Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and an Pablo Bay’s education of the people of California by helping S China Camp to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and intertidal salt marshlands cultural resources, and creating opportunities State Park for high-quality outdoor recreation. provide ideal habitat for grass shrimp and shorebirds near the remnants of a former California State Parks supports equal access. Chinese fishing village. 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 [email protected]. 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) M agnificent panoramic views and miles The Coast Miwok land at Point San Pedro were able of multi-use trails greet visitors to China was eventually taken from them through to continue Camp State Park. History buffs, water a Spanish land grant called Rancho San harvesting enthusiasts, hikers, cyclists, and equestrians Pedro, Santa Margarita y las Gallinas. The shrimp, aided will all find unforgettable experiences here. grant was given to Timothy Murphy. After by a new net Murphy’s death in 1850, that land was designed PARK HISTORY divided and sold to the McNear family, the in 1924 by Native People owners until the mid-1900s. A portion of the Berkeley The indigenous Coast Miwok people property that is now the park’s Back Ranch restaurateur first settled in what is now Marin County Meadows area was used as the McNear Frank thousands of years ago. Each village had family’s dairy and grazing land. Spenger. dome-shaped pole homes thatched with Villager Quan grass and tule, with eight to ten people Chinese Fishing Village Hock Quock living in each home. Larger settlements also After the gold rush and the completion Frank Quan mending a had come had a sweathouse and a dance house. of the transcontinental railroad, demand fish net, 1941 from San The Miwok hunted and fished only for for Chinese laborers abated. The Chinese Francisco to run a seaside general store what they consumed. Coast Miwok baskets had to find other work. The McNears here; his sons Henry and George Quan and clamshell disk beads were traded leased some land to a man who sublet it to were the last fishermen left at China Camp. with other tribes for needed items, such as Chinese shrimp fishermen. Most of these Quan Hock Quock’s grandson, Frank Quan, volcanic obsidian from the Southern Pomo fishermen had come from Canton in the still lives here. to make sharp tools. maritime province of Kwantung, China. By the early 1880s, China Camp was one The redwood and fir reproduction European Settlement of many coastal fishing villages in the bay Chinese junk Grace Quan, named after Explorer Sir Francis Drake called the Miwok area, with nearly 500 residents. San Pablo Frank’s mother, was built in 2003 by the “peaceful and loving” when he met them Bay’s mud flats provided an ideal grass- San Francisco Maritime National Historic in 1579. The Miwok population declined shrimping location. Nearly three million Park and dedicated volunteers, with after Mission San Francisco de Asís was pounds of shrimp were caught each year, support from China Camp State Park staff. established in nearby San dried, and exported to China. Francisco in 1776; its sister NATURAL HISTORY Despite its successes, China mission, San Rafael Arcangel, More than 100 acres of tidal marsh at China Camp’s population began to decline was built in 1817. The mission Camp represent transitional wetlands at after the Chinese Exclusion Act of system drastically changed the the edge of San Francisco Bay. Brackish 1882, which forbade new Chinese traditional lifestyle of the native seawater marsh makes up the park’s laborers to come to the U.S. Perhaps people. By 1900, few were left marine habitat, home to the endangered the population loss was influenced of an estimated 2,000 Miwok salt marsh harvest mouse and California by the eventual outlawing of shrimp just a century earlier. Today clapper rail. export and the type of nets used some Miwok descendants still Surrounding the marsh are several by the Chinese. A few Chinese other habitats. Native grassland, mixed live in the area. The Grace Quan evergreen forest, oak woodland, and Picnic sites ACCESSIBLE FEATURES chaparral lead to a ridge dotted with coast with tables and Camping — Six sites are accessible on live oak, California black oak, manzanita, barbecues are hard-packed dirt (in dry weather). All park and madrone trees. located at scenic restrooms are accessible. Spring brings profuse wildflowers. Broad China Camp Point, Trails — Part of the multi-use Shoreline meadows fill with lupine, blue-eyed grass, Bullhead Flat, Trail and the Turtle Back Nature Trail are and Indian paintbrush. California milkwort, Miwok Meadows, accessible, with tactile interpretive panels. buckeye, and orange sticky monkeyflower Weber Point, and Picnicking — Picnic areas may have some bloom on hillsides in summertime. Buckeye Point. Kayaking near Rat Rock barriers; some tables are set on grass. Birders may see chickadees, spotted Camping — Back towhees, and black phoebes in the park or Ranch Meadows has 33 developed walk-in PLEASE REMEMBER shorebirds gliding along thermal drafts. campsites and two hike-and-bike sites for • All natural and cultural features of the year-round tent camping only. Visitors must park are protected by law and may not CLIMATE transport all equipment from the parking be disturbed or removed. China Camp’s winter temperatures stay in lot to the campsites —up to 300 yards. • Rules and trail postings are strictly the 50s while summer temperatures can Wheeled bins are available. There is also enforced in order to protect this unique range from the 70s to over 100 degrees. The one group campsite. natural and historic resource. park’s ridges keep coastal fog at bay, giving • Dogs are allowed only in developed the park over 200 sunny days each year. Self-contained RVs may camp enroute in the parking lot for one night only, between areas; only service animals are allowed on trails. All dogs must be on a RECREATION 6 p.m. and 9 a.m., space permitting. six-foot leash. China Camp Village, the historic center of Reservations — Reserve campsites or picnic • Fires are allowed only in park barbecues the park, has a museum with exhibits of areas at (800) 444-7275 or online at in designated areas. early Chinese settlement. The village is www.parks.ca.gov/chinacamp. • Use official park trails or roads only. on a family-friendly swimming beach with Fishing — Striped bass, flounder, perch, and Do not make or use unmarked trails. picnic tables and easy launch of kayaks and sturgeon may be caught at several access • All trails close at sunset. paddle boards. spots along the bay. Anglers aged 16 and Day use — The park has 15 miles of popular over must have valid California fishing NEARBY STATE PARKS hiking, equestrian and cycling trails with licenses: www.wildlife.ca.gov. • Angel Island State Park (415) 435-1915 stunning views of Programs and Events — Campfire programs www.parks.ca.gov/angelisland San Pablo Bay. are held for campers from May to October. • Mount Tamalpais State Park Junior Ranger programs are held by request. (415) 388-2070 Heritage Day celebrates Chinese culture with www.parks.ca.gov/mttamalpais 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. This park receives support in part from a nonprofit Sonoma 12 SHP 29 Petaluma organization. For further information, contact: 101 Adobe China Camp 1 SHP Sonoma Napa Friends of China Camp 116 State Park Petaluma 29 (415) 488-5161 • friendsofchinacamp.org Tomales Olompali 121 Bay SP SHP 680 Gallinas Creek Novato 37 Samuel P. 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