For those who love to camp at marquee destinations, a series of high-tech alarms will go off this week throughout the state..

For the state park system, campsite reservations for all July dates — including the very popular July 4 weekend — open at 8 a.m. Monday.  Sites at Point Reyes National Seashore, lakes in national forests and popular sites in the Santa Cruz Mountains will be in play all week. 

The hottest ticket Monday morning is expected to be a reservation at the rustic camping cabins on the Marin Coast.  They are perched at Rocky Point overlooking the ocean, with the great Steep Ravine Trailhead just opposite Highway 1.  State Parks expects the cabins to sell out for the month in about 10 minutes. 

High-tech: Because so many stellar sites are in high demand online and sell out quickly, to the techie — the ones who have figured out how to game the system — go the spoils. 

These are the wizards who use several platforms: multiple computers, tablets and smart phones, sometimes up to 10 devices with different IP addresses.  Ahead of time, they get each device signed into the reservation service and in launch mode.  Then, when the moment arrives, all the devices are updated at once to have the highest chance of landing marquee sites on premium dates. 

Another way: Of course, there is a different way to go.  It means bypassing the famous parks and sites; I do this all the time on peak summer dates.  For Yosemite, Point Reyes and Lake Tahoe, I usually book for the spring and fall “shoulder” seasons and never go on weekends.  I’ve never been stuck for the night. 

In an appraisal of the state’s campgrounds with Donna Sager, Ronda Elliot and Sabrina Young (editors for the 20th edition of “Moon California Camping”), we reviewed roughly 1,600 campgrounds.  These include about 750 National Forest Service campgrounds at lakes, streams and trailheads across California’s 20 million acres of national forest.  You can make reservations at about half, and the rest are off the grid. 

Several regions (Redwood Empire, Sierra foothills and Shasta-Cascade) have good availability; most of them require long drives from the Bay Area and Sacramento. 

High-demand sites: In the state park system, the rustic cabins at Rocky Point, part of Mount Tamalpais State Park, and the ocean-view sites at Doheny State Beach in Southern California often sell out for the month in 10 to 15 minutes. 

Other sites that quickly sell out are the state beaches on Monterey Bay: New Brighton, Seacliff and Sunset.  Added competition for sites along Highway 1 comes from RV campers spread across the country who book sites in hopes of making their summer fantasy drive along the Pacific Coast. 

In the Bay Area, the hike-in sites at Angel Island State Park sell out quickly for summer weekends and then fill out on weekdays.  By summer, they are usually booked full every night from July 4 through Labor Day weekend. 

Insider’s trick: For the high-demand campsites at Yosemite, popular national forest lakes and the trail camps at Point Reyes National Seashore, one trick is to book a day or two ahead of your arrival date.  For instance, if you’re planning a July 3-5 trip considering making a reservation for July 1-5 to give you a two-day jump and a better chance to get your site over the holiday.  This is called a “rolling window,” and with no additional cash penalty for no-shows, it’s more like a loophole and has become a way for some to beat the system and get their dates. 

Key times, dates, places

State parks: Target moment: 8 a.m. Monday for July dates.  Campsites can be reserved for all days of the month.  Other target dates: 8 a.m. on Feb. 1 for all August dates and 8 a.m. on March 1 for all September dates, including Labor Day weekend.  Reserve at http://www.reserveamerica.com. 

Point Reyes National Seashore: Target moment: 7 a.m. Sunday for July 1; 7 a.m. Wednesday for July 4.  Note: Campsites can be reserved up to six months in advance to the day, but with a rolling window you can book up to 14 consecutive days after your first day (such as July 1).  All dates through June are now available; Friday and Saturday nights sell out fast.  Other target dates: Feb. 1 for Aug. 1, March 1 for Sept. 1.  Reserve at www.recreation.gov. 

Yosemite National Park: Target moment: 7 a.m. Jan. 15 for May 15 through June 14, including Memorial Day weekend.  Campsites can be reserved five months ahead of arrival date.  All sites through May 14 now available.  Other target dates: 7 a.m. Feb. 15 for dates June 15-July 14, 7 a.m. March 15 for July 15-Aug. 14 (peak summer), 7 a.m. April 15 for Aug. 15-Sept. 14, including Labor Day weekend.  Reserve at www.recreation.gov. 

Santa Cruz Mountains: Target moment: 8 a.m. Monday for all July dates.  Other target dates: 8 a.m. Feb. 1 for all August dates, 8 a.m. March 1 for all September dates, including Labor Day weekend.  Reserve at http://www.reserveamer

ica.com. 

Santa Cruz Mountain backcountry: Target moment for backpack-style trail camps is 9 a.m. March 1 for May 1; sites available by reservation two months in advance.  Reserve by phone only at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, (831) 338-8861. 

U.S. national forests: Target moment: 7 a.m. Jan. 1 for July 1; campsites can be reserved up to six months in advance to the day.  The exception is when you book consecutive days, up to 14, after your first day booked.  All dates through June now available.  Friday and Saturday nights sell out at popular lakes.  Other target dates: Feb. 1 for Aug. 1, March 1 for Sept. 1.  Reserve at www.recreation.gov. 

Mount Whitney/John Muir Trail: Target moment: Preseason applications for a lottery are taken Feb. 1 through March 15 for trailhead departures May 1 through Nov. 1.  This is followed by an April 1 mini sale for remaining permits not claimed; 100 hikers and 60 backpackers allowed per day.  In 2016, there were 64,939 application requests.  Lottery application at www.recreation.gov. 

Half Dome: Target moment: Preseason applications for a lottery are accepted March 1 through March 31.  That lottery will provide 225 permits to climb Half Dome at Yosemite each day from late May through mid-October.  The success rate for the lottery drawing is 56 percent for weekday applications, 31 percent for weekends.  Lottery application at www.recreation.gov. 

Tom Stienstra is The Chronicle’s outdoor writer.  Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom