China Camp State Park
Encyclopedia
China Camp State Park is a state park
of California
, USA, surrounding a historic Chinese American
shrimp-fishing
village and a salt marsh
. The park is located in San Rafael, California
, on the shore of San Pablo Bay
. It is known for its hiking and mountain biking trails, scenic views, and open spaces. The 1514 acres (612.7 ha) park was established in 1976.
A Chinese shrimp-fishing village thrived on this site in the 1880s. Nearly 500 people, originally from Canton, China
, lived in the village. In its heyday, there were three general stores, a marine supply store and a barber shop. The village was used extensively in the filming of the 1955 movie Blood Alley
starring John Wayne. Today the fishing village is maintained by the Park Service, with the help of Frank Quan, a descendent of one of the original residents, who lives there.
China Camp State Park, along with the Rush Ranch Open Space Preserve, is part of the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
.
Free boat launches are available at the state park. Dogs on a leash are permitted in any of the park's day-use areas, but they are not permitted on park trails. Horses are permitted on several of the trails.
The trails in the park are very popular among hikers, runners and mountain bikers, especially on weekends.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA, surrounding a historic Chinese American
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
shrimp-fishing
Shrimp fishery
A shrimp fishery is a fishery directed toward harvesting either shrimp or prawns. .-Commercial shrimping:...
village and a salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
. The park is located in San Rafael, California
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
, on the shore of San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay is a tidal estuary that forms the northern extension of San Francisco Bay in northern California in the United States. Most of the Bay is shallow; however, there is a deep water channel approximately in mid bay, which allows access to Sacramento, Stockton, Benicia, Martinez, and...
. It is known for its hiking and mountain biking trails, scenic views, and open spaces. The 1514 acres (612.7 ha) park was established in 1976.
A Chinese shrimp-fishing village thrived on this site in the 1880s. Nearly 500 people, originally from Canton, China
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, lived in the village. In its heyday, there were three general stores, a marine supply store and a barber shop. The village was used extensively in the filming of the 1955 movie Blood Alley
Blood Alley
Blood Alley is a 1955 seafaring adventure movie starring John Wayne and Lauren Bacall set in China.-Background:The film was written by Albert Sidney Fleischman from his novel, directed by William Wellman and was produced by Wayne's Batjac Productions...
starring John Wayne. Today the fishing village is maintained by the Park Service, with the help of Frank Quan, a descendent of one of the original residents, who lives there.
China Camp State Park, along with the Rush Ranch Open Space Preserve, is part of the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
The San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is one of 27 reserves established as part of the United States National Estuarine Research Reserve System...
.
Free boat launches are available at the state park. Dogs on a leash are permitted in any of the park's day-use areas, but they are not permitted on park trails. Horses are permitted on several of the trails.
The trails in the park are very popular among hikers, runners and mountain bikers, especially on weekends.