIER
PA R K
MEMORIAL PARK
400
to Campground
Entrance
l
rs
ea
il
e Fire Tra
5
ore
20
0
McN
Rid
g
40
0
Five Pines
Point
ap
ock G
Peac rraailil
TT
Oak
Tra
i
10 Miles
5
Sh
rs Fire Tra
il
Nea
Mc
ge
d
i
Tr
R
ail
San
Pablo
Bay
© 2009 California State Parks (Rev. 2015)
200
w
0
Miwok
Meadows
Day-Use
Area
Trai
Vie
0
h
80
e
lin
l
60
ay
Bullhead
Flat
Sh
or
e
ne
l
i
Tra
0
Sho
reli
il
Tra
0
80
anc
Back R rail
Fire T
40
View
200
0
Weber
Point
0
B ay
0
l
680
Mt Tamalpais SP Tiburon
Angel Island SP
Pacific
Golden Gate
Ocean
101
NRA
P
20
see
detail
map
h
a il
o Tr
SAN PEDRO
O P E N S PA C E
P R E S E RV E
(COUNTY OF
MARIN)
Bu
200
400
Chicken
Coop
Hill
Tra
i
Bay Hills Dr
H i ll Tr ail
Shor
eline Trail
37
1 Rafael
P
Bullet
Hill
29
San
y
Buckeye
Point
Shoreline
400
e
lin
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w
Po
rail
eT
Fir
Ba
Napa
121
China Camp SP
P
Tur
tl e
No Parking
Ec
Olompali
SHP
y
Ba
Turtle
Back
Hill
Campground
Entrance
200
lo
29
Sonoma
SF
P R I V AT E
P R O P E RT Y
e
Sc
Pab
k Trl
Sunny Oaks D
r
60
Tomales
Bay SP
Samuel P.
Taylor SP
S an
12 SHP
116
Petaluma
Novato
o ad
Pedro R
ire
ini F Rd
ttr
1
State Park
Jake’s Island
200
101
ee k
to
Civic Center, 101
(3.0 Miles)
North S a n
China Camp
P
G a ll i n as C r
Sonoma
Petaluma
Adobe
SHP
Marsh Area
San Pedro
Museum
Hill
P
Parking
Point
San Pedro
BRICK
State
Park Boundary
Picnic Area
Accessible Feature
Ranger Station
Boat Launch: Hand
Restrooms
Boating
Swimming
Campfire Center
Viewpoint
YARD